Medicinal Plants : Antennaria dioica

Name

Cat's Foot

Biological Name

Antennaria dioica

Other Names

Mountain everlasting, Cat's Foot

Parts Used

The flowering herb

Remedies For

Action

Cholagogue.

Uses

Cat's foot is useful for chronic problems with the biliary passages. It is also said to stimulate the flow of gastric juices and pancreatic secretions, and to raise blood pressure. It is sometimes recommended for dysentery, but better remedies are available.

Description

Cat's foot is a small perennial plant found growing in large patches in the mountains of the Pacific coast states of the USA and in both mountains and flatlands of Europe. It forms a mat of rosettes of narrow spatula- to lance-shaped leaves, dark green above but white-woolly on the undersides. In summer strong 8 in tall flower stems develop bearing clusters of white, pink or yellow flowerheads. The flowers grow in cymose clusters, the white male flowers having a filiform corolla, the rose- colored female flowers a tubular, 5-toothed corolla. Flowers appear from May to August.

Dosage

Infusion: Use 1 tsp. fresh or dried flowering herb with 1/2 cup boiling water; steep for 10 minutes. Take 1/2 to 1 cup a day.

Safety

No information available.