Bogbean is an aquatic perennial plant that grows all over Northern hemisphere territories and some parts of India. It has white/ping flowers and has a wide spreading and creeping habit. The leaves are collected after flowering and used in herbal medicine.
Action of Bogbean
It contains a variety of compounds including coumarins, iridioid glycosides, flavanol glycosides, rutin, phenolic acids, pyridine alkaloids, sterols, tannins and triterpenoids. It is said to be a bitter tonic herb that can stimulate digestive secretions. It is anti-inflammatory, diuretic, anti-rheumatic and lymph-alterative. At high doses is laxative in action.
Bogbean Uses
Historically it has been used to treat a number of conditions including:
| Anorexia
| Dyspepsia
| Gout
| Liver, gall bladder and stomach disorders
| Muscular weakness
| Poor appetite
| Rheumatism of the muscles
| Rheumatoid arthritis
Other Bogbean Information
It can be used to make a tea and taken up to three times per day. A qualified herbalist will be able to make other preparations including tinctures.
Cautions When Using Bogbean
| It should not be used by people with colitis, diarrhoea or dysentery.
| The safety of bogbean during pregnancy has not been studied and should be taken only under advice.
| At the time of writing there are no well-known side effects, drug interactions or contra-indications from using bogbean.
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