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Fan-pai-ts'ao | | Name : | Fan-pai-ts'ao | | Synonyms : | Crampweed
Fan-pai-ts'ao
Fivefingered grass
Five-leafgrass
Five-fingers
Goosegrass
Goosetansy
Moorgrass
Potentilla
Rough-fruited
Silverweed
Silvercinquefoil
| | Parts Used : | The herb | | Habitat : | Found in dry fields, wet meadows and banks, and pastures and alsoin damp marshy places all over North American and Europe. Found acrossCanada to the arctic circle, South in northern areas of the UnitedStates and the Rockies to New Mexico. | | Description : | A hardy, creeping, low perennial plant 6-18 inches high; its blackishrootstock sends out slender, rooting runners (somewhat like strawberries)and also produces a rosette of basal, dark green, pinnate leaves consistingof 13-21 oblong, serrate leaflets that are dark green on top and coveredwith silvery hairs beneath. In the leaves, large leaflets alternatewith small leaflets. The bright-yellow flowers grow singly on longpeduncles, stalks growing from the leaf axils; blooms from May toSeptember. The root has a bitter, styptic taste.
Other varieties: Tall cinquefoil (P. arguta), (P. reptans),and dwarf cinquefoil (P. canadensis). | | Constituents : | Antispasmodic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, tonic | | Uses : | The tea (made with water or milk) is an excellent remedy for diarrheaand is even said to be good for dysentery.As an antispasmodic, it can relieve abdominal cramps and painfulperiods; but it is generally mixed with balm leaves and Germanchamomile flowers to make a tea for that purpose. The tea is alsouseful as an external astringent for skin problems, jaundice,malaria, cystitis,palsy, shingles, itch, sciatica,gout, rheumatism,arthritis, quinsey, epilepsy,toothache, bleedinggums, mouthwash, fever, andthroat sores, hoarseness,cough, ague, colds, flu,canker sores. When addedto bath water, it will stop bleeding from piles,boils, ulcers,sores, and wounds.
The root was used for red dye. | | Dosage : | Use the entire plant except the roots, dried in the shade.
Decoction: boil 2 tsp. herb in 1 cup of water or milk.
Mixed tea: mix equal parts of silverweed, balm leaves andGerman chamomile flowers. Steep 1 tsp. of the mixture in 1/2 cup water.Sweeten with honey. Take 1 to 1 1/2 cups a day, a mouthful at a time.
Infusion: use 1 tsp. of the dried herb in 1 cup of boilingwater. Cover with a saucer and steep for 30 minutes; strain. | | Myths : | Cinquefoil was used as a laxative by Paiutes; cook the whole plantwhich looks silvery and silky. Also makes a red dye.
In ancient China, this herb was used in magic for casting spellsand as a love-divining herb. | | Nutrient : | Iron, magnesium, calcium |
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