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Sea Holly Herb - Uses And Side Effects

Sea Holly ( Eryngium maritinum, Eryngium campestre ) of the family Eryngo , abounds on most of the sandy seashores of England, and is very plentiful on its East Coast, and also on the sands of Mounts Bay, Cornwall, but is rare in Scotland. This spiny plant, which at first sight might be taken rather for a thistle than a member of the umbelliferous order, is sometimes called by old English writers Sea Hulver and Sea Holme.

Sea Holly is a perennial herb that have been referenced in latin medical and herbal texts that date back to the late 12th century. Generally grown ornamentally for their interesting metallic spiny-toothed foliage and flower heads that are formed from thistle-like bracts surrounding a central flower. It is these thistle-like bracts that give rise to the name Sea Holly .

Sea Holly flowers, bracts and upper stems develop a steel blue gray color in the later part of their growing season. If dried in darkness, this blue will remain and offers a very interesting texture and rare natural blue color. Sea Holly is an excellent dried flower but we recommend wearing gloves when working with it to avoid the spiny leaves.

Common doses of Sea Holly

Sea holly comes as dried roots, extract, and tincture. Some experts recommend the following dose:

• As a diuretic, take a decoction (tea) or tincture three times daily.

Uses of Sea Holly herb

Sea Holly exhibits diaphoretic, diuretic, aromatic, stimulant, and expectorant properties. Eryngo promotes a free expectoration, and possessing an aromatic principle is very serviceable in debility attendant upon coughs of chronic standing in the advanced stages of pulmonary consumption, in which it has been used in the candied form with great benefit. Specifically, sea holly may help to:-

• Bladder inflammation
• Fluid retention
• Kidney stones
• Prostate enlargement or inflammation
• Urethral inflammation and other urologic conditions

Side effects of Sea Holly

Call your health care practitioner if you experience unusual symptoms while using sea holly.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you're taking, especially diuretics. Sea holly could increase the diuretic's effect on your body's chemical balance.

Important points to remember

• Don't use sea holly if you're pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Avoid this herb if you're taking a diuretic.
• Know that long-term use of sea holly can cause an imbalance in body fluids and chemicals.

Other names for Sea Holly

Other names for sea holly include eryngo, sea holme, and sea hulver.