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LATIN NAME: Potentilla erecta
FAMILY: Rosaceae
GENUS: Potentilla
COMMON NAMES: tormentil, septfoil or erect cinquefoil
DISTRIBUTION AREA: Europe, Western Asia, Caucasus
BOTANICAL INFORMATION: Potentilla erecta is a perennial herb, 15 to 50 cm height. Rhizome is cylindrical, woody, short, almost horizontal, unevenly thickened, curved or straight. Stem is erect, branching on top. Leaves are alternate, have a wedge-oblong shape, serrate; basal leaves are trifoliate or fivefold on long petioles; stem leaves are trifoliate, sessile. Flowers are solitary, small, 1.5-2.5 cm in diameter; axillary or apical on thin, rather long pedicels, with four golden-yellow petals.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Rhizomes contain:
- up to 30% tannins, tormentilin glycoside
- triterpenoids (up to 6%): quinic acid, tormentoside
- resin, crystalline ester tormentol
- phenol carboxylic acids: gallic, quinic, ellagic, caffeic, n-coumaric, protocatechinous, flavonoids (kaempferol), phlobaphenes
- phenols (fluoroglucin, catechol, pyrogallol)
- catechin, wax, gum, starch, macro- and microelements
TORMENTILLA HEALTH RECIPES
Ointment: add 10 gr of Tormentilla root powder to 100 gr of butter. Mix the paste properly. Apply the ready ointment to the burn wounds, cracks, inflamed acne.
Infusion for normalization of digestive system: add 20 gr of plant root powder to 200 ml of water. Infuse it for 12 hours. When ready, filter the infusion removing the plant material. Take 1/3 part of the infusion 20 minutes before meals 3 times a day.
Decoction for cold and cough: pour 1 tablespoon of Tormentilla root with 200 ml of boiling water. Simmer it for 15 minutes. When ready, cool and filter the decoction and take 1 teaspoon every 2 hours.
“Small herbs have grace, great weeds to grow apace”
W. Shakespeare
*This article is for informational purposes only. We suggest consulting with a physician before using these or any other herbal supplements.
