Sheep Sorrel
See also : Essiac Tea
Other names : Acedera, Acedera Común, Azeda-Brava, Common Sorrel, Field Sorrel, Garden Sorrel, Oseille, Oseille Commune, Oseille des Champs, Petite Oseille, Petite Oseille des Brebis, Red Sorrel, Rumex acetosa, Rumex acetosella, Sheep's Sorrel, Sorrel Dock, Sour Dock, Surette, Vignette, Vinette, Wiesensauerampfer.
Sorrel is a plant. People use the above ground parts for medicine. Sheep sorrel grows in many regions of the world and has been used as an herbal folk remedy for centuries in Europe and North America, especially for degenerative conditions and cancers. Sheep sorrel is well-known within the alternative cancer treatment community because it is a primary ingredient in Essiac tea, which was developed by a Canadian nurse decades ago to treat cancer. Sheep sorrel has not been scientifically investigated as a cancer remedy, so claims of its effectiveness are anecdotal. Consult with a health-care professional trained in herbology before you consume sheep sorrel as a supplement.
Sheep sorrel is a member of the buckwheat family and grows wild throughout most of the world, especially in open pastures and rocky areas. It is used medicinally and as a seasoning or garnish for meat dishes and salads. Most Americans consider sheep sorrel to be a common weed, although it is a plant with many potential health benefits.
Special Precautions of Sheep Sorrel
- Kidney disease: Large amounts of sorrel might increase the risk of kidney stones. Don’t use sorrel without a healthcare professional’s advice if you have ever had kidney stones.
- Be careful not to confuse sorrel (Rumex acetosa) with roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), which is known as Jamaican sorrel or Guinea sorrel.
- When taken in large amounts, sorrel might increase the risk of developing kidney stones. There is also a report of death after consuming a large amount (500 grams) of sorrel.
- pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
- Children: Sorrel might be UNSAFE in children when taken by mouth in large amounts. Sorrel contains oxalic acid. There is concern because a four-year-old child died after eating rhubarb leaves, which also contain oxalic acid.
The benefits of Sheep Sorrel are
- Antioxidant Properties : Sheep sorrel is a rich source of vitamins C and E, anthraquinones, beta-carotene and other carotenoids, which are all powerful antioxidants. In fact, according to "The New Healing Herbs," sheep sorrel is one of the most potent antioxidant herbs known. Antioxidants scavenge and eliminate free-radicals, which cause tissue deterioration, blood vessel damage and contribute to the development of many types of cancer.
- Chlorophyll : Sheep sorrel is an especially good source of chlorophyll, the green substance in plants used for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll is similar in composition to human blood and when consumed, it stimulates the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin, which are needed to carry oxygen throughout your body, as cited in "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition." Highly oxygenated tissues stimulate metabolism and deter the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms and cancer cells, which thrive in low-oxygen environments.
- Sheep sorrel also contains oxalic, citric, malic, tannic and tartaric acids, which display antibacterial and anti-diarrhea properties and help to regulate digestion.
- It is also a good source of sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, silicon and phosphorous, which promote glandular health and electrolyte balance.
- The oxalic acid and vitamin K in sheep sorrel promote blood coagulation, making it effective for controlling hemorrhages.
- Sheep sorrel leaves are valued as a diuretic to remove excess fluid from the body, which is of benefit for some genitourinary and cardiovascular diseases, as cited in "Biochemistry of Human Nutrition."
- Inflamed nasal passage, or "sinusitis," when taken with gentian root, European elder flower, verbena, and cowslip flower (SinuComp, Sinupret). Sorrel contains tannins, which have a drying effect to reduce mucous production.
- Cancer : Used in herbal remedies, such as Essiac, sheep's sorrel both cleanses tissues and helps aid in their regeneration. In fact, some research has even shown that it helps tissues and cells regain their normal attributes after being damaged by cancer. It was found that extracts of Polygonum hydropiper, Rumex acetosa, Rumex alpinus, Rumex aquaticus, Rumex scutatus and Rumex thyrsiflorus demonstrated substantial cell growth inhibitory activity against one or more cell lines.
