Sideritis, Ironwort
Soldier’s Herb, Shepherd’s Tea, Heraclea, Militaris
Botanical name:
Sideritis spp.
A number of species are used the locally:
S. montana (syn. Stachys bicolor)
S. syriaca,
S. scardica
S. euboea
S. raeseri
Salmon listed 13 varieties in his Botanologia. including Mountain Ironwort, Meadow Ironwort, Creeping Ironwort, Ironwort with Alehoof leaves, Ironwort with smooth long leaves, Broadleaf Ironwort etc.
Parts used:
Whole herb
Temperature & Taste:
Slightly Warm, dry. Sweet, Pungent. Salmon said it was Neutral.
Uses:
1. Moves the Blood, Promotes Circulation:
-important herbs internally and externally for Trauma and Wounds
-enhances Blood circulation
-Anti-Tumor and Anti-Cancer effects have been demonstrated
-Vasodilatory
2. Warms the Stomach, Moves Qi:
-indigestion, bloating, colic, stomach cramps
-Belching-Hernia
3. Clears Wind-Cold, Promotes Sweat:
-Cold, Flu and acute diseases
-Coughs, Bronchitis
-adjunct for Arthritic and Rheumatic complaints
-Catarrh, Allergies
4. Benefits Brain, Moves Qi:
-shown to prevent Memory loss and restore when lost
-useful for Anxiety and Depression
-may be beneficial in the treatment of Alzhemier’s disease, ADHD
-also benefits Eyesight
-was also used for diseases caused by Enchantment and Witchcraft
5. Stops Bleeding and Leakage:
-Spitting or Vomiting Blood
-Leukorrhea
-Diarrhea including with Blood
-“the chief use of them is in Ruptures”. (The Compleat Herbal, Tournefort, 1719)
6. Externally:
-applied to Fresh Wounds (Dioscorides)
-Inflammations (Dioscorides)
-cures Ulcers including old Ulcers
-Foul Ulcers and Cancers
-gargle for acute sore throat
-applied to muscle and joint pain
Dose:
Powder: 1–4 grams
Juice: 1–3 spoonfuls, usually taken with wine
Main Combinations:
Often combined with Sage
1. To enhance Blood circulation, take Ironwort with Oregano
2. Cold and Flu, Ironwort with Sage, Mint, Oregano
3. Gargle for acute Sore Throat, form a gargle with Sage
4. Running Sores and Fistulas, form an ointment with Tobacco leaf (Salmon)
Major Formulas:
Cautions:
None noted.
Toxicity:
Main Preparations used:
ANTIBACTERIAL:
–Antibacterial Activity of Sideritis curvidens. and Sideritis lanata. from Turkey
ANTIOXIDANT:
–Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Anticholinesterase and Anti-Tyrosinase Activities of Essential Oils of Two Sideritis Species from Turkey
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:
–Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, and cytotoxic effects of Sideritis scardica extracts.
CIRCULATORY EFFECT:
–Cognitive and Blood Flow Effects of Mountain Tea
SPASMOLYTIC:
–Spasmolytic Activity of the Ethanol Extract of Sideritis raeseri spp. raeseri Boiss. & Heldr. on the Isolated Rat Ileum Contractions
GASTROPROTECTIVE:
–Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, and cytotoxic effects of Sideritis scardica extracts.
MEMORY/COGNITIVE:
–Sideritis spp. Extracts Enhance Memory and Learning in Alzheimer’s β-Amyloidosis Mouse Models and Aged C57Bl/6 Mice
–The Acute and Chronic Cognitive and Cerebral Blood Flow Effects of a Sideritis scardica (Greek Mountain Tea) Extract: A Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Groups Study in Healthy Humans
–Cognitive and Blood Flow Effects of Mountain Tea
ADHD:
–Natural Product-Derived Treatments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Safety, Efficacy, and Therapeutic Potential of Combination Therapy
MAO INHIBITION:
–Flavonoids from Sideritis Species: Human Monoamine Oxidase (hMAO) Inhibitory Activities, Molecular Docking Studies and Crystal Structure of Xanthomicrol
–Quercetin and Related Chromenone Derivatives as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: Targeting Neurological and Mental Disorders
PREVENTS BONE LOSS:
–Sideritis Scardica Extract Prevents Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Rats
CYTOTOXIC:
–Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, and cytotoxic effects of Sideritis scardica extracts.
You must be logged in to view this content, please login. If you're not a member then Click this link to subscribe
