Sundew and its properties

sundew or sundew rotundifoliaalso known as fly trap or drop grass, it is an insectivorous plant, very rare in our country. It grows in high mountain swampy areas, which limits it to very localized points in the Pyrenees, Cantabrian Mountains, northern Portugal and Montes de Toledo.

The sundew is a protected plant and it should not be uprooted, except by necessity. That explains why it is an expensive plant with limited use in phytotherapy.

The sundew is up to 15 cm tall and blooms in early summer. For medicinal purposes, the whole plant is harvested, which contains naphthoquinones, with plumbagone and methylhydrojugone, flavonoids, organic acids and digestive enzymes.

The medicinal properties of Drosera

Naphthoquinones give this plant a remarkable action antispasmodic and antibacterialwhich makes it an excellent natural remedy to relax the muscles of the respiratory tract, proving to be very effective to soothe persistent cough and convulsive, such as a dry, irritating coughin chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma episodes, pharyngitis, laryngitis and flu processes.Clears the respiratory passagesrelieves dyspnea and facilitates calmer and more normal breathing.Externally the tincture sundew, as well as the juice of the plantis used for its antispasmodic, antiseptic and rubefacient virtues to relieve arthritic pain, back pain, lumbago, sciatica and other muscle ailments.It has been traditionally applied on calluses and warts flat.

Herbal formulas with sundew

Syrup for asthma attacks and acute bronchitis. Drosera tincture, in syrup, is very useful in these cases. To prepare it, you need 150 g of fresh plant per 250 cm3 of 90º alcohol.How to prepare it: The plant is poured into alcohol and kept in a covered glass bottle for 9 days, shaking it daily, in order to obtain the tincture. Separately, a simple syrup is prepared using 350 g of sugar per 200 cm3 of water. It is brought to a boil and, when it boils, it is removed from the heat and filtered. Add the sundew tincture to the syrup, stirring well so that it is well dissolved. Up to five teaspoons should be taken daily, away from food.Preventive against infections. A highly valued alternative as a natural antibiotic and used as a preventative in times of risk of infections, is the combination of sundew infusion with propolis tincture, of which up to 20 drops are taken twice a day.Tisane to calm all types of cough. To combat a cough, a herbal tea can be prepared by combining 10 g of sundew with 40 g of coltsfoot, 30 g of plantain and 20 g of lungwort.How to prepare it: One level tablespoon of the mixture is served per glass of water. Boil for 2 minutes, leave to infuse for approximately 10 more minutes and drink a cup, very hot, up to three times a day, in the morning, at noon and in the afternoon.

Precautions
Excessive doses of sundew by mouth can cause gastrointestinal disturbances in some people, and it is recommended not to take it during pregnancy and lactation, as well as to avoid administering the syrup to children under 3 years of age.

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