Bindweed Fields - Treatment and Benefits of Hedge, Jalap and Sea Bindweed

Latin description: Convolvulus scammonia

Common Name: Scammony, Syrian Bindweed

Different types of Bindweed

• Hedge Bindweed
• Jalap Bindweed
• Sea Bindweed

Parts Used: Root (milky juice of the leaves has also been employed as a purge in 1/2 oz doses).

Medcinal Uses and Benefits of Bindweed

• At one time the plant was gathered fresh just before blooming and boiled in ale to which nutmeg and clove had been added and the resulting decoction used as a strong and violent purge (only the robust dared to apply! The foolish didn't live to talk about it).
• Cathartic, diuretic, hepatic.
• Once used in the treatment of rheumatic and chronic diseases that would benefit from a purge.
• Leaves were applied externally to swollen feet.
• A drastic cathartic which works much like Jalap, but is more active and irritating and should not be used when inflammatory conditions of the alimentary canal are present.
  Was once used as a hydrogogue in cases of dropsy.