Scientific name
Krameria triandra
Family
Caesalpinaceae
Origin
Peruvian and Bolivian Andes
Synonyms
Ratania or Peruvian rataniaParts Used
Drug consisting of the roots of the plant (Official Pharmacopoeia)
Chemical constituents
- Lipophilic benzofuran compounds;
- Starch;
- Sugars;
- N-methyltyrosine;
- Catechinic tannins (ratanotannic acid);
- Mucilage;
- Flavonoids.
Ratania in Herbal Medicine: Property of Ratania
The rhatany is used to give tone to the skin, as a haemostatic, for cleaning the teeth, in gingivitis and stomatitis. The plant also has anti-inflammatory and astringent activities, which make it a specific antidiarrheal remedy, but also an antioxidant. Other applications concern the use for vaginal irrigations in vaginitis of various kinds, as well as as an adjuvant in the treatment of hemorrhoids.
The extracts must be prescribed by the doctor, and for not very long periods.
Dosage: use the tincture (FU) at a dose of 5-10 drops in a glass of water, two or three times a day.
Contraindications
Avoid taking in case of ascertained hypersensitivity to one or more components.
Pharmacological interactions
- iron: tannins precipitate iron salts.