Silverweed

Potentilla Species Used in Herbal Medicine

The genus name Potentilla was given to these plants in 1753 by Linnaeus based on the powerful ("potent") healing effects attributed to the herbal medicines derived from it.

As a medicinal herb and food, the most widely used species is Potentilla anserina, sometimes called goosewort, goose grass, or goose tansy because it is a favored food of geese. The leaves are also consumed by livestock generally, such as cattle, horses, and goats; sheep do not seem to like it. The starchy root-which is said to taste like parsnips, sweet potatoes, or chestnuts-has served as a human food, while its leaves are valued as a healthful tea.

Silverweed rootstock has kept people alive when nothing else was available to eat.

For the past few decades, malnutrition has been a significant problem in Tibet, especially among children, and a possible contribution to resolving the problem may be the root Potentilla anserina, known there as droma. It grows on grasslands throughout Tibet. In the past, Tibetans harvested droma, ground it, and fed it to their children. A nutrient analysis of droma revealed that its amino acid profile is complementary to that of barley, a Tibetan staple. Since barley flour is mixed with tea and fed to children from a very young age, droma can easily be added to the mixture to make a complete protein food.