Brooklime
- Veronica beccabunga L.
- Primrose family
Common Names
 Beccabunga
Mouth-smart
Neckweed
Speedwell (V. officinalis)
Water pimpernel (pimpernel is Pimpinella saxifraga)
Water purslain (purslane is really (Portulaca oleracea)
Parts Usually Used
The plant
Description of Plant(s) and
Culture
Brooklime is a succulent perennial plant; its round stem grows 1-1 1/2 feet high from a creeping jointed rootstock. The leaves are glabrous, ovate or broadly elliptical, and finely serrate. The small blue flowers grow in axillary spikes from May to August. Seeds appear the month after flowering.
Where Found
Found in wet places, as in streams and ditches, usually near watercress.
Medicinal Properties
Diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge
Uses
Fresh juice of the herb is mildly diuretic. Older herbals recommend it for intestinal disorders and anemia. Once prized, it is little used today. Used as a blood purifier, helps scurvy, increase urination, help break up kidney stones, bring on menstruation. Fried with butter and vinegar, and applied warm, it helps tumors, swellings, and inflammations.
Formulas or Dosages
Juice: take 1 tsp. to 3 tbsp., 3 times a day. Take in milk if the stomach is sensitive.
Nutrient Content
Vitamin C
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