Parseley Piert
alchemilla arvensis (Scop.)
aphanes arvensis (L.)
Rosaceae

AKA
parsley breakstone
parsley piercestone
field lady's mantle

Description
Alchemilla arvensis is a small, much-branched green annual herb 2-7cm high.
It is covered in soft hair; with sharply divided leaves on short stalks.
Tiny green sessile flowers without petals occur
in axillary clusters, surrounded by toothed, leaf-like stipules.
More or less prostrate, it grows on stony ground walls throughout Britain,
Europe and Western Asia.

Parts used
aerial parts
The whole herb, either fresh or dried.
It has an astringent taste, but no odor.

Collect in summer, when in flower.

Constituents
Constituents largely unknown.
Tannins are present.

Actions
antilithic
diuretic
demulcent to urinary mucosa
refrigerant
Its chief employment is in gravel, stone, dropsy and generally
for complaints of the bladder and kidneys.
Acting directly on the parts affected, it is found very valuable,
even in apparently incurable cases.
It operates violently, but safely, by urine and removes
obstructions of the liver, being therefore useful in jaundice.

Indications: kidney and bladder calculi, dysuria, strangury,
oedema of hepatic or renal origin.

Therapeutics and Pharmacology
Alchemilla arvensis is commonly used
for the removal of kidney and urinary stones and gravel.
It has a potent diuretic action as well as a soothing demulcent
on the urinary tract and is of benefit in all cases of painful urination.
It may be used where there is water retention, especially
where this is due to kidney or liver problems.

Combinations
It combines well with; Parietaria, Scoparium or Barosma
in cases of kidney stones or gravel, and with Althaea as a demulcent.

Preparation and Dosage
(thrice daily)

Regulatory status GSL

Dried plant 2-4g or by infusion

Fluid extract dose, 1 drachm.

Liquid Extract 1:1 in 25% alcohol, 2-4ml

Tincture 1:5 in 45% alcohol, 2-10ml

It is prescribed in the form of an infusion a handful of the herb
to a pint of boiling water - taken daily in half-teacupful doses,
three or four times daily.
When used alone, it forms a useful remedy in all these complaints,
its best action is seen, however, when compounded with other diuretics,
such as; Broom, Buchu leaves, Wild Carrot, Juniper Berries,
Parsley Root, and  Pellitory-of-the-Wall.

To soothe and help the passage of the irritating substance,
it is often combined with a demulcents such as; Comfrey,
Marshmallow, Sweet Flagroot, Hollyhock, Mullein flowers,
Gum Arabic, and  Slippery Elm Bark.

Some of the older herbalists considered it best when fresh gathered.
Culpepper, after telling us of its powers in expelling stone, tells us that:
'it is a very good salad herb and it were well that the gentry would pickle it up
as they pickle up Samphire for their use all the winter because it is a very
wholesome herb, and may be kept either dried or in a syrup.'
You may take a drachm of the powder of it in sherry wine: it will bring away
gravel from the kidneys insensibly and without pain.
It cures strangury.


See LADY'S MANTLE.

Bibliography
BHMA 1983
British Herbal Pharmacopoeia,
BHMA, Bournemouth.

Grieve, M. 1931
A Modern Herbal,
(ed. C.F. Leyel 1985),
London.

Hoffmann, D. 1990
The New Holistic Herbal,
Second Edition, Element, Shaftesbury.

Mills, S.Y. 1993
The A-Z of Modern Herbalism,
Diamond Books, London.

Polunin, M. and Robbins, C. 1992
The Natural Pharmacy,
Dorling Kindersley,
London.

Wren, R.C. 1988
Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations,
C.W.Daniel,
Saffron Walden.