Background

• Drosera species are carnivorous plants that use their hairs to trap, immobilize, and digest insects. Preying on insects is their primary means of obtaining nutrients. Drosera species have reportedly been used medicinally at least since the 12th Century in Europe when an Italian doctor named Matthaeus Platearius described the plants as a cough remedy. Generally, Drosera is used for lower respiratory tract conditions, such as bronchitis, asthma, and coughs.
• These early uses have some current data to support the clinical effectiveness of Drosera for the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including shortness of breath, wheezing, cough, sleep disturbances, and disability from chronic illness. Testing individual components of Drosera species has revealed anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, and antibacterial effects. Although there is not a large amount of modern research that documents Drosera's clinical effects, it is a fairly commonly used medicine alone or as part of a combination in roughly 200-300 registered medications.

References

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