Of the Field man litter has been firmly established in herbal medicine for centuries. How the thorny herb got its official name "Feld-Mannstreu" is not known for sure - there are some theories about it.
Occurrence & cultivation of field man litter
From its external appearance the Field man litter often mistaken for a daisy family, but that is a fallacy. The field man litter is a prickly umbelliferous plant. Since its leaves are reminiscent of a thistle, the herbaceous plant is also known by the name Curly thistle, Thistle, Donard thistle or common safflower known.
The distribution area of the field man litter stretches from central to southern Europe. Its height is around 20 to 70 cm. The plant is perennial and can cope with a lot of sun.The field man litter prefers stony places, sandy soils, roadsides, dry (poor) meadows and dams as a location. It thrives particularly well in a calcareous clay soil. Its spiky, well-branched stems, which are bordered by shimmering blue-green-white leaves, are an effective protection against grazing cattle that are in search of food.
The animals cannot do anything with the thorny plant and disdain it. In summer, the field man litter blooms from July to August. During this phase, small round flowers form at the end of the strongly branched stems. These shine in a gray-greenish white and have thorny spike tips.
Effect & application
In autumn, the stalks detach from the roots, making the entire above-ground part of the field man litter a sowing organ. It retains its spherical shape even after it has detached itself from the ground. If the wind picks up, the thorn bush is driven through the landscape, whereby its seeds are distributed throughout the landscape. Since the rolling bundles can look a bit threatening, especially at night, the plant has its name in the vernacular Steppe roller or Steppe witch given.
For herbal medicine, both the leaves collected from the beginning of July to the beginning of September and the roots dug up after the flowering period are of interest. The roots taste similar to chestnuts when cooked - and can also be used like them. A root infusion is also easy to make: The best way to do this is to boil the roots in wine for a while. Other parts of the field man litter that can be relevant for the kitchen are the young shoots of the plant, which, for example, result in a tasty wild herb salad.
If the still tender leaves of the shrub are pickled in vinegar, they can be used like cucumbers. If a little sugar is added to the vinegar, it underlines the sweet taste of the leaves. After the first sweetness, however, the taste is rather bitter and between bitter and spicy. In addition, the field man litter flowers produce a relatively large amount of nectar. The shrub is very popular as a food for pollinator insects such as wild bees, honeybees and wasps.
The important ingredients of the field man litter are essential oils, mineral salts, glycosides, flavonoids and saponins. In herbalism, the plant is known for its slightly diuretic and antispasmodic properties. In the area of women's complaints, the field man litter is said to have menstruation-regulating potential. In addition, the intake is supposed to stimulate the appetite and have an expectorant effect in the case of respiratory diseases.
Importance for health, treatment & prevention
So that the field man litter can develop its natural healing powers, it is only used internally. Because the field man litter can be used as a spice and food or drink, it is easy to take. The indications that have suggested taking the plant since ancient times are inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract as well as kidney and bladder stones.
Even if there is too much urea in the blood and edema, people often fall back on the flushing and urinary effect of the field man litter. In the case of chronic loss of appetite or if the appetite has not returned due to a long illness, the field man litter also promises a remedy. The brew of the boiled roots has a particularly supportive effect.
The plant brew also relieves and relaxes stomach pains, cramps and menstrual cramps. The herbal help of the field man litter is also a means of choice for complaints of the respiratory organs. In the case of coughs, whooping cough and covered lungs, the mucus loosens much more easily when ingested and thus leads to recovery more quickly. Feld-Mannstreu also has a glorious past as an aphrodisiac. Sappho, the poet from the Greek island of Lesbos, is said to have used field man's litter as an aphrodisiac.
Candied root pieces were used for this purpose through the centuries until modern times. Just as steadfast as the plant moves in the wind, it should be about the male's potency when taken. The addition of loyalty in the plant name also leaves room for interpretation. It's more about the sharp spikes. If these are put in bed for a man if he is suspected of infidelity, it is said to have an educational effect.
And the women were not spared either: a little field-man-litter in the pillow should remind them of the loyalty of their men while they are at war. But that does not stop the theories: among the ancient Teutons, the clusters of Donard thistle (colloquially for field man's litter) hung on the houses as protection during thunderstorms. Because Donar was worshiped by the Teutons as the god of thunder.
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