Scientific Name vellosilla hieracium pilosella GRASS OF THE HEALTH
Other Names:
Cerrillejo, Grass of the Health, Pilosela, Ear of Mouse
The use of vellosilla, although it goes back to the Average Age, is not very extended, because, perhaps once dry, it loses his medicinal virtues.
Habitat: clear prairies and of forest of all Europe, except of the Mediterranean coast. Spread by the Atlantic coast of North America.
Description: it plants vivaz of the family of the Compound ones, with a rosette of vellosas leaves in his base, whose center it leaves a stem without leaves, of 10 to 20 cm of height, finished in a yellow floral chapter.
Used parts: the fresh whole plant.
Properties and indications: it contains great amount of tannin, that it makes astringent strongly; flavonoides; an essential oil, of diuréticas and depurativas properties; mucílagos, of antiinflammatory action; and a cumarínica substance derived from umbeliferona, antibiotic action. These are their indications:
Diarreas and disenterías: sanguinolentas stops the depositions.
Edemas, nefrosis (albuminuria), renal insufficiency: besides to increase the volume of it tinkles, it favors the elimination of urea and desinflama the kidneys.
Hemorrhages: its strong action astringent causes that, applied locally, it stops the nasal hemorrhages. Seizure internally, in infusion, also is used against the excessive menstruations.
Brucelosis: their antibiotic principles selectively act against the Brucella mellitensis, bacterium cause of the brucelosis or fevers of Malta. It has been verified that the cattle that paste in the meadows where vellosilla abounds does not suffer brucelosis. It reduces the fever and it makes stop perspiration characteristic of this disease. It is necessary to take it during several months.
Use: infusion with 50 or 60 grams of fresh plant by liter of water, from which they are taken from 3 to 5 sweetened daily cups with honey.
Externally, it is used more for nasal obstructions that are made with a soaked gauze or cotton in the described infusion para.uso.interno, but concentrated (of 100 to 150 grams by liter).