Summary
The strawberry is one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world, and it can be eaten in a variety of different ways. The strawberry leaf is known to have diuretic purposes, while its tannin content makes it beneficial in treating inflammation, kidney ailments involving stones, urinary tract issues, and liver disease.
One cup of strawberries contains just 43 calories and more than 100 percent of your recommended daily vitamin C intake. Strawberries go badly very easily, so it is recommended that you do not wash or cut them until you’re ready to eat them.
Description
Medicinal Parts
The medicinal parts are dried leaves collected during the flowering season, the dried rhizome, and ripe fruit.
Flower and Fruit
The small white flowers are arranged on a repeatedly bifurcated pedicle. They are usually androgynous. There are 5 sepals and 5 petals. The sepals are triangular, pointed, or appressed pubescent. The petals are oribicular or ovate, glabrous, and pure white. There are 20 stamens and numerous ovate, glabrous carpels and a style at the side. After flowering the receptacle turns into a fleshy false fruit. The receptacle is 2 cm long, ovate, globular or clavate, and red when ripe. The nutlets are ovate, 0.8 to 1.5 mm long, brown and matte.
Leaves, Stem, and Root
The perennial, herbaceous plant grows from 20 to 30 cm high. The rhizome is cylindrical, horizontal, or crooked and thickly covered with the residual dead leaves and stipules. Long runners grow from the axils of the basal leaves. The stem is erect and is slightly longer than the basal leaves. The cauline leaves are trifoliate and roughly serrate from the first quarter upward. The petioles are very long and, like the stem, have patent hairs. The stipules are lanceolate, long-acuminate, entire-margined, reddish brown, glabrous above and hairy beneath.
Habitat
Found in almost all of the temperate zones of Europe and Asia.
Production
Strawberry leaf consists of the dried leaf of Fragaria species, mainly Fragaria vesca. The leaves are collected in the wild and air-dried in a shady place.
Not to be Confused With
Other Fragaria species, although they have the same value.
Other Names
Alpine Strawberry, Mountain Strawberry, Wild Strawberry, Wood Strawberry
Actions & Pharmacology
Compounds
Caffeic acid derivatives: including chlorogenic acid
Flavonoids: including rutin, quercetin
Tannins: ellagic acid tannins, oligomeric proanthocyanidins
Effects
Strawberry leaf has astringent and diuretic properties; but no studies are available.
Indications & Usage
Unproven Uses
Preparations of strawberry leaf are used externally as compresses for rashes, and internally for catarrh of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, intestinal sluggishness, liver disease, jaundice, catarrh of the respiratory tract, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, nervous tension, kidney ailments involving gravel and stones, and as a diuretic. Because of the tannin content, its efficacy in treating mouth and throat inflammation and diarrhea is plausible.
Precautions & Adverse Reactions
Health risks or side effects following the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages are not recorded. The drug should not be taken in presence of strawberry allergy.
Dosage
Mode of Administration
Strawberry leaves are only used occasionally in folk medicine; the berries are used more commonly.
Preparation
Pour boiling water over 1 g of comminuted drug and strain after 5 to 10 minutes.
Decoction — boil 375 g green leaves with 1.15 liter water until only 550 mL remains.
Infusion — add 4 g drug to 150 mL boiling water.
Extract — boil 20 g drug with 500 mL water until only half remains.
Daily Dosage
Tea: As an antidiarrheal agent, several cups per day.
Decoction — for diarrhea, 1 teaspoon every 3 to 4 hours.
Extract — for diarrhea, a spoonful before bed and on rising.
Infusion — one dose only for children with diarrhea. The decoction is used as a gargle.
