Arenaria rubra - Cut Herb

Description

• PLANT:

Sand spurry is a medicinal plant that grows wild in sandy or siliceous ground or among rocks. It has traditionally been used for its diuretic properties, as its tea is considered a natural diuretic that helps to treat various health problems. Sand spurry is characteristic of Central European countries and North America. It is an annual or biennial plant with stems ranging from 5 cm to 25 cm in length. Its leaves are small and narrow, and it has numerous, highly branched stems. Its flowers appear throughout the summer.
Sand spurry is one of the medicinal plants most commonly used in herbal medicine to help eliminate kidney stones; its use is as widespread as that of the stonebreaker plant.

• COMPOSITION:

Its main components include phenolic carboxylic acids: caffeic, chlorogenic and quinic; cynarin (a diester of caffeic and quinic acids). Flavonoids: cynaroside and scolymoside. Hydroxy acids: citric, glyceric, lactic and malic. Sesquiterpene lactones (bitter principles): cynaropicrin and grosheimin; and mineral salts, particularly potassium and magnesium salts.

• COSMETIC PROPERTIES AND USES:

The active constituents of red sand spurry give it antiseptic, diuretic, purifying and anti-inflammatory properties.
Using it as an infusion, decoction or water maceration is the oldest method, but no less important for that, and serves a wide range of functions.

• PRECAUTIONS

Its use is contraindicated during breastfeeding (the bitter principles can pass into breast milk).