Information About The Herb Bistort

Botanical Name: Polygonum bistorta

Common Name: Adderwort, Dragonwort, Easter Giant, Easter Mangiant, English Serpentary, Osterick, Passions, Patience Dock, Red Legs, Snakeweed, Sweet Dock

Plant Family: Polygonaceae

Origin: Native to parts of Northern Europe, Northern England, Southern Scotland, Siberia, Japan and Western Asia to the Himalayas. 

History: The name Bistort is from the Latin bis meaning 'twice' and torta, 'twisted' because of its twisted, creeping nature.

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Plant Constituents

Contains:

• gallic acid
• gum
• starch
• tannic acid

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Usage

The word 'Mangiant' is a corruption of mangeant, meaning 'a plant to be eaten at easter', which was an old custom in the north of England.

Medicinal Parts Used: Rootstock and leaves

Bistort is commonly used for:

Bacterial Conditions

• cholera
• measles

Blood Conditions

• all bleedings internal and external
• hemorrhoids
• lung hemorrhages
• nose bleeds
• stomach hemorrhages

Gastrointestinal Conditions

• bowel complains
• diarrhea, especially with blood in the stools
• dysentery

Genitourinary Tract Conditions

• incontinence

Immune System Conditions

• infectious diseases

Liver Conditions

• jaundice

Externally:

• bruises
• loose teeth
• nasal polyps
• stops bleeding in cuts and wounds

Leaves:

• worms in children (powdered leaves)

Leaves and Root: As a gargle for:

• all gum problems
• hardening spongy gums
• looseness of teeth
• sore mouth
• sore throat
• stomatitis

Externally: As a wash for:

• bites from venomous creatures
• discharging ulcers
• hemorrhages
• running sores

Other

• diabetes (combined with other tonics)   
• intermittent fever
• mucous discharges, especially from ears, nose, vagina, urethra

Other Uses:

• in leather tanning

Action:

• alterative [an agent capable of favorably altering or changing unhealthy conditions of the body and tending to restore normal bodily function, usually by improving nutrition]
• astringent [a binding agent that contracts organic tissue, reducing secretions or discharges of mucous and fluid from the body]
• diuretic [an agent that increases the volume and flow of urine which cleanses the urinary system]
• styptic [an agent that contracts tissues; astringent; specifically, a hemostatic agent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels]

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Precautions

Drug Interactions:

Do not use Bistiort without first talking to your practitioner or healthcare provider if your taking any of the following medications:

• None known

Products

Global Herbal Supplies has Bistort available in the following forms:

• Bistort Liquid Extract

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Research

Articles

Information given by our website  is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a physician or other medical professionals. You should not use the information given for diagnosing a health problem or disease. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. The above information is just a guide to general circumstances and in no way should it contradict the advice that you have been given by your naturopath, medical doctor or specialist.

More Herb Information: 

A: Adhatoda Vasica  ||  Agrimony   || Albizia  ||  Alfalfa  ||  Allspice  ||  Aloe vera  ||  Amaranth  ||  Andrographis paniculata   ||  Angelica  ||  Anise  ||  Arnica  ||  Astragalus  || 

B: Baical Skullcap  ||  Barberry  ||  Basil  ||  Bay Laurel  ||  Bayberry  ||  Bergamot ||  Bilberry  ||  Bistort   ||  Black Cohosh  ||  Blackberry  ||  Bladderwrack  ||  Blessed Thistle  || Blue Cohosh  ||  Boneset  ||  Borage  ||  Brahmi  ||  Buchu  ||  Bupleurum  ||  Burdock  ||  Butcher's Broom  || 

C: Calendula  ||  Californian Poppy  ||  Caraway  ||  Cascara  ||  Catnip  ||  Cats claw  ||  Cayenne  ||  Cedar  ||  Celery seed || Chamomile german ||  Chamomile roman   ||  Charparral  ||  Chickweed  ||  Cinnamon  ||  Cloves  || Coleus forskohlii  ||  Coltsfoot  ||  Comfrey  ||  Commiphora mukul  ||  Cornflower  ||  Cornsilk  ||  Corydalis ambigua  ||  Crampbark  ||  Crataeva nurvala  ||

D: Damiana  ||  Dandelion  ||  Devil's claw  ||  Dill  ||  Dong quai  ||  Dragon blood  ||

E: Echinacea  ||  Elder tree ||  Elecampane  ||  Ephedra  ||  Eucalyptus  ||  Evening primrose  ||  Eyebright  ||

F: False unicorn  ||  Fennel ||  Fenugreek  ||  Feverfew  ||  Flax  ||  Frankincense  ||

G: Garlic  ||  Gentian  ||  Ginger  ||  Ginkgo biloba  ||  Ginseng american  ||  Ginseng korean  ||  Ginseng siberian  ||  Ginseng tienchi  ||  Goat's rue || Goldenrod ||  Goldenseal   ||  Gotu kola  ||  Gravel root  ||  Green tea  ||  Guaiacum resin  || Gymnema  ||

H: Hawthorn  ||  Hemidesmus indicus ||  Hops  ||  Horehound white  ||  Horseradish  ||  Horsetail  ||  Hyssop  ||

I-J-K-L: ||  Inula || Juniper ||  Kava kava || Lavender  ||  Lemon balm ||  Licorice  ||

M-N-O: Marshmallow  ||  Meadowsweet ||  Mistletoe  ||  Mugwort  ||  Myrrh  || Neem  ||  Nettles || Oats  ||  Olive tree ||

P-Q: Paeonia lactiflora  ||  Passionflower  ||  Pau_D Arco  ||  Peppermint  ||  Phyllanthus amarus  ||  Picrorhiza kurroa  ||  Plantain  ||  Polygala tenuifolia  ||  Polygonum multiflorum ||  Queens delight ||

R: Raspberry leaves  ||  Red clover  ||  Rehmannia glutinosa  ||  Rheum palmatum  ||  Ribwort  ||  Rosehips  ||  Rosemary  ||  Rue  ||

S: Sage  ||  Salvia militiorrhiza  ||  Sarsaparilla  ||  Saw palmetto  ||  Senna ||  Shepherd's purse  ||  Skullcap  ||  Slippery elm  ||  Squaw vine ||  St john's wort  ||  St mary's thistle ||

T-U-V: Thyme  ||  Thyme wild ||  Uva ursi || Valerian  ||  Vervain  ||  Violet  ||  Vitex agnes castus  ||

W: Walnut  ||  Wild cherry  ||  Wild yam  ||  Willow bark  ||  Willow herb  ||  Witch hazel  ||  Withania  ||  Wormwood  ||

Y-Z: Yarrow  ||  Yellow dock || Zizyphus ||