Medicine at your Feet
Plants and Food
(If you wish to act on any of the information on this website, you must consult with a healthcare professional. Do not try to be your own doctor)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Anagallis arvensis

Plant Name: Anagallis arvensis
Common Name: SCARLET PIMPERNEL
Family: Primulaceae (Primrose family)
Status in Hawai'i: Alien. Low pest factor.
Where it grows in Hawai'i: Low elevations in dry or occasionally moist areas.
Part Used: Whole plant
Uses:
* Scarlet Pimpernel is a plant with a long history of use in Europe, Greece, China, and South America. Its traditional uses include treatments for depression, urinary tract infections,
*It has been used for neurological disorders including depression and madness. The genus name "Anagallis" comes from the Greek name Anagelao "to laugh" because of it's use among the ancient Greeks for depression. The name was given by Dioscorides..
* Scarlet Pimpernel was once considered a universal cure-all: "No heart can think, no tongue can tell, the virtues of the Pimpernel."
* Used for the "bites of mad dogs". "Used inwardly and applied outwardly, it helpeth also all stinging and biting of venomous beasts or mad dogs." (Culpepper)
* Historically used as a cosmetic herb. "If she'd only used my pimpernel water, for she has one monstrous freckle in her forehead." (The Old Commodore, 1837). "The distilled water or juice is much celebrated by French dames to cleanse the skin from any roughness, deformity or discolourings thereof."
* Also for eye diseases."It helpeth them that are dim-sighted,' (Gerard and Culpepper). Juiced fresh, mixed with honey and used topically.
* Fungicidal and possibly estrogenic.
* And finally, just in case it's warranted... "the Herb Pimpernel is good to prevent witchcraft, as Mother Bumby doth affirm."

Cautions: Short term use only.