Scientific Name mijo de sollithospermum erythorryzon BENASQUE TEA
Other Names:
Pearl, Cañamones de Monte, Grains of love, Litospermo, Perlina, Quebrantahoces, Tea of Benasque
Habitat: frequent in calcáreos lands of all Europe. In the Iberian Peninsula it is being scarce as we moved towards the west. Little known in America.
Description: it plants vivaz of the family of the Boragináceas, that reaches from 40 to 80 cms. of height. Their vellosas leaves are something, with the salient nerves on the other hand inferior. The seeds are cleared, very hard, and with porcelain aspect.
Used parts: the seeds and the leaves.
Properties and indications: all the plant is rich in silicon and calcium, in addition to mucílagos and pigments. From the antiquity it has been used to dissolve the urinary calculations. It is a powerful uricosúrico diurético (it facilitates the úrico acid elimination). It dissolves river sands of it tinkles it and it can get to dissolve a renal calculation, specially if it is made up of uratos. Very recommended in case of renal cólico and drop. Also it has digestive properties. By his bitter flavor, it is a tonic of all the digestive organs: it opens the appetite and it facilitates the digestion.
Use: Infusion with 50-100 grams of seeds and leaves by liter of water, of which 3 or 4 daily cups are consumed. Formerly the crushed seeds were taken.