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As I was walking in the Connemara at the weekend I noticed the hills were scattered with lots of yellow flowers called Potentilla. This perennial is found throughout Ireland and the rest of Europe in pastures, open woods and moorlands. It hugs the ground in a sprawling fashion and has 4 yellow petals and roots with numerous rootlets. In herbal medicine we use both the flower and the roots for it’s drying and anti-haemorrhagic properties.

It is especially beneficial to the gut wall and is used to treat acute or nervous diarrhoea, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. It also relieves gastritis and peptic ulceration. It can also be used to great benefit for laryngitis, pharyngitis, bleeding gums and mouth ulcers as a gargle.

The name tormentil is derived from the Latin tormentum referring to the griping pains that it relieves. The plant’s astringency made it a valuble tanning agent in the past. The Lapps use the thickened red juice of the root to stain leather.

If you want to know more about herbs and their uses I teach evening classes in Herbal Medicine. Please email Health & Herbs or ring me on 087 060 6458 for more information.

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