Rupturewort

Other names : Herniaria Glabra, Herniaria Hirsuta, Bruchkraut, Herniaria

Indigenous to Africa and Eurasia,  Rupturewort is a very good choice if you are looking for a dense, smooth evergreen carpet, a lawn alternative or the perfect ground cover. Called also “Green Carpet”, Rupturewort grows slowly up to 4 cm and spreads easily in all directions, each plant being able to cover up to 2 feet. In older times, Rupturewort parts growing above the ground were used as a herbal remedy for ruptures and hernias of the skin.

The chemicals contained in the plant have diuretic properties, increasing the loss of water from the tissues and helps treat fluid retentions and various urinary tract diseases. An active, crystalline principle discovered in the plant, called Herniarine had excellent results in the treatment of cardiac or nephritic dropsy. Traditional folk medicine recommends Rupturewort infusion in renal lithiasis, as the herb dissolves successfully phosphate calculi and eliminates chlorine and urea. The phytotherapeutic cure can last up to 6 months and the infusion obtained with 7 g Rupturewort to 250 ml of water is administered in doses of 50 ml, three times a day. The decoction of 1 teaspoon of dried, chopped plant  for a cup of water, boiled for 10 minutes is usually taken 20 minutes before a meal.  Chronic cystitis, nephritis, urinary colics and albuminuria (albumin presence in the urine) can also benefit from Rupturewort use.

Some take Rupturewort in rheumatism and arthritis, gout and lung problems or to purify the blood, but more research is needed to acknowledge the effectiveness of these uses.