Hydrangea Root
Also known as- Hydrangea arborescens, seven barks, wild hydrangea.
Introduction
The hydrangea is a stately flower native to the southeastern United States and northeastern Asia. It grows near water, hence its name. The grayish roots used in herbal medicine have little odor but a sweet and pungent taste. The Cherokee Indians were the first known to have observed the usefulness of the herb in treating kidney stones.
Constituents
Calcium, chromium, cobalt, kaempferol, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, quercetin, rutin, selenium, silicon, sodium, tin, zinc.
Parts Used
Dried rhizome and roots.
Typical Preparations
Traditionally used as a tea or in sugar syrup. May also be taken as a capsule or extract. Found in cosmetic preparations.
Summary
A scientific study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry in 2003 noted that hydrangea root extracts have greater antioxidant power in liver tissue than milk thistle and turmeric combined. The findings of Japanese researchers amplify observations of nineteenth-century American physicians who used hydrangea primarily as a treatment for "kidney gravel," small stones in the kidneys that could be passed with a minimum of pain after treatment with the herb. Physicians of the time also used hydrangea as a treatment for chronic chest pain caused by bronchitis. Hydrangea root powder has a greater diuretic effect than other preparations of the herb , but it has less of an effect on pain.
Precautions
Overdosing can cause dizziness and headache. Not recommended for long term use, or if you have a history of Liver or Kidney problems.
