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Plumbago

Botanical: Plumbago Europaea (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Plumbaginaceae

---Synonyms---Leadwort. Dentallaria.
(French) Dentelaire.
---Parts Used---Root, herb.
---Habitat---China, Southern Europe, and cultivated in England in hot-houses.


---Description---A half-hardy herbaceous climbing, half-shrubby plant, with large trusses of pale-blue flowers, which are in bloom continuously through the summer. This variety is also known under the name of Plumbago Capensis, and is greatly used in German gardening.

---Constituents---Plumbagin, a crystallizable acrid principle obtained from the root.

---Medicinal Action and Uses---It is acrid, and when chewed creates a free flow of saliva, particularly if root is used; said to be of benefit to relieve toothache, and has long been used in France for that purpose, hence its name, dentalaire; also useful for itch - a decoction of the root in olive oil is much used.

---Other Species---P. Zeylanica is said to be a strong diaphoretic.

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Bear in mind "A Modern Herbal" was written with the conventional wisdom of the early 1900's. This should be taken into account as some of the information may now be considered inaccurate, or not in accordance with modern medicine.

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