White Deadnettle

(Lamium album L., Labiatae)

Also Called: Archangel.

Description: Perennial plant spreading widely over large areas by means of creeping subterranean stolons. Flowering stems erect, 20-40cm (8-16in) high, downy, square.
Leaves opposite, ovate, shortly petiolate or sessile, 4-7cm (1.5-2.75in) long, downy, with deeply dentate margin.
Flowers 6-16 in axillary whorls; corolla yellowish-white with large upper lip.
Flowering: May-August.

Parts Used:
1. Dried flowering plant.
2. Dried corolla and stamens.
The entire plant is probably more efficacious than the corolla.

Habitat and Collection: In hedges, roadsides, near stables, on waste ground, generally in warm places; unevenly distributed throughout Europe.
Common in England and southern Scotland. Collected when in flower and rapidly dried in the shade at less than 35°C (95° F).

Constituents and Action: Traces of volatile oil, tannin, flavonoids and mucilage.
It has a regulating action on the intestine, is resolutive in treatment of catarrhs of the respiratory tract, is diuretic and moderates periods.
Its action is mild.

Usage: Generally as a tisane (boil 1-2 tablespoonfuls of drug with 1 litre (1.75pt) of water and allow to stand) to regulate intestinal function, for diarrhoea, constipation and for catarrh of the respiratory tract.
Externally this infusion is used in compresses or as a lotion for burns and other wounds.