Table 1.

Traditional uses of Mercurialis spp. in Spanish medicine.

		Part 1	Formulation	Traditional Use	Location [Ref.]
M. annua, M. ambigua, M. perennis	Circulatory System	U	U	Anti-hypertensive	Canary Islands [20]
	Digestive System	U	U	Laxative	Canary and Balearic Islands [20,33]
		AP	Dried Leaves/Fresh AP (decoction)	Laxative	Aragon [26] Cataluña [25,28,29] Valencia [27]
		AP	Balls of crushed leaves (suppositories)	Laxative	Cataluña [25]
	Conception, pregnancy, childbirth, puerperium, breastfeeding	U	U	Abortive	Cataluña [21]
		U	Plant kept between the breasts and back or under the armpits	Lactation suppression	Canary Islands [34]
	Endocrine System	U	U	Anti-hyperglycemic	Canary Islands [20]
	Respiratory System	U	U	For sore throat and lung diseases	Canary Islands [35]
	Musculature and skeleton	AP	Fresh plant (infusion in vine tree liquor used as a rub)	Arthrosis	Canary Islands [34]
		AP	Fresh leaves
	Dermatological	U	U	Hair loss	Canary Islands [35]
		AP	Maceration in olive oil at low temperature and mixed with bee wax for topical use	Skin whitening agent	Navarra [36]
M. tomentosa	Circulatory System	AP	Blossomed AP (infusion)	Anti-hypertensive	Castilla la Mancha [31,32,37,38] Valencia [27]
	Digestive System	WP	Decoction used as a mouthwash	Toothaches	Castilla la Mancha [31,32,37,38] Valencia [27]
		WP	Blossomed plant (infusion)	Hepatoprotective	Castilla la Mancha [31,32] Murcia [39]
		AP	Blossomed stems (infusion)	Cholagogue action	Valencia [30]
		U	U		Valencia [27]
		U	U	Anticholagogue	Valencia [40]
		AP	Blossomed stems (infusion)	Intestinal infections	Valencia [30]
		AP	Blossomed stems	Diarrhoea	Castilla la Mancha [32]
				Constipation	Castilla la Mancha [31]
		U	U	Laxative	Valencia [41] Murcia [39]
		AP	Overnight infusion (mixed with Cassia angustifolia and taken in the morning	Strong laxative	Valencia [27]
		AP	Infused taken in the morning with honey	Mild laxative	Valencia [30]
	Urinary and Genital Systems	AP	U	Urinary and gynecological conditions	Valencia [40]
		U	Mixed with Equisetum spp.	Kidney swelling	Valencia [41]
	Respiratory System	U	U	Cold and bronchitis	Valencia [41]
		AP	U	Cold	Valencia [40]
	Musculature and skeleton	U	U	Rheumatism and swelling	Valencia [40]
		WP	WP decoction applied topically on a damp cloth	Contusions	Castilla la Mancha [31,38]
				Swelling legs	Andalucia [42]
		WP	Mashed plant used as a plaster	Broken bones	Castilla la Mancha [31,38]
		AP	Blossomed AP (decoction with salt and vinegar kept for 7 days in darkness)	Calcaneal spur	Castilla la Mancha [31]
		U	Decoction (with other plants such as thyme, rosemary, bay or pita)	Knee and feet pain	Andalucia [42]
	Skin and subcutaneouscellular tissues	AP	Decoction used topically	Hand cracks	Andalucia [42]
				Wound healing	Castilla la Mancha [32]
	Other	AP	U	Anti-inflammatory	Castilla la Mancha [31,32]

¹ Part used: U, unknown; AP, Aerial part; R, Root; WP, whole plant.