Medicinal Plants : Polygonum bistorta

Name

Bistort

Biological Name

Polygonum bistorta

Other Names

Dragonwort, easter giant, patience dock, red legs, snakeweed, sweet dock, bistort

Parts Used

root

Remedies For

Alterative, astringent, diuretic.

Bistort is one of the strongest herb astringents. It is excellent for gargles, injections, and for the treatment of cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, and leukorrhea. When directly applied to a wound, the powder will stop the bleeding.

Combines with equal parts of raspberries, it makes a good wash for the nose. It had been traditionally used as a remedy for smallpox, measles, pimples, jaundice, ruptures, insect stings, snake bites, and for expelling worms.

Combined with plantain, it had been used for gonorrhea and as a douche to regulate the menstrual flow.

Description

Bistort is a mountain perennial that is found at higher elevations west of the Rocky Mountains and in Europe, in damp soil such as wet meadows and banks of streams. The root is thick, knobby, twisted into an S or doubles shape, up to 3 feet long, black on the outside and red on the inside, and ringed with old leaf scars. The basal leaves are bluish-green. The red to rose-colored flowers appear from May to August.

Dosage

Decoction: Use about 2 tsp. rootstock with1 cup of water. Boil for 5 to 10 minutes. Take 1 cup a day.

It has been used in combination with red raspberries and plantain. (See under remedies for a description of the function.)

Safety

No information is available.