Sundew

Drosera rotundifolia

Common Sundew Red Rot Sundew Parts used Uses Habitat and cultivation Constituents How much to take Collection and harvesting Combinations

Sundew - a perennial herb growing up to 8 inches tall. Round, dish-shaped, long-stalked leaves grow in a rosette and are covered with glandular hairs that secrete a sticky sap that attracts and snares small insects. The sap contains a powerful digestive juice that changes the protein in the insect into a substance absorbable by the plant through the surface of the leaves. Pinkish white flowers of sundew (June-August) are borne in elongated clusters at the ends of leafless stems.

The moment a small unsuspecting insect alights upon a leaf of sundew, it is hopelessly trapped. At the base of the plant's long flowering stems are dish-shaped leaves covered with hairs that exude a substance at their tips. In sunshine this sap sparkles and attracts insects. Upon an insect's touch, the hairs bend in and down upon the creature, and additional amounts of sap, which contains digestive enzymes, convert the insect's protein into food for the plant.

As early as the 13th century, alchemists noted positive results from the use of sundew's sap in the treatment of consumption, or tuberculosis. In 16th-century England John Gerard observed in his Herball that "physicians have thought this herb to be a rare and singular remedy for all those that be in a consumption of the lungs." Today herbalists recommend sundew sap for soothing coughs due to irritation and ascribe to it antispasmodic properties that would also help stop coughing.

The genus name Drosera comes from a Greek word meaning "dew." The plant's dew like sap is usually discharged by the leaves about noon - the same time that the flowers open briefly when there is sun.

PARTS USED

Aerial parts.

USES

Sundew is of greatest value in the treatment of spasmodic chest conditions such as whooping cough, bronchial asthma, and asthma. In relaxing the muscles of the respiratory tract, sundew eases breathing, relieves wheezing, and lessens the spasms of whooping cough. Commonly mixed with thyme in a syrup, sundew is a helpful remedy for coughs in children. Sundew is also prescribed for gastric problems.

Other medical uses
Homeopathy.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Sundew grows in Europe, Asia, and North America, and is found in marshy ground at altitudes up to 6,000 ft (1,800 m). Formerly, sundew was picked while in flower in summer. Since sundew is now rare, it should not be gathered from the wild.

CONSTITUENTS

Sundew contains naphthaquinones, enzymes, flavonoids, and volatile oil. The naphthaquinones are antimicrobial, antispasmodic, and also cough-suppressing.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1 teaspoonful of the dried herb and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take 1- 2 ml of the tincture three times a day.

COLLECTION AND HARVESTING

The whole of sundew is gathered during the flowering period in July or August.

COMBINATIONS

In the treatment of asthma sundew may be used with grindelia and pill-bearing spurge.