Bistort Rhizome (Polygonum bistorta; Quan Shen; Cao He Che) Whole: 500 gm (1.17 lb): V

Bistort, also known as Osterick, Oderwort, Snakeweed, Adderwort, Dragonwort, Patience Dock, and Sweet Dock, is native to northern Europe, Siberia, western Asia, and Japan. It is a hardy perennial that grows to about 2-1/2 feet tall, with blue-green leaves and pink flowers. The name ‘Bistort’ comes from the Latin for ‘twisted twice’, which refers to the appearance of its curled rhizome. Bistort was used as a vegetable in England, and was used in herb puddings. However, it was always cultivated primarily for its medicinal use. In the past, Bistort was used to treat stomach disorders such as dysentery, diarrhea, and vomiting, as well as in the treatment of respiratory ailments and sore throat. It was also used to reduce menstrual bleeding. It is now known that these positive results were due to Bistort’s being among the strongest of astringents due to its high concentration of tannin. Bistort has been safely used in combination with several herbs for treating a variety of ailments. Bistort has been used with Marshmallow Root and Cranesbill Root to ease the discomfort of hemorrhoids. It has also been used in conjunction with Echinacea, Goldenseal, and Myrrh to treat minor wounds. Bistort is also used as a safe and mild vermifuge. It is effective in reducing mouth ulcers and is beneficial to the gums as well. Bistort also contains Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Bistort is one of the most strongly astringent of all herbs and it is used to contract tissues and staunch blood flow. The root is powerfully astringent, demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative and strongly styptic. It is gathered in early spring when the leaves are just beginning to shoot, and then dried. It is much used, both internally and externally, in the treatment of internal and external bleeding, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera etc. It is also taken internally in the treatment of a wide range of complaints including catarrh, cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis and excessive menstruation. Externally, it makes a good wash for small burns and wounds, and is used to treat pharyngitis, stomatitis, vaginal discharge, anal fissure etc. A mouth wash or gargle is used to treat spongy gums, mouth ulcers and sore throats. The leaves are astringent and have a great reputation in the treatment of wounds. Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': Bistort root is one of the strongest astringent medicines in the vegetable kingdom and highly styptic and may be used to advantage for all bleedings, whether external or internal and wherever astringency is required. Although its use has greatly been superseded by other astringents of foreign origin, it is of proved excellence in diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera and all bowel complaints and in haemorrhages from the lungs and stomach, and is a most effectual remedy for bleeding from the nose and exceedingly useful in dealing with haemorrhoids. It is used - as a medicine, injection and gargle - in mucous dis