Lithospermum officinale L.
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Lithospermum officinale

Family: BORAGINACEAE
Genus: Lithospermum
Species: officinale L.
Common names: Common Gromwell
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Lithospermum, Granum solis, Milium folis
Distribution summary: Eurasia
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Europe & Middle East (J), Pharmacopoeia Londinensis 1618 'Seeds & Grains' (HSE 7)
Reason for growing: Medicinal
British Native: Yes

Additional Notes

In traditional medicine, the mature seeds are diuretic, lithontripic and oxytocic. They are ground into a powder and used in the treatment of bladder stones, arthritis and febrile conditions[Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ]. An infusion of the leaves is used as a sedative. The root is depurative. A syrup made from a decoction of the root and stems is used in the treatment of eruptive diseases such as smallpox, measles and itch. All parts of the plant contain a substance that inhibits the secretion of the pituitary gonadotrophic hormone. Extracts of the herb possess contraceptive properties[ Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986].

https://pfaf.org https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Lithospermum+officinale

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