History Of The Bedstraw Plant
Other Common Names: Baqlat Al Laban, Caille Lait, Cheese
Rennet, Cheese Renning, Cleavers, Gaillet Jaune, Galio, Khitharah,
Lady's Bedstraw, Maid's Hair, Our Lady's Bedstraw, Petty Mugget, Yellow
Bedstraw, Yellow Spring Bedstraw, Yogurtotu, Galium verum
Range: Britain; Europe; France; Iraq; Spain; Turkey; USA
Habitat: Waste ground, roadsides etc, mainly near the sea, on all but the most acid soils.
The common English name of this plant, 'Our Lady's Bedstraw,' is
derived from its use in former days, even by ladies of rank, for
stuffing beds.
The plant has the property of curdling milk, hence another of its
popular names 'Cheese Rennet.' It was called 'Cheese Renning' in the
sixteenth century, and Gerard says (quoting from Matthiolus, a famous
commentator of Dioscorides), 'the people of Thuscane do use it to turne
their milks and the cheese, which they make of sheepes and goates
milke, might be the sweeter and more pleasant to taste. The people in
Cheshire do use it in their rennet, esteeming greatly of that cheese
above others made without it.' The rich color of this cheese was
probably originally derived from this plant, though it is now obtained
from annatto.
The name of this genus, Galium, from the Greek word gala, milk, is
supposed to have been given from this property of the plants which is
shared more or less by most of the group
Lady's bedstraw has a long history of use as a herbal medicine,
though it is little used in modern medicine. Its main application is as
a diuretic and as a treatment for skin complaints.
The leaves, stems and flowering shoots are antispasmodic,
astringent, diuretic, foot care, lithontripic and vulnerary. The plant
is used as a remedy in gravel, stone or urinary disorders and is
believed to be a remedy for epilepsy. A powder made from the fresh
plant is used to soothe reddened skin and reduce inflammation whilst
the plant is also used as a poultice on cuts, skin infections,
slow-healing wounds etc. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower
and is dried for later use.
A number of species in this genus contain asperuloside, a substance
that produces coumarin and gives the scent of new-mown hay as the plant
dries.
Asperuloside can be converted into prostaglandins (hormone-like
compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels), making
the genus of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry.
- Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Other Common Names: Baqlat Al Laban, Caille Lait, Cheese
Rennet, Cheese Renning, Cleavers, Gaillet Jaune, Galio, Khitharah,
Lady's Bedstraw, Maid's Hair, Our Lady's Bedstraw, Petty Mugget, Yellow
Bedstraw, Yellow Spring Bedstraw, Yogurtotu, Galium verum
Range: Britain; Europe; France; Iraq; Spain; Turkey; USA
Habitat: Waste ground, roadsides etc, mainly near the sea, on all but the most acid soils.
The common English name of this plant, 'Our Lady's Bedstraw,' is
derived from its use in former days, even by ladies of rank, for
stuffing beds.
The plant has the property of curdling milk, hence another of its
popular names 'Cheese Rennet.' It was called 'Cheese Renning' in the
sixteenth century, and Gerard says (quoting from Matthiolus, a famous
commentator of Dioscorides), 'the people of Thuscane do use it to turne
their milks and the cheese, which they make of sheepes and goates
milke, might be the sweeter and more pleasant to taste. The people in
Cheshire do use it in their rennet, esteeming greatly of that cheese
above others made without it.' The rich color of this cheese was
probably originally derived from this plant, though it is now obtained
from annatto.
The name of this genus, Galium, from the Greek word gala, milk, is
supposed to have been given from this property of the plants which is
shared more or less by most of the group
Lady's bedstraw has a long history of use as a herbal medicine,
though it is little used in modern medicine. Its main application is as
a diuretic and as a treatment for skin complaints.
The leaves, stems and flowering shoots are antispasmodic,
astringent, diuretic, foot care, lithontripic and vulnerary. The plant
is used as a remedy in gravel, stone or urinary disorders and is
believed to be a remedy for epilepsy. A powder made from the fresh
plant is used to soothe reddened skin and reduce inflammation whilst
the plant is also used as a poultice on cuts, skin infections,
slow-healing wounds etc. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower
and is dried for later use.
A number of species in this genus contain asperuloside, a substance
that produces coumarin and gives the scent of new-mown hay as the plant
dries.
Asperuloside can be converted into prostaglandins (hormone-like
compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels), making
the genus of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry.
- Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
No comments:
Post a Comment