Description
Medicinal Parts
The medicinal parts are the herb harvested during or shortly before the flowering season and the fresh flowering herb.
Flower and Fruit
The flowers are light red, 8 to 10 mm long, with short pedicles. They are in inconspicuous clusters in 1- to 4-blossomed cymes between bracts, which are longer than the flowers. The calyx has 5 tips and is campanulate-tubular with a touch violet. It appears to have 5 lobes. After flowering, the head drops. There are 4 stamens. The nutlets are 1 mm long and punctate-reticulate.
Leaves, Stem, and Root
The plant is a perennial, downy herb that smells of garlic. The rhizome creeps in mud and produces above-round runners, which immediately turn into leaves and flower shoots. The stems are unbranched or branched, erect, round, and villous with soft-hairs. The leaves are sessile, oblong-oval, and crossed opposite.
Characteristics
The plant has an odor similar to garlic and a bitter taste.
Habitat
The plant is indigenous to most of Europe as far as northern Africa and central Asia.
Production
Water Germander is the aerial part of Teucrium scordium. It is picked during or shortly before flowering.
Actions & Pharmacology
Compounds
Diterpenes: including among others, 6,20-bisdeacetylteupyreinidin, 6-deacetylteupyreinidin, 2beta, 6beta-dihydroxyteuscordin, 2beta,6beta-dihydroxyteuscordin, dihydroteugin, teuflidin, teucrin E, teugin, 2-keto-19-hydroxyteuscordin
Effects
See other Teucrium species.
Indications & Usage
Unproven Uses
The herb is used for the treatment of festering and inflamed wounds, bronchial ailments, diarrhea, fever, hemorrhoids, and intestinal parasites.
Precautions & Adverse Reactions
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.
Dosage
Mode of Administration
Water Germander is used internally and externally.
Daily Dosage
Four teaspoonfuls of the herb (7.2 g) is taken daily as an infusion. The same preparation can be used internally or externally.
