Yellow leeches

(Galium verum)

Andreea Dragomirescu,

Ayurveda Reader

AMN-Romania

Short history

In the tradition of many peoples, the night of Sanziana (23 to 24 June) is a magical night, when the Gates of Heaven open and fairies descend to earth and Sanziana, the flower with the name of a goddess, is considered a magical plant, used since ancient times in spells and cures.

The name of the Sanziene probably comes from the Latin 'Sancta Diana' and the plant is also popularly called 'curdling' or 'creamy', for its property of curdling milk, a property also evidenced by the scientific name of the genus: 'Galium', which comes from the Greek 'gala' meaning 'milk'. Tradition has it that sanatorium has the power to ward off evil and disease. In the past, the flowers were placed in the beds of women who were about to give birth, because it was believed that this would make childbirth easier; there are legends that say that in the manger where theJesus gave birth to were, instead of straw, dried blossoms of breasts.

Night of the breasts

On the night of the Sanziene, bunches of Sanziene flowers are made and used to decorate windows, gates and eaves of houses, in order toprotect people from evil spirits and they put crowns on the horns of cattle to keep them from harm. Women put flowers around their middles to ward off pain and young girls weave wreaths of breasts to wear on their heads to be healthy and loved by boys. The dew on the rose hips harvested on the day of the Sanziene is used for eye diseases and the whole plant is put in children's bath water toi harden.

Spread

The plant is widespread in Europe and Asia; it grows in meadows, forest edges, scrublands, from lowland areas to the alpine floor. It has a slender, four-edged stem that reaches a height of 30- 30 cm.60 cm, leaves narrow and elongated, clustered 7- to8 around a node and small flowers, white in Galium mollugo and yellow in Gallium verum. The flowers give off a strong, honey-like fragrance. The saunias flower from May to September; the aerial part is used therapeutically and is harvested at flowering and dried in the shade.

Composition

iridoids with anti-inflammatory, analgesic, sedative action, flavonoids with diuretic and anti-inflammatory action, tannins with healing action, citric acid, minerals, enzymes

Therapeutic actions

Sânziennas are primarily known for their action in balancing thyroid function; they also have other actions:

Diuretic, antispasmodic, depurative, mild sedative, mild laxative

Healing, choleretic (stimulates the elimination of bile from the gall bladder), cholagogue (stimulates the secretion of bile from the liver), aphrodisiac

Indications for internal administration:

thyroid gland disorders: hypo- or hyperthyroidism, thyroid nodules, pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis along with sage

urinary disorders: cystitis, pyelonephritis, urinary lithiasis, along with spleen, grass and birch leaves, gout, rheumatism

insomnia, along with lime and goosefoot

Allergic rash along with three spotted siblings and burdock root

Indications for external administration:

Sores, wounds, rheumatism, rashes

Method of administration

Intern can be administered in powder form:

the dried plant is finely grated with a clean electric grinder; from the powder obtained, take one teaspoonful 4 times a day, at regular intervals, at least 30 minutes before meals, take sublingually 15-20 minutes then swallow with a little plain water

cold macerate: put 2 full tablespoons of the herb to 1 litre of plain water and leave for about 7 hours (overnight) at room temperature, then strain; drink over a day, in small sips, between meals

tincture

External is used in the form of:

poultices with paste made from the powder of the plant mixed with a little water, applied to the affected areas

poultices with herbal macerate (use a more concentrated macerate of 5 tablespoons of herb to 1 litre of water)

gargle with maceratein case of thyroid, laryngeal, pharyngeal

ointment. It is applied topically on painful joints in case of rheumatism; it is also recommended as an adjuvant in: eczema, boils, erysipelas.