Teucrium polium, Poley Montane

Poley, Mountain Germander, Narrow-leaf Germander
Kalpooreh (Unani)
Hui Bai Shi Cao (TCM)

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599

Left: Polium campestre;  Right: P. montanum
Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Common (left), Spanish (middle) and Lavender-leaved (right) Poley Montane
Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640

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Botanical name:
Teucrium polium (syn. T. capitatum)
Campestre (rural) and Montanum (mountain) varieties were primarily recognised, the mountain being preferred. Dioscorides and Galen recognised 2 varieties of Poley Montane. Later European writers recognised a number of varieties.

Parts used:
Herb in flower

Temperature & Taste:
Cold, dry. Bitter, Pungent
Usually accounted Warm, we have taken the Chinese stance in calling this (and related plants) Cool.

Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Heat:
-Colds, Fever, Rheumatic Fever (Unani)
-Hypertension
-in Antidotes including Mithridate (in which case the small variety was preferred)

2. Clears Heat and Toxin:
-Decoction (taken with vinegar) is taken for poisonous bites and stings (Dioscorides)
-Lung-heat cough, Chest Pain, Tuberculosis
-toxic swellings

3. Clears Heat and Damp, Opens Obstructions:
-Jaundice
-obstruction of the Spleen
-Colitis, Gastritis; diarrhea (decoction), Colic, Peptic Ulcers, Vomiting

4. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation:
-Amenorrhea
-expels Dead Fetus and Afterbirth
-relieve pains of pregnancy (probably labor)
-Hard Tumors, Fibroids

5. Clears Damp-Heat, Promotes Urine:
-Edema
-Urine obstructed by Heat and Damp
-Gravel and Stones

6. Clears Heat, Promotes Healing:
-an important Wound herb: Wounds, Ulcers

7. Benefits Kidneys:
-Recently found useful for Type II Diabetes

8. Externally:
-leaves are beaten and applied to Boils and Carbuncles
-the smoke repels vermin and venomous insects; strewn around a room to repel pests also
-topically as a Wound herb
-old sores and ulcers


Main Combinations:
1. With Bdellium, Rhubarb, Lacca, Yellow Myrobalan, Indian Spikenard for obstruction, to promote urine, fibroid tumors etc.

Major Formulas:
Hiera Logadii
Troches of Coral (Diacorallium) (Nicholas)
Pills of Rhubarb (Greater) (Pil. de Raved Sceni) (Mesue)
Athanasia Greater Nicholas


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Cautions:
1. Toxic in overdose or long-term use. The terpenoid teucrin has been associated with acute hepatitis and one case of Liver failure. Not used for more than 3 weeks without a break in treatment. Not used in those with Liver or Kidney disease.
2. Traditional Herbals noted it to 'trouble the Stomach, and cause some pains in the Head'. (Parkinson, from Dioscorides)

Main Preparations used: