Calluna vulgaris – powdered heather flowering tops

A perennial plant native to poor, acidic soils, heather is a typical plant of European moors. In powdered form, its flowering tops make it easy to use as an infusion or mask, for both internal and external applications.

Description

Greenish-brown to dull pink, slightly fibrous powder, obtained by grinding the whole dried flowering plant. Mild and discreet plant odor.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Heather, heather
• Latin name: Calluna vulgaris
• Family: Ericaceae
• Part used: Flowering tops (flowers + stems + leaves)
• Form: Powder
• Origin: Temperate Europe
• English name: Heather tops powder
• Name in German: Heidekrautspitzenpulver
• Name in Spanish: Brezo Cima Powder
• Name in Italian: Polvere di sommità di erica
• Name in Arabic: مسحوق قمم الخلنج (Masḥūq Qimam al-Khilanj)

Main virtues

Used as a gentle decoction or applied externally, heather is renowned for its soothing effect. It is suitable for wellness rituals, in baths, poultices, or homemade herbal lotions.

Main constituents

Flavonoids, arbutin, tannins, phenolic acids, traces of saponins.

Use and dosage

• Infusion: 1 teaspoon in 200 ml of hot water, infuse for 7 to 10 minutes.
• Face mask: mix with clay or floral water.
• Herbal bath: 2 to 3 tablespoons in a bag or muslin to infuse in the bath.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Avoid direct inhalation of the powder.
• Not recommended in case of allergy to Ericaceae.
• Keep out of reach of young children.

History and origin

Widely found in the moors of northern Europe, heather has been used for centuries for its purifying and soothing qualities. It features in many folk traditions, particularly to accompany the transitional seasons.

Miscellaneous information

• Storage: in an airtight container, away from light and humidity.
• Packaging: kraft bag, glass jar or metal box.
• Appearance: Fine green-brown to pink-brown powder.
• Smell: slightly woody, sweet vegetal.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• Western European Herbalism
• INPN Data – National Inventory of Natural Heritage
• Corpus of traditional herbal medicine

🔎 Information

The products on aromacentre.fr are not medicines. They are natural, plant-based treatments. All usage advice on our site is for informational purposes only. Any additional requests should be made to a qualified healthcare professional. In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, we are unable to publish this information on the site. Taking this product does not exempt you from consulting a doctor or prescribing it. Ask your doctor or healthcare practitioner for advice. Be sure to read the precautions for use before using any medicinal plants. The use of herbal preparations is not recommended without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. The substances they contain may interact with medications prescribed by the patient, reducing their therapeutic effectiveness or causing toxicity. They can also worsen the weakening of the body's vital functions, thus exposing the patient to increased morbidity and life-threatening risks.

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