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| Typha latifolia |
Denver Botanic Gardens
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Accession Number: 832141*1 Map | |
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Medicinal uses: Cattail pollen can be taken medicinally as capsules which act against nosebleeds, uterine bleeding, and blood in the urine. The pollen has strong hemostatic (something that stops bleeding) and astringent properties, as well as being a mild diuretic. In the past, the pollen has been a treatment for angina. Cattail roots have commonly been eaten as emergency food by campers. The new shoots of the plant can also be consumed by being boiled first. To treat burns, scrapes, bites and bruises with cattail root, you can split open a root and “bruise” the exposed portion so it can be used in a poultice in the injured area. Cattail ash is considered antiseptic as well and can be used to treat wounds and abrasions. It is not recommended to be used by pregnant women. Mythology/Folklore: Cattail isn’t the first plant that comes to mind when people think of medicinal plants, yet it has been used for centuries by Native Americans, the Chinese, and pioneers heading west on the Oregon trail. The jelly that grows between the leaves of the plant has been used for wounds, boils or infected skin, as well as treating pain. The Chinese mixed the pollen with honey and applied it to wounds as a poultice. Currently, Chinese researchers are investigating cattail pollen’s reputation for shrinking cancerous tumors. Other research shows that cattails are able to take up arsenic within polluted water. The “head” of a cattail is extremely flammable, as is its pollen, and both have been used in firework production. Medicinal recipe: Cattail Poultices : First estimate how much of the herb you will need for the area of skin you want to treat.Chop the herb into small pieces. Place these pieces into a mortar and pestle and crush into a pulp. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, a blender works just as well. Next, apply the crushed herbs to your skin, making sure the herbs evenly cover all areas. After application, wrap the poultice in gauze or muslin cloth to hold the poultice and not make a mess with the juices. Uses in treating burns. Culture: Fill 2-inch-deep starter pots with a moistened mixture of half seed-starting compost and half coarse sand. Sow two or three cattail seeds in each pot. Press the seeds onto the surface of the compost, then cover them with a 1/4-inch-thick layer of compost and sand. |
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