Quinquefoliae, Cinquefoil

Also called Pentafillum and Five-leaved grass

Dioscorides Materia Medica, Ruellio, 1549

Medical Botany, Woodville, Hooker, Vol. 3, 1832

Flora von Deutschland (25), Kohler, 1886

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Botanical name:
Potentilla reptens
A number of similar related Potentilla species have been used in the various systems.

Parts used:
Herb in flower; Root

Temperature & Taste:
Temperate, very dry.

Classifications:
2K. RESOLVENT.    2N. REPELLENT.    2T. GLUTINATE
3C. ALEXIPHARMICS

Uses:
1. Stops Leakage and Bleeding:
-Diarrhea
-Leukorrhea, Spermatorrhea
-Bleeding in any part of the body, spitting of Blood, blood Nose
-Excessive Menstruation (root decocted in wine)

2. Clears Wind-Damp:
-damp affecting the Nerves: Paralysis, Epilepsy
-obstructions of the Liver and Spleen; Jaundice
-Stones, Gout

3. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Cough, Cold, Catarrh
-Hemoptysis
-some claimed it to strengthens the Lungs

4. Promotes Healing, Moves the Blood::
-traditionally used as a Wound herb, for Trauma, Bruising etc
-corrosion or Ulcers of the Kidneys or Bladder
-Tumors, Cancer

5. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-juice or root for Poison, taken with Mead
-Fevers, Tertian and Quartan Agues (taken for 30 days together)
-Bile diseases

6. Externally:
-Used for Hernias
-Helps Ulcers (including Malignant), fretting Sores, Herpes, Shingles
-helps cleanse foul and malignant Ulcers
-applied to Fistulas (Pliny)
-externally for sore, red and inflamed Eyes (distilled water or the juice dropped in)
-inflammations of the Mouth, loose Teeth (used as a gargle)
-root chewed eases Toothache (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630)

DOSE:
Herb or root in powder: 2–5 grams
Juice of the Herb: 5 mls.
Distilled Water: 2–4 oz.; 4 oz. morning and night to dissolve congealed Blood.

NOTE:
Traditionally used for Fevers, as a folk remedy, 3 leaves would be given for Tertian Fever (3-day fever), and 4 leaves for Quartan (4-day fever)

Main Combinations:
1. Convulsions, Epilepsy, with Cardamon (as in Powder Helpful for Epilepsy)
2. Scrofula, Lymphatic swellings., with Figwort, Meadowsweet, Agrimony (as in Electuary of Figwort)
3. Herpes, Cinquefoil root decocted in vinegar and applied (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630)
4. Cancer with Yellow Dock, Quassia, Woody Nightshade, Agrimony, Sarsaparilla (as in Decoction for Cancer)
5. Fistulas, applied with Salt and Honey (Pliny)

Major Formulas:
Decoction for Hernia
Syrup of Balm (Fernelius)
Wine for Incontinence
Powder Helpful for Epilepsy (Alexander)
Electuary of Figwort (Avicenna)
Electuary for a Duke (Electuarium Ducis) (Nicholas)
The Queen of Colen’s Electuary

Cautions:

Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water of the Herb