Canadian Fleabane

February 2nd, 2009

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Botanical Name :Conyza canadensis/Erigeron Canadense (LINN.)
Family:Asteraceae (formerly Compositae)
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Tribe: Astereae
Genus: Conyza
Species: C. canadensis
Part Used: The whole herb is gathered when in bloom and dried in bunches. The seeds are also used.

Common names: Horseweed, Canadian Horseweed, Canadian Fleabane, Coltstail, Marestail, Butterweed, Coltstail, Flea Wort, Prideweed, Daisy Fleabane, Philadelphia Fleabane, Sweet Scabious, Frostweed, Fieldweed and Mourning Widow

Habitat : -Native to North America, the herb is now common in South America and Europe.

Description:
It is an erect annual, or sometimes biennial, growing to three feet with tiny, narrow, dark green, lance-shaped leaves and clusters of small, white flower heads that quickly fade into silky white tufts. It thrives in uncultivated soil and recently cleared land, often invading in large swathes. It is gathered from the wild when in flower.

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It grows up to 1.5 m tall, with sparsely hairy stems. The leaves are slender, 2-10 cm long and up to 1 cm broad, with a coarsely toothed margin. The flowers are produced in dense inflorescences 1 cm in diameter, with a ring of white or pale purple ray florets and a centre of yellow disc florets.

Horseweed is a common weed of fields, meadows, and gardens throughout its native range. Although little information is available, Horseweed infestations have reduced soybean yields by as much as 83%. Little information is available on methods of control.

This is much the most common of the alien Conyza species in Britain, and is found from northern Scotland to Cornwall. It is the only one of the British Conyza species that grows as a weed of arable land: the others are casuals of waste and disturbed ground in towns and by roads and railways. It is not invasive of any natural or semi-natural habitats.

History:-
The genus name >I>Erigeron comes from he Greek “eri” (early) and “geron” (old man), referring to the grayed and hairy fluff (pappus) attached to the top of the seeds. This becomes conspicuous soon after the flowers fade.
Native American tribes, including the Mesquakies, powered the flowers to make a snuff that, when sniffed, caused sneezing that would break up a head cold or catarrh. The Lakotas made a tea from the entire plant to treat children with sore mouths and adults who had difficulty urinating. Other uses included teas for rheumatism, lameness, and stomach disorders. The blossoms were also mixed with brains, gall, and spleen of a buffalo, and then rubbed on the hide to bleach it in the tanning process. The Navajo used fleabane in lotions for body pain and headaches. The Cheyenne used the whole plant in boiling water to inhale the vapours. It was also boiled to make steam for sweat lodges and burned to create a smoke that warded off insects. It was also used to clear intestinal parasites and, hence, the common name.

Constituents: The herb contains a bitter extractive, tannic and gallic acids and a volatile oil, to which its virtues are due

Medicinal Action and Uses: Astringent, diuretic, tonic. It is considered useful in gravel, diabetes, dropsy and many kidney diseases, and is employed in diarrhoea and dysentery.

Oil of Erigeron resembles in its action Oil of Turpentine, but is less irritating. It has been used to arrest haemorrhage from the lungs or alimentary tract, but this property is not assigned to it in modern medicine.

It is said to be a valuable remedy for inflamed tonsils and ulceration and inflammation of the throat generally.

The drug has a feeble odour and an astringent, aromatic and bitter taste. It is given in infusion (dose, wineglassful to a teacupful), oil (dose, 2 to 5 drops) on sugar. Fluid extract, 1/2 to 1 drachm.

Traditional Uses:
Its astringent action makes it a good remedy for diarrhea and dysentery and effective in treating bleeding hemorrhoids.
The herb is commonly used to clear toxins in rheumatic conditions and to treat gonorrhea and other urinogenital diseases.

A related species, the Philadelphia fleabane (E. philadelphicus), was used by the Houma as a treatment for menstrual problems. A Mexican relative,E. affinis, is used to make a tooth powder and to treat toothache.

Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Fleabane

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/f/flecan26.html

http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/canaflea.htm