Tormentillae rhizoma; tormentil rootstock;

Tormentil root is the parent plant of Tormentillae rhizoma, the official preparation of the dried rhizome (Ph.Eur.8, ÖAB, Commission E monograph). The rhizome is dug up in spring or fall (shortly before or shortly after flowering), dried in the sun and crushed. The crushed rhizome is used medicinally either as an alcoholic extract (tincture) or as a tea.

HMPC monograph: Traditional-use: Internal: mild diarrhea, external: mild inflammation of the oral mucosa
ESCOP monograph: Internal: non-specific, acute diarrhea, supportive in acute and chronic intestinal inflammation; external: mild inflammation of the mouth and throat
Commission e-monograph: Internal: non-specific, acute diarrhea, external: mild inflammation of the mouth and throat.

Acute and subacute colitis; enterocolitis

Ingredients are up to 25% catechin tannins (tormentil tannic acid, tormentil red), tormentol the red dye, the glycoside tormentillin, the pseudosaponin tormentoside, flavonoids, phenolic carboxylic acid, saponins, resin, rubber and essential oils.

Astringent, antibacterial (Staphylococcus aureus) and antiviral (Herpes simplex viruses). The tanning agents contained in the rhizome, especially the ellagitannins, have anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting cyclooxigenase-1 and -2, hyaluronidase, neutrophil elastase and mast cell granulation. They also have antioxidant effects, neutralize superoxide anions and reduce lipid peroxidation. In a UV-erythema test a 2% Tormentillae rhizoma-containing cream could cause a similar strong reduction of erythema as a 1% hydrocortisone cream. In a small clinical application study, patients with atopic eczema showed a significant improvement of the treated eczematous skin.

External: Inflammation of the mucous membrane, especially of the mouth and throat, habitual or Bednar's aphthae. There are individual reports of positive effects in oral lichen planus.

Internally: diarrhoeal diseases; also for virus-related diarrhoeal diseases of the child

Uses:
External: Tea applications; Tinctura tormentillae as an alcoholic extract; rinses or brushes for inflammatory diseases of the mouth and throat mucosa, gingivitis, pharyngitis. 2% Potentilla-officinalis extract in a well spreadable Ö/W base in atopic eczema.
Internal: for acute, unspecific diarrhoea

If taken orally gastrointestinal complaints

Hypersensitivity to the ingredients. No applications for persons <18 years.

Tinctura tormentillae can be formulated as a finished product or as an extemporaneous formulation, e.g. as combined tormentil-myrrh astringent (NRF 7.1.) .

Rp: Tinctura tormentillae 15,0
Tinctura myrrhae 15,0S
: undiluted for brushing on inflammatory sites e.g. in habitual aphthae. For gargling 15-20 drops of the tincture on 1 glass of water.

In the Middle Ages Tormentillae rhizoma was the most important remedy for the treatment of diarrhoea in dysentery and cholera.

1. Ammon H et al (2014). Hunnius pharmaceutical dictionary. Walter de Gruyter GmbH Berlin/Boston pp 1447-1448.

2. Fecka I et al. (2015) Quantification of tannins and related polyphenols in commercial products of tormentil (Potentilla tormentilla). Phytochem Anal 26:353-366.

3. Hoffmann J et al. (2016) Tannins from Potentilla officinalis have anti-inflammatory effects in the UV erythema test and when applied to atopic skin. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 14:917-923.
4. Latte KP (2006) Potentilla erecta. The erect cinquefoil. Z Phytother 27: 198-206

5. Subbotina MD et al./2003) Effect of oral administration of tormentil root extract (Potentilla tormentilla) on rotavirus diarrhea in children: a randomized, double blind, controlled trial. Pediatr Infect Dis J 22:706-711.

6. Volodina EV et al (1997) The combined treatment of lichen ruber planus of the mouth mucosa. Stomatologiia (Mosk) 76:28-32.
7. Commission E: Tormentillae rhizoma.
8. Wenigmann M.(2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs phytopharmaceuticals application. Urban & Fischer: 5.115 Tormentillae rhizoma p 206-207.
9. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-potentilla-erecta-l-raeusch-rhizoma_en.pdf