A creeping evergreen plant 15-30 cm long. The evergeen dark-green leaves are opposite, ovate to cordate, with a pale yellow midrib. The petioles are short. Roots may grow at the internodes, forming loose mats. Flowers are dimorphous, twin white tubular (grown from one calyx); with four petals and covered with fine hairs. They grow axillary at the end of a branchlet. The scarlet berries are edible but tasteless. Each berry is produced by the each of twin flowers, after pollination by insects.

Astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, hypnotic, parturient and tonic (plant); sedative (tea made from berries)

Plants For A Future

The plant is used to treat a variety of complaints including arthrosis, backpain, convulsions, cramps, hemorrhoids, hysteria, insanity, insomnia, leukorrhe, menorrhagia, mastitis, ophthalmia, myalgia, polyuria, rheumatic pain, rickets and fluid retention. A tea made from the fresh or dried leaves are used for easy delivery, and to treat delayed, painful or irregular menses. The tea can also be used externally as a wash for hives, swellings, sore nipples, rheumatism etc.

James A Duke and Maryl Fulton. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs - 2nd Edition, P: 693, CRC Press July 2002.