Traditional uses of Scurvy Grass – Cochlearia officinalis

Scurvygrass scientifically known as Cochlearia officinalis is a flowering plant of the genus Cochlearia in the family Brassicaceae. It is a member of the large brassicaceae family, which includes sea kale, bitter cress, common and greater cuckoo flower, sea radish, mustard and of course all the very familiar cultivated vegetables that go towards “meat and two veg”. The plant is native to Europe and temperate regions of Asia and North America. Common scurvy-grass, Scurvy-grass, Spoonwort, Common scurvy grass, Scurvey grass, scorbute grass and scurvy weed are few of the popular common names of the plant.  The plant acquired its common name from the observation that it cured scurvy, and it was taken on board ships in dried bundles or distilled extracts.

Though the herb is known as scurvy grass, in reality it is not a grass, but belongs to the cabbage family. Interestingly, this plant is also found growing in the wild in alpine environments. The plant derives its common name from the reality that its leaves have rich content of vitamin C and sailors suffering from dearth of vitamin C when they spend prolonged periods at sea would sail ashore and consume the leaves of scurvy grass to get relief from their condition – scurvy. Cochlearia, the generic name, comes from the Greek noun kochlarion, meaning a spoon; it is a reference to the spoon-shaped lower leaves of plants in this genus. The specific epithet officinalis is Latin and translates to ‘official’ – a description that was applied to many plants that were thought to be of high pharmaceutical value. The common name is occasionally written as Scurvygrass or occasionally as Scurvy Grass.

Scurvy Grass Facts

Plant Description

Scurvy Grass is a small, low-growing, very variable annual or perennial plant that normally grows about 10–50 cm (3.9–19.7 in) tall. The plant is found growing in sea cliffs, coastal marshes, salt mines, saline springs, salt marshes, coastal cliffs, walls, rocky, muddy seashores, and gravel beaches, crevices in beach cliffs, grassy cliffs, coastal roadside lanes, mountain rock ledges and gullies. The plant has a preference for sandy or light, loamy or medium and clay (heavy) soils that have an adequate drainage. Additionally, this plant has a preference for basic (alkaline), acidic and neutral soils. It also has the ability to grow in saline soils. Stems are hairless and long stalked with fleshy leaves.

Leaves

Radical leaves are heart or kidney-shaped, fleshy, succulent, and stand upon long footstalks. The stem-leaves are alternate, rhomboidal, blunt, and dentated on each side. Top the leaves are sessile, or embracing the stem, but towards the bottom they are frequently upon short broad footstalks.

Flowers

Flowers are cruciform, and stand upon short peduncles, terminating the branches in thick clusters. The calyx consists of four leafits, which are oval, blunt, concave, gaping, deciduous, and whitish at the margin. Petals are four, white, oval, spreading, and twice the length of the calyx. Filaments are six, four long and two short, greenish, tapering, and crowned with yellow anthers; it has no style. Flowering normally takes place from May to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite and are pollinated by bees, flies, and beetles. It is also noted for attracting wildlife and not being frost tender.

Fruits

Fertile flowers are followed by small almost globose pod containing small round seeds are reddish brown. The seeds ripen from July to September. It has an unpleasant smell and a bitter, warm, acrid taste, very pungent when fresh.

History & Folklore

As the common name suggests, this plant has long been used for its high vitamin C content. It was used by sailors and others to prevent the onset of scurvy, a potentially fatal vitamin C deficiency marked by bleeding of the gums. The 17^th century English physician Robert Turner recommended scurvy grass taken in ale as a remedy for a range of conditions, including “ague.” Prior to the discovery of vitamins, the effectiveness of the plant in preventing scurvy was credited to its volatile oil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0ZrKAJnHEQ

Traditional uses and benefits of Scurvy Grass

• The herb is antiscorbutic, aperient, disinfectant, diuretic and stimulant.
• This plant was highly valued by sailors of the past and was taken in the diet daily as a preventative for scurvy on long sea trips.
• It is best used when fresh though it can also be harvested in late spring or early summer and dried for later use.
• It was once used as herbalists as a cure for scurvy, as the plant consists of Vitamin C.
• Essential oil is beneficial in paralytic and rheumatic cases; scurvy-grass ale was a popular tonic drink.
• Scurvy grass is astringent and may be applied to lessen or stop a nosebleed or other types of bleeding wounds.
• It is also known to be an effective diuretic and is recommended by herbalists for treating health conditions like dropsy and kidney stones.
• Use of the juice extracted from the leaves of scurvy grass helps in cleaning up blotches on the skin.
• Common scurvy grass possesses diuretic attributes and is helpful in treating any type of health condition wherein malnutrition is an issue.
• Juice extracted from the leaves of the common scurvy grass may be used as an antiseptic mouthwash to treat canker sores.
• Juice can also be applied topically on the skin to treat pimples as well as spots.
• Applied externally, the crushed leaves of the plant are applied topically to cure ulcers.
• In the present times, herbalists recommend the topical application of the common scurvy grass leaves to treat ulcers and wounds that heal very sluggishly.
• The juice, when diluted with water, makes a good mouth-wash for spongy gums.
• It can be used in the form of a juice as an antiseptic mouthwash for canker sores, and can also be applied externally to spots and pimples.

Culinary Uses

• Leaves can be consumed raw.
• An acrid tarry flavor, it can be added in small quantities to salads for its high content of vitamin C.

Precautions

• The plant also has the potential to cause skin irritation when it is applied straight away on the skin.
• When this herb is taken orally in large amounts it may result in stomach and intestinal pain.
• They should not use this herb during pregnancy or while breast feeding.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=22816#null

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cochlearia+officinalis

https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/113397

http://www.floracatalana.net/cochlearia-officinalis-l-subsp-pyrenaica-dc-rouy-et-fouc

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=COOF4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlearia_officinalis

https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=11010

http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2729901

https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/s/scurvy35.html

https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/CCLOF

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