Avens

Why You Need It

• Soothes Digestive Upsets: Helps calm diarrhea and settle an upset stomach.
• Natural Astringent: Tightens tissues, which helps heal minor wounds and soothes irritated gums.
• Antimicrobial Properties: Contains compounds that may help fight off certain bacteria and fungi.

Deep Dive

Avens works primarily due to its rich content of ellagitannins. When you ingest these, they act as an astringent, essentially 'toning' the lining of your digestive tract. This helps reduce inflammation and fluid loss, which is why it has historically been used to treat diarrhea. Topically, the same tightening action helps stop minor bleeding and speeds up the healing of skin abrasions. It is a functional herb, best used for acute issues rather than daily maintenance.

Natural Food Sources

Avens is not a food source; it is a wild-growing herb. You generally will not find it in the produce section. It is foraged or cultivated for medicinal use.

Supplementation

Usage: Avens is typically consumed as a tea (infusion) made from the dried root, or applied as a poultice to the skin. Standardized extracts exist but are rare.

Dosage:

• Tea: 1-2 grams of dried root steeped in hot water, 2-3 times daily.
• Topical: Apply a poultice of crushed fresh root to the affected area.

Who should take it? Ideal for those experiencing acute diarrhea or mild mouth/gum inflammation.