Caryophyllaceae Alterative Soapwort

Caryophyllaceae Alterative Soapwort
Family:Caryophyllaceae Alterative; Antipruritic; Antiscrophulatic; Cholagogue; Cytotoxic; Depurative; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Expectorant; Purgative; Skin; Sternutatory; Tonic.
Common name:Soapwort
Soapwort's main medicinal use is as an expectorant. Its strongly irritant action within the gut is thought to stimulate the cough reflex and increase the production of a more fluid mucus within the respiratory passages.The whole plant but especially the root is alterative antiscrophulatic cholagogue depurative diaphoretic mildly diuretic expectorant purgative sternutatory and tonic. A decoction of the whole plant can be applied externally to treat itchy skin. The plant has proved of use in the treatment of jaundice and other visceral obstructions but is rarely used internally in modern herbalism due to its irritant effect on the digestive system. When taken in excess it destroys red blood cells and causes paralysis of the vasomotor centre. See also the notes above on toxicity. The root is harvested in the spring and can be dried for later use.One of the saponins in this plant is proving of interest in the treatment of cancer it is cytotoxic to the Walker Carcinoma in vitro.

Herbal Database

01.01.2005 02:03 []