A perennial herb with a glabrous or short-furry rhizome known as the burnet-saxifrage belongs to the celery family (umbelliferae). The rhizome of this plant has many heads and is branched. The stem is straight, thin, ribbed, branched, with a hollow center and reaches a height of 25 to 60 cm. The basal and lower stem have long petiolate leaves, they can be described as pinnately dissected or simply pinnate; the middle stem leaves are pinnately separate, with rounded-ovate, blunt, toothed, incised or separate segments; the upper leaves are in the form of sheaths and without laminae.
Galenic preparations from Saxifrage have antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects, help normalize the functioning of the digestive tract, stimulate the excretory function of the gastric glands and have expectorant and antitussive properties. In the herbalists of the 16th century, Saxifrage is mentioned as a remedy for the prevention and treatment of plague, cholera and cancer, as well as for uterine diseases.
An infusion or tincture of rhizomes with roots is used as an expectorant for upper respiratory tract catarrh, laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma and whooping cough. Burnet-saxifrage is effectively used for salt diathesis, kidney stone disease, liver diseases, chronic gastritis with low acidity, intestinal atony, flatulence, edema and gout. Externally, in the form of rinses, Saxifrage officinalis preparations are used for sore throat, laryngitis and scarlet fever.
Fresh plant juice is used to discolor age spots. The rhizome powder can be added to toothpastes and powders. Spring leaves of Saxifrage are used to prepare fresh salads, which are included in the therapeutic and preventive diet.
