Couch grass
Couch grass ( Cynodon dactylon)
Brief Background:
Couch grass is stated to possess diuretic properties due to the presence of carbohydrates such as mannitol and inulin.
It has been traditionally used for urinary tract infections and conditions relating to the kidneys, such as kidney stones. The essential oil has been used for its antimicrobial effects, while the extracts of couch grass have been used as a dietary component in patients with diabetes.
Expert Opinion and Historic Precedent:
In folk medicine, couch grass has been used as a diuretic in cases of bladder inflammation and bladder/kidney stones, and as a cough medicine to alleviate bronchial irritation. It has been used to treat gout, rheumatic disorders, chronic skin disorders and constipation. The herbal products are typically imported from Romania, Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, and Albania.
Formerly the decoction of couch grass roots was a popular drink taken to purify the blood in the spring. The herb or root is still a domestic remedy in France, and is taken as a demulcent (smoothing or softening agent) and also to increase sweat in the form of a tisane (an herbal infusion.
