ΚΟΤΗΛΥΔΩΝ
Umbilicus luteus
(Kidneywort)
Botanical info:
Kidneywort is a succulent, perennial flowering plant growing from 0.1 to 0.25 m tall. The flower stem rises from a basal rosette of fleshy leaves. It grows naturally as a chasmephyte, in limestone rocks and cliffs and in stony walls. Its native to south Europe. Flowering from May to August depending on the altitude.
Hippocratic legacy:
a. In Nature of Women, Bareness, and Diseases of Women 1:
a. The leaves of kidneywort are recommended as uterus anti-inflammatory.
Other uses:
The juice and extract of the kidneywort had an old reputation for epilepsy, but it has obtained no permanent reputation as a remedy. It is applied to the eyes as a remedy in some diseases. The leaves, bruised to a pulp and applied as a poultice, are said to cure piles, and are also recommended as an application for slight burns or scalds. A decoction of the leaves is considered cooling and diuretic, and the juice when taken inwardly to be excellent for inflammation of the liver and spleen.