Figwort, a plant that belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family, is also known as Scrophularia nodosa, rosenoble , kernelwort, and throatwort. Figwort is native to Continental Europe, North America, England, as well as Central Asia.
The plant actually has an offensive odor and taste. Figwort contain mainly flavonoids, amino acids, saponins, sucrose, phenolic acids (such as acid, vanillic acid, cinnamic acid, and caffeic acid), phytosterols, cardiac glycoside, iridoids, asparagine, essential fatty acids, resin, diosmin, acids (such as caffeic, ferulic, cumaric), alkaloids, mineral salts, mannitol, and hesperetin.
Figwort also contains anodyne, diuretic, and depurative properties which aid in detoxification and cleansing, relieves pain, and promotes blood circulation. This herb is also used in homeopathic medicines in the forms of teas, ointments, teas, tinctures, poultices, and decoctions for the treatment of certain health conditions.
The Health Benefits of Figwort
Figwort contains amazing antioxidant compounds that are good for the body. As figwort contains compounds such as alkaloids, saponins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. Due to this, figwort is effective as a tonic to destroy an accumulation of toxins in the body.
Figwort health benefits include being a natural diuretic. Figwort is commonly consumed as a water pill to help improve urination and reduce bloating and inflammation. The health benefits of figwort also include being a natural pain reliever that can be effective for a wide range of conditions.
Figwort benefits include being a topical treatment that can be applied to the skin for health conditions such as scrapes and burns.
The health benefits of figwort include:
- Improving blood circulation
- Significantly reducing inflammation. Figwort is also a safe remedy for psoriasis. Figwort can help to reduce inflammation and irritation caused by psoriasis.
- Treating strains and sprains.
- Stimulating the heart
- Acting as a natural laxative
- As a natural laxative, figwort is effective for preventing and stopping constipation.
- Applying figwort topically to eczema patches (dermatitis) can help treat irritated skin.
- Figwort is used as a natural remedy for itching. Figwort can help treat irritation brought on by itching skin by applying it directly to the affected spot.
- Drinking a figwort tea can help in the treatment of the common cold.
Others include:
- When used externally, it can treat an earache, hemorrhoids, lacrimation, and venereal warts.
- It also effective for treating rabies.
- Figwort is used as a treatment for tonsillar hypotony and chronic tonsillitis.
- Apply it externally for inflammation of mammage, piles, ringworm, itch, painful swellings, and bruises.
- Figwort provides relief from the pain during menstruation.
- It is used to detoxify the body.
- Figwort is used as a treatment for tumors and cancers.
- The tincture made from leaves is used for fatigue and constipation.
- Apply the compresses soaked in an infusion to cure ulcers, wounds, and swellings.
- The washes made from infusion are a treatment for skin inflammations and fungal infections.
- The root decoction is useful for swollen glands, tonsillitis and throat problems.
- It also eliminates worms from the body.
- The decoction made from the root of Figwort is used to treat problems associated with throat, swollen glands and tonsillitis.
- It also heals abscesses and swellings of lymphatic glands.
- Figwort is used to provide relief from a sore throat, fevers and swollen red eyes related to adrenal deficiency and general toxemia.
- The infusion or tea made from Figwort is used to clear accumulation of toxic substances in the body and useful for nodes, lymphatic glands, and rheumatic problems as well as skin problems such as scabies, scurf, pruritis, and rashes.
- Prepare a bath with floral stalks to relieve rheumatism and foot aches.
- Apply an ointment of figwort plant to wounds, bruises, scratches, ulcers, and sore swellings.
- Apply the crushed leaves to swellings and burns.
- Figwort tea is used to stimulate the lymphatic system, blood & circulatory system, heal burns, and treat ulcers and hemorrhoids.
- Figwort is known to possess anti-tumor properties.
Side Effects and Precautions
- Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should steer clear of figwort.
- Figwort may interact with other medicines.
- Figwort should not be administered to children.
- Individuals who suffer from ventricular tachycardia and cardiovascular issues should not use the herb.
- This plant’s side effects can affect people with heart-related health conditions. As a natural heart stimulant, figwort can aggravate irregular heartbeats or other heart disorders as it contains cardiac glycosides that bad for the heart.
- When used in excess, figwort can lead to diarrhea and vomiting.
- Since figwort has a high content of saponins, it severely dilutes the blood and causes serious side effects.
- People who are diabetic should monitor their blood sugar level while using figwort.
- Always consult a health physician before using it medicinally.
The Bottom Line
Generally, figwort is used as a cleansing agent to eliminate impurities, stagnant infections, and to purify the lymph nodes and systems. Apart from psoriasis and eczema, topically, figwort is also used for common maladies like issues such as sores, wounds, sprains, swellings, as well as abscesses. In fact, figwort herb can be made into herbal ointments and teas for topical and internal healing reasons. Modern herbalists use the herb for not just topical issues but also for thyroid problems.
While figwort maybe a very old therapeutic herb, scientists are now identifying a range of its components by conducting biochemical analyses. So many years ago, the herb was used by pharmacists who called it ficaria major and prescribed it for the treatment of hemorrhoids. Also, herbalists also refer to figwort as Scrophularia, as it was effective for treating scrofulous health conditions such as tuberculosis of the lymphatic glands as well as other conditions that were characterized by swellings and eruptions.
Just like its close family member known as foxglove, figwort also contains a substance that is cardioactive active and acts to strengthen heart functions, while significantly slowing down the heart rate. This means that if this herb is used internally by anyone who is not a qualified medical practitioner, it may increase the risks of harmful health complications. In addition, figwort also contains very strong and potentially dangerous laxative as well as emetic properties.
And like we stated earlier, for cosmetic purposes, figwort can be infused in oil, decoct, or tincture for use in balms, liniments, and salves. It can also be applied moist as a poultice.
