Practical
Plants

Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium

White Balsam

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.5 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The whole plant is anaphrodisiac, antiphlogistic, astringent, diaphoretic, expectorant, vermifuge[6][8]. It is used internally in the treatment of throat ulcers, chest complaints, intestinal and respiratory catarrh etc and is also applied externally as a poultice to bruises, indolent tumours etc[6][5]. A tea made from the leaves and flowers is a mild nerve sedative, diuretic and antispasmodic[4]. The fresh juice is considered to be aphrodisiac[4]. It is anaphrodisiac according to another report[6]. The aromatic dried flowers are used as a filling for pillows, having a sedative effect which is beneficial to consumptives[6]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the plant[6]. This has proved to be of benefit in the treatment of sciatica, lumbago and some forms of arthritis[6].

Product or use
Anaphrodisiac
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

The plant is used as an insect repellent, it is placed in bedmats, books etc[1] and in the linen cupboard[3]. The flower heads are used as a stuffing material for mattresses[3].

Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Stuffing

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Ontario to Georgia and Alabama.
Habitat
Pine woods and clearings[7] in dry open habitats[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.

Cultivation

Requires a dry soil in an open sunny position[2]. Plants are sometimes grown in the wild garden[2]. The leaves have a pleasant aromatic smell and an aromatic, slightly bitter, astringent agreeable taste[6].

References

  1. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  4. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  5. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  6. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  7. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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