Woodruff is known to many only as a flavoring for Jell-O. Yet this wild plant has been used as a medicinal plant since the Germanic tribes. In the vernacular, it also bears the names heart friend, liverwort or May herb. As the most important ingredient for May punch, woodruff with its intense smell and aroma is the epitome of spring.
Occurrence and cultivation of woodruff
The German translation Wohlriechendes Labkraut shows that this plant belongs to the genus of rennet herbs. The botanical name Galium odoratum clarifies a typical characteristic of woodruff: its intense tangy smell. The German translation Wohlriechendes Labkraut shows that this plant belongs to the genus of rennet herbs. Woodruff is a perennial forest plant that grows in the temperate climates of Europe, Asia and Northwest Africa. Even in Japan and Korea it can be found in deciduous or mixed forests. Its robustness is demonstrated by the fact that it now also grows in North America, which is not native to it. The plant reaches a height of up to half a meter. The green lance-shaped leaves, up to eight each, are arranged in whorls. That is, they attach to a node of the stems. In the flowering period, which is between April to June depending on the location, small star-shaped white flowers appear. The fruits ripen afterwards and are small egg-shaped globules that have small hooks and attach to fur or feathers as velcro fruits. The preferred habitat of this plant is beech forests. It grows in shady locations and requires loose and nutrient-rich soils.
Effect and application
Woodruff contains vitamin C, tannins, bitter substances and iridoid glycosides. The most concise ingredient is coumarin glycoside among glycosides. Coumarin is formed from this in the dried, wilted or frozen parts of the plant. This is an aromatic plant substance that is responsible for the taste and typical woodruff odor. However, coumarin is harmful in large quantities, which is why there are dosage recommendations when using woodruff. Woodruff is mainly used in cooking. Typical dishes with the flavors of this plant are jello, lemonade, Berliner Weiße or Maibowle. At the same time, the food industry uses artificial flavors in syrups, liqueurs or desserts. The green color of these products is also artificial. If you make woodruff syrup or woodruff liqueur yourself, you will find that they are colorless. The guideline values for coumarin are 0.1 milligrams per day per kilogram of body weight. From this it is derived for the homemade May punch that three grams of woodruff per liter provide the taste and are harmless to health. In addition to the classic desserts and drinks, woodruff also goes well with ice cream, as an oil with salads and cheese, or with pies. The plant, which is easy to discover in May, is not cultivated. Therefore, it can be found only in individual cases in nurseries, hardware stores or weekly markets. It can be easily tracked down in the forest, and if you are unsure, a finger test is enough: the typical smell is produced by rubbing the leaves. It is important to make sure to collect the plant before it flowers, because the coumarin content in the plant increases with flowering. Even though woodruff is not an ornamental plant, it is suitable for cultivation in shady gardens. Its intense smell is used in scented sachets or soaps. The scented sachets help against moths in the closet and insects such as mosquitoes. Naturopathy uses the dried upper parts of the plant under the name Herba Asperulae or Galii odoratae herba as a remedy in the form of teas.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
As a medicinal plant, woodruff is known in naturopathy and folk medicine. It is not used in traditional medicine and evidence of its medicinal efficacy is lacking. In contrast to its use in cooking, naturopathy uses the parts of the plant harvested during flowering. The plant has vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory, sedative, blood purifying, diaphoretic and antispasmodic effects. It is used for digestive problems, headaches, migraines, nervous restlessness, venous insufficiency and menstrual cramps. In the right dosage, teas help against headaches and migraines. However, the coumarin produced from the plant can cause headaches if overdosed. The said property to thin the blood is beneficial in migraine attacks, is at the same time disadvantageous in wound healing.The mild sedative and antispasmodic effect helps with period cramps. As a home remedy for restlessness and insomnia are known herbal pillows, which in addition to sage and lavender also contain woodruff. Woodruff herb for cold or hot tea is available in pharmacies. In addition to internal use, naturopathy also knows the external application of compresses or crushed leaves. The anti-inflammatory properties of the crushed leaves help in wound healing and skin diseases. In the Middle Ages, they were used for eczema, ulcers and boils. Blemished skin can also benefit from treatment. The decoction or tea can be used as a hair rinse against dandruff. An old household remedy against sweaty feet and for the prevention of athlete’s foot is a foot bath mixed with woodruff tea. Naturopathy recommends this for swollen or strained feet. Woodruff is little to hardly poisonous. The coumarin can cause drowsiness and headaches. When taken in overdose or too frequently, coumarin can cause liver damage. Therefore, it is advisable to follow dosage instructions for woodruff recipes or therapeutic teas. Naturopathic medicine recommends drinking no more than two cups per day of therapeutic teas. High-risk groups such as the sick or pregnant should check with a physician before using woodruff tea therapeutically.
