COUCHGRASS QQUACKGRASS ELYTRIGIA REPENS

COUCHGRASS, QUACKGRASS (Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski) ++

Synonyms :
- Agropyron firmum J. Presl, A. repens (L.) P. Beauv., A. repens var. bromiforme Schur, A. repens var. glaucescens Peterm., Elymus repens (L.) Gould, Triticum firmum (J. Presl) Link, T. repens L. Regrettably, Gruenwald (2000) used triticum as the common name, though listing 10 that could have been more appropriate and/or less confusing. Triticum is the Latin name for wheat, but not wheat-grass or couch-grass (JAD).

Activities (Couchgrass) :
- Anthelminthic (f; DEM); Antibacterial (1; APA); Antiedemic (1; CAN); Antiinflammatory (1; CAN); Antiseptic (1; CAN; PH2); Decongestant (f; APA); Demulcent (f; APA); Diuretic (1; APA; CAN; FAD); Herbicide (1; CAN); Litholytic (1; PH2); Sedative (1; CAN).

Indications (Couchgrass) :
- Arthrosis (f; PH2); Bacteria (1; APA); Bladder Stone (2; PH2); BPH (2; CAN); Bronchosis (2; APA; PHR); Calculus (2; CAN); Cancer (f; JLH); Cancer, liver (f; JLH); Cancer, pylorus (f; JLH); Cancer, tonsil (f; JLH); Cold (f; PHR); Congestion (f; APA); Constipation (1; PHR; PH2); Cough (f; APA; PHR; PH2); Cystosis (1; APA; CAN); Dermatosis (1; APA; PH2); Diabetes (1; PHR; PH2); Dysuria (f; DEM); Enuresis (f; DEM); Fever (f; PHR); Gout (1; PHR; PH2); Gravel (1; FAD; KOM; PH2); Incontinence (f; DEM; FAD); Infection (2; KOM; PHR); Inflammation (1; CAN; PH2); Insomnia (1; CAN); Kidney Stone (2; APA; PHR; PH2); Lithuria (2; FAD); Mucososis (f; APA); Nephrosis (1; KOM); Nervousness (1; CAN); Pain (f; PH2);
Pharyngosis (2; PHR); Prostatosis (2; APA; CAN; FNF); Rheumatism (f; PH2); Sclerosis (f; JLH);
Stomatosis (2; PHR); Stone (1; PH2); Swelling (1; CAN; DEM; FAD); Tonsilosis (f; JLH); Urethrosis (2; CAN; PH2); UTI (2; APA; KOM; PH2); Water Retention (1; APA; CAN; FAD); Worm (f; DEM; FAD).

Dosages (Couchgrass) :
- 2 - 3 tsp chopped rhizome/cup water to 4 ×/day (APA; WIC); 4 - 8 g rhizome as tea 3 ×/day (CAN); 5 - 15 ml rhizome tincture (1:5 in 40% alcohol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 4 - 8 ml liquid rhizome extract (PNC); 4 - 8 ml liquid extract (1:1 in 25% ethanol) 3 ×/day (CAN).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Couchgrass) :
- Class 1, 2b, 2c (AHP). In view of its reputed diuretic action, excessive or prolonged use of couchgrass should be avoided since this may result in hypokalemia. The use of couchgrass during pregnancy and lactation should be avoided. (AHP). Irrigation therapy contraindicated in edema due to cardiac or renal insufficiency (KOM). Varro Tyler cautioned against self-medication for BPH. Whenever
treating BPH, a practitioner should be involved. Base-line levels of PSA should be established before considering an herbal treatment (JAD).

Extracts (Couchgrass) :
- EO antimicrobial (KOM). Agropyrene broadly antibiotic (PNC). With antibiotic and diuretic activity proven in animals at least, the plant may be considered potentially useful in -itises, at least of the urinary tract. Commission E, sensu Blumenthal et al. (1998), approves 6 - 9 g dry quackgrass a day for irrigation therapy for inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract and for the prevention (not treatment, JAD) of kidney gravel (KOM). Commission E, sensu Gruenwald et al. (1998), approves 3 - 10 g quackgrass for bronchosis, cold, cough, fever, infection, pharyngosis, stomatosis, and UTI. Extracts diuretic and sedative in rats and mice, respectively. Ethanol extract weekly is antiedemic and antiinflammatory. Flavonoids possibly phytotoxic (CAN).