Łódź, Botanical Garden

It is native to temperate areas of Europe and Asia. Ornamental plant. Bees feeding plant. Edible plant - young leaves raw or cooked in soups, they are not that tasty; the fresh or dried leaves are used as a tea substitute; flowers raw, cooked or used in conserves, as a garnish, they make an ornamental addition to the salad bowl; Herbal plant - the plant contains saponins, which have an expectorant effect, and salicylates which are the main ingredient of aspirin and have anodyne, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge effects; this remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women, patients who are sensitive to aspirin, or those taking anti-coagulant drugs such as warfarin; the flowers and the leaves are anodyne, diaphoretic, diuretic and expectorant; they are recommended for treating over-activity and sleeplessness, especially in children, they are potentially valuable in the treatment of asthma and other allergic conditions; at one time an oil was produced by maceration of the flowers, this has an antiecchymotic effect - treats bruising; roots contain 5 - 10% triterpenoid saponins which are strongly expectorant, stimulating a more liquid mucous and so easing the clearance of phlegm, it has been dried and made into a powder then used as a sternutatory.