Brooklime
(Veronica beccabunga L., Scrophulariaceae)
Also known as: Water pimpernel, Horse Cress.
Description: Perennial plant; stem creeping and rooting
at the base, then erect up to 50cm (20in) high.
It has a creeping root which sends up stems at every joint.
The smooth leaves are in pairs, rather broad and round. Opposite with short
petiole, broadly ovate, glabrous and glossy, margins finely dentate.
Its short stems grow from the main one with many small blue flowers that consist
of five small round pointed petals, in small racemes arising in the leaf axils;
corolla 4-8mm (0.15-0.3 in) long of 4 sky-blue segments.
Flowering: May-August.
Brooklime may be confused with watercress, which grows in the same environment,
but has pinnate leaves and white flowers.
Part Used: Fresh or dried plant; the juice expressed from the fresh plant.
Habitat and Collection: It grows commonly in streams,brooks
and ditches as a succulent plant, and ponds, wet places in meadows, marshes
throughout Europe, abundant in places; common in Britain.
Collected when in flower and dried either in the shade or in sunlight.
Constituents and Action: Amongst other things, this plant contains tannin, a pungent volatile oil, and sulphur, a saponin, and the glycoside aucubin. Its uses are certainly overestimated. It seems to be somewhat diuretic; the fresh plant and the juice expressed from it are probably mildly purgative.
The leaves, well washed and bruised, form a poultice for applying externally
to ulcers, burns and whitlows.
Frequent doses of the infusion of this herb are helpful for those suffering
from boils, abscesses and pimples.
Culpeper says, 'It serves to purge the blood and body from all ill humours
that would destroy health, and is helpful in scurvy'.
Usage: An infusion of the leaves is made by adding 1 pint
of boiling water to 1 oz. of the dried herb and when cold, a wineglassful
should be taken frequently.
The tisane (boil for an instant 2 tablespoonfuls of drug with 1 litre (1.75pt)
of water and allow to stand), the fresh plant eaten as a salad or the juice
expressed from the fresh plant (1 tablespoonful thrice daily) for retention
of urine (action doubtful).
'It is eaten', says Gerard, 'in sallads as watercresses are.'
