Erísimo: remedies and medicinal properties

He erísimo (Sisymbrium officinale) It is an annual plant of the cruciferous family, very common in open fields, roadsides and orchards. It presents very segmented basal leaves, with the central segment larger than the rest and the upper leaves horned.

The flowers are light yellow in color and the fruits, conical siliques, appear attached to the stem. It blooms almost all year round, except in the coldest months, and for medicinal purposes the entire plant is harvested at the beginning of flowering. It is preferably used freshbut also dry.

Medicinal properties

The hedgehog contains an essential oil, mucilage, pectin and heterosides. Its main indication is how balm to mediate larynx colds and cure hoarseness or hoarseness.

He Dioscorides renewed collects the old anecdote of the doctor who supplied a herbal tea to a singer from Nôtre Dame (Paris) who had been hoarse for six months: not only did he recover his voice, but he was able to sing with a verve like he had never had before. For this reason, this plant is also called “singers grass».

What is the “singers grass” for?

For all of the above, the hedgehog or grass of the singers is recommended as a remedy to end hoarseness and to decongest the vocal cordswhich makes it very suitable for teachers, lecturers, reciters, singers and anyone who works with the voice, when they are affected by this problem.

The erísimo is also used as ocular anti-inflammatoryin case of inflamed eyelids, conjunctivitis and eye irritation.

Also acts as an excellent diureticin case of fluid retention, edema, urinary inflammation and kidney stones, combined with plants with similar effects such as horsetail, goldenrod or cat.

It is also indicated as support to promote removal of gallstones.

How is it used

The fresh or dried plant is used for infusion or maceration in white wine.

The same infusion is also used to rinse, gargle and inhale.

With the infusion you can also prepare eye drops.

It is also used in the form of syrup, alcoholic tincture and liquid extract with marshmallow for gargles.

Natural remedies with erísimo

The grass of the singers can be used as an infusion both as a drink and as a topical route, depending on the use we want to give it.

Rinse for hoarseness or infusion

You can use the fresh plant, at a rate of 50 grams per liter of water, as an infusion, to apply as a rinse or gargle, or take it with a teaspoon of honey, up to 5 cups a day while hoarseness persists. In case of rinsing, it is recommended not to swallow the infusion.

Herbal tea for hoarseness

The hedgehog is combined with plants that also soothe the throat, such as agrimony, marshmallow and mallow. To prepare it:

Equal parts of dry hedgehog, agrimony, marshmallow root and mallow flower are mixed. Four level tablespoons are boiled in a liter of water for up to 5 minutes, the infusion is allowed to stand covered for another 10 and filtered.

It is drunk in small doses, moderately hot, throughout the day.

Relief for irritated eyes

In case of inflamed eyelids, conjunctivitis and eye irritation, the hedgehog is usually associated with cornflower, eyebright and sweet clover, at the rate of a tablespoon of the mixture per cup of water. To prepare it:

The water is boiled, the plant is deposited and allowed to rest for about 10 minutes. It is filtered well to avoid impurities remaining and some compresses are soaked with the infusion, which are applied with light pressure on the closed eyes.

It can also be used as eye drops with the help of an eyewash.

Jordi Cebrian. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist at “El Manantial de Salud”