Steinmetz:Polygonum

Polygonum amphibium

Also known as (or relevant to) Polygonum amphibium Persicaria amphibium Family Polygonaceae English Names Biting Persicaria Amphibious Persicaria Water Knotweed Natural Habitat all over the world Part(s) Used Radix Polygonii amphibii Herba Polygonii amphibii Semen Polygonii amphibii

Constituent(s) volatile oil tannin polygonic acid malic acid mucilage pectin oxymethylanthrachinon Action root: cooling depurative sudorific diuretic detersive astringent tonic aphrodisiac; used as a substitute for Sarsaparilla; herb: depurative diuretic; seed: used as a substitute for pepper

Polygonum aviculare

Also known as (or relevant to) Polygonum aviculare Family Polygonaceae English Names Knotgrass Knotwort Crawlgrass Natural Habitat all over the world Part(s) Used Herba Polygonii avicularis

Constituent(s) polygonic acid starch acids calcium oxalate tannin salicic acid resin sugar essential oil mucilage wax fat Action astringent haemostatic expectorant antiperiodic diuretic tonic demulcent vulnerary antiseptic used in kidney diseases

Polygonum bistorta

Also known as (or relevant to) Polygonum bistorta Family Polygonaceae English Names Snake weed Bistort Adderwort Natural Habitat Northern Europe (including Great Britain) Eastern Europe Balkan Siberia Western Asia Himalaya Japan Part(s) Used Herba Bistortae Rhizoma Bistortae

Constituent(s) polygonic acid gallic acid anthrachinon albumen sugar tannin bistoria-red (colouring matter) starch oxalate of calcium pararabin Action astringent haemostatic antiperiodic diuretic expectorant tonic; the root is employed as a substitute for Rhizoma tormentillae

Links

• Information in Von Esenbeck's book

Polygonum cuspidatum

Also known as (or relevant to) Polygonum cuspidatum Polygonum japonicum Family Polygonaceae English Names Japanese Bistort Japanese Knotweed Natural Habitat Japan China Part(s) Used Radix Polygonii cuspidati

Constituent(s) cuspidatin (polygonin) Action laxative diuretic febrifuge prophylactic

Polygonum dumetorum

Also known as (or relevant to) Polygonum dumetorum Family Polygonaceae English Names Desert-Knotgrass Natural Habitat Europe Part(s) Used Herba Polvgonii dumetori

Action laxative

Polygonum hydropiper

Also known as (or relevant to) Polygonum hydropiper Polygonum flaccidum Family Polygonaceae English Names Waterpepper Smartweed Bitter Persicaria Pepperwort Natural Habitat Europe (including Great Britain) Northern Russia Northern Asia China Mexico North America Part(s) Used Herba Polygonii hydropiperis = Herba Hydropiperis

Constituent(s) amine polygonic acid tannin gallic acid and other acids bitter principle Action diuretic carminative stimulant sudorific antiseptic haemostatic vasoconstricting detersive rubefacient slightly toxic used as a uterine stimulant

Polygonum persicaria

Also known as (or relevant to) Polygonum persicaria Family Polygonaceae English Names Peachwort Sanguinary Lady's thumb Natural Habitat Europe Part(s) Used Herba Polygonii persicariae

Constituent(s) essential oil wax tannin gallic acid quercetin pectin mucilage oxalic acid sugar phyrosterin Action astringent detersive tonic