Restharrow Plant

Restharrow Plant is a perennial, herbaceous, and thorny plant with an upright stem that can reach 20 to 60 centimeters (sometimes more) in height . The stem is covered with hairs and the plant is often found in dry areas, uncultivated lands, or along roadsides. Restharrow Plant is characterized by its abundant pink flowers that bloom along the length of the stem. The fruit of Restharrow Plant is swollen and ends in a narrow, often curved tip.

Medicinal Uses

The root of the Restharrow Plant  is the most commonly used part for medicinal purposes. It has diuretic and choleretic (bile-promoting) properties. Traditionally, it has been used to treat:

• Inflammation of the bladder lining
• Kidney inflammation caused by kidney stones
• Edema (fluid retention)
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood)
• Gout (caused by a chronic increase in uric acid levels in the body)
• Chronic rheumatism
• Erysipelas (a skin infection)

A tisane (herbal infusion) made from the flowers of the Restharrow Plant is used as a blood purifier. The leaves and flowers also have diuretic properties. For external use, a decoction (a concentrated herbal infusion) made from the leaves, stems, and flowers has antiseptic properties and is used to treat eczema and itching. In veterinary medicine, it is used as a diuretic.

Distribution

Restharrow Plant grows in Iran, particularly in the Yazd region (Khast district) and Balochistan province.