What is the Ratania
Ratania ( Krameria triandra Ruitz and Pavon, family Krameriaceae) is the common name of a branched shrub originating in the Bolivian and Peruvian Andes, where it finds its ideal habitat between 900 and 3000 meters of altitude.
Property
The drug, consisting of the dried roots of Ratania, is characterized by its richness in catechinic condensed tannins; for this reason, it has interesting astringent, anti-inflammatory, haemostatic and antidiarrheal properties.
In vitro, the Ratania root has shown interesting bacteriostatic, bactericidal, mycostatic and fungicidal properties. The communion of these activities led to the indication of the use of drugs, in the form of dyeing, in the treatment of gingivitis and stomatitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth). For this purpose, the official Italian pharmacopoeia contains in its form a preparation based on myrrh (50% m / m) and ratania (50% m / m). In addition, in recent years, the use of ratophytic extracts of ratania - rich in neolignans and nor-neolignans with a benzofuran structure - has become widespread in dermatological and gynecological products useful in the presence of bacterial and fungal affections, such as candidiasis, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis.
According to the European Pharmacopoeia IV, the tincture of Mirra is prepared with one part of myrrh every 5 parts of ethanol (alcohol etlico) at 90% V / V. On the market one can also find tinctures of ratania 1: 5 in 70% alcohol, prepared according to the dictates of the FUI, which also provides for a tannin content equal to or greater than 2%. The tinctures of Ratania can be used as well, brushing the parts to be treated directly, or diluted in water for gargling.
External use
In the form of ointment for external use, Ratania is used in the treatment of anal and mammary fissures, hemorrhoids and anal fistulas.
Ratania in Cosmetics
In cosmetics, Ratania is used - along with other plant extracts with the same pigmenting properties (walnut, aloe, hypericum) - in products intended to strengthen the tan; in addition to giving the skin a bronze color - given the presence of flobafeni (red of Ratania), which are formed by tannins during storage - the ratania could contribute to the protection from solar radiations, in particular thanks to the already mentioned lipophilic fraction of the phytocomplex ( neolignans and nor-neolignans).
Ratania is used as a functional agent in cosmetics against oily, asphyxiated skin, with the presence of blackheads. Still in the cosmetic field, we recall the aforementioned use in toothpaste and mouthwashes against the inflammation of teeth and gums. The ratania can also be used as an antiperspirant in the formulation of deodorant products; finally, due to the discrete mucilage content, for external use it has soothing and anti-reddening properties.
Internal use
For internal use, in the form of an infusion (20 g of powdered root per liter, filter and drink half a glass, 3-4 times a day), the ratania is indicated as an antidiarrheal, in venous insufficiency, in case of capillary fragility and in the hemorrhoidal symptomatology.
In the form of a decoction (let 50 g of pulverized root per liter boil for a quarter of an hour), the ratania is indicated for irrigations, enemas and foments.
The association with plants such as Birch, Witch Hazel and Tormentilla strengthens its astringent properties.
storage
The drug should be kept in the dark, in tightly closed containers; in fact, as indicated, as the conservation period increases, the percentage of tannins decreases, given the tendency to condense with the formation of insoluble flobafeni (red of Ratania).
Side effects
Precautions, drug interactions and contraindications
Contact your doctor if diarrhea persists after three to four days of treatment with Ratania for anti-diarrheal purposes. Given the absence of reliable data on the toxicity profile in similar conditions, its use during pregnancy, lactation and under 14 years is not recommended.
The use of herbal preparations, including those based on ratania, can negatively interfere with the absorption of other supplements or drugs, increasing or decreasing their therapeutic effect. It is therefore advisable to take this remedy at least 2-3 hours after taking medicines.
In sensitive patients, treatment with oral ratania may cause nausea and vomiting, and increase gastric irritation.
