Speedwell
(Veronica officinilis L., Scrophulariaceae)
Also Called: Bird's Eye, Common Speedwell.
Description: Perennial plant, creeping, except the flowering
stems, which are erect and 5-20cm (2-8in) high.
Leaves, about 1-3cm (0.4-1 in) long, are opposite, ovate or elliptical, slightly
hairy with finely dentate margin.
Flowers arranged in elongated racemes, small, 5-7mm (0.2-0-3in); corolla of
4 members, pale violet or rarely white (almost all other species of Veronica
have clear-blue or rarely white flowers).
Flowering: May-August.
Part Used: Dried flowering plant, also the juice expressed from the fresh plant.
Habitat and Collection: In open woods, clearings and poor
pastures throughout Europe; common in Britain.
The plants are collected when in flower and dried either in the shade or in
sunlight.
Constituents and Action: Active principles still insufficiently
known.
Tannin, a glycoside aucubin, traces of volatile oil and a saponin have been
found.
The actions are often overrated.
Speedwell is a mild diuretic and resolutive for coughs; depurative.
Usage: Mainly as a tisane (0.5 litre (1 pt) of cold water
on 2 tablespoonfuls of drug, boil for 5 minutes and allow to stand).
Internally for bronchitis, dropsy (little value) and for pains of the biliary
duct (little value).
Externally as a lotion or as compresses for skin eruptions and slow healing
wounds.
