Digitalis purpurea Foxglove (Scrophulariaceae)

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Digitalis purpurea
Foxglove
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The Digitalis purpurea plant species is found in Britain. It is a member of the Scrophulariaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Foxglove.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Digitalis purpurea
Common Name:  Foxglove
Family:  Scrophulariaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  All parts of the plant are highly poisonous[9, 10, 19, 65, 76, 222].

Mature Height:  1.2   Mature Width:  0.6

Habitat:  Acid soils in woods, heaths, mountain grasslands etc[9, 17].

Medicinal Information: The foxglove is a widely used herbal medicine with a recognised stimulatory effect upon the heart. It is also used in allopathic medicine in the treatment of heart complaints. It has a profound tonic effect upon a diseased heart, enabling the heart to beat more slowly, powerfully and regularly without requiring more oxygen[254]. At the same time it stimulates the flow of urine which lowers the volume of the blood and lessens the load on the heart[254]. The plant contains cardiac glycosides (including digoxin, digitoxin and lanatosides). Digitoxin rapidly strengthens the heartbeat but is excreted very slowly. Digoxin is therefore preferred as a long-term medication[254]. The leaves are cardiac, diuretic, stimulant and tonic[4, 9, 21, 46, 171]. The leaves should only be harvested from plants in their second year of growth, picked when the flowering spike has grown and about two thirds of the flowers have opened[4]. Harvested at other times, there is less of the medically active alkaloid present[4]. The seed has also been used in the past[4]. The leaves also have a very beneficial effect on the kidneys, they are strongly diuretc and are used with benefit in the treatment of dropsy[4]. Great care should be exercised in the use of this plant, the therapeutic dose is very close to the lethal dose[222]. See also the notes above on toxicity. A homeopathic remedy is made from the leaves[9]. It is used in the treatment of cardiac disorders[9].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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