The plant that helps cleanse your urinary tract and has powerful anti-inflammatory properties

The properties of medicinal plants have spanned centuries of history, and even today they continue to contribute to general health in a variety of ailments. From the soothing and digestive properties of chamomile, the anti-inflammatory power of ginger, and the antioxidants of green tea, infusions are true allies that also offer comfort due to the ritual they often imply.

Although there are countless plants with therapeutic effects, some of them well-known in Spain, today we're discussing a particularly interesting one that, however, is not yet widely known. We're talking about the knotweed, a herbaceous plant loaded with flavonoids and gallic acid that protects the health of the urinary tract and prevents infections due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Origin and properties of the centinodia, an anti-inflammatory medicinal herb

At Marnys, experts explain that the centinodia, or 'Polygonum aviculare' according to its botanical name, is a species of flowering plant in the Polygonaceae family . It is an annual herbaceous plant, meaning it completes its cycle in one year, and has small, elliptical, lanceolate leaves.

This medicinal herb's composition includes active ingredients such as flavonoids (avicularin, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin) and gallic acid, along with tannins and salicylic acid , among others. Native to Europe, the knotweed found in herbalists and specialty stores is an extraordinarily versatile plant, although its benefits for the urinary tract , as well as its anti-inflammatory properties, are particularly notable.

The European Food Safety Authority recognizes its properties in maintaining urinary health, noting that "it can increase urine volume, facilitating diuresis of the urinary tract, which helps eliminate bacteria ." Similarly, "its mechanism of action reduces the adhesion of bacteria to the walls of the urinary tract, facilitating their expulsion from the body through urine."

What is the relationship of this medicinal plant with the urinary tract?

Knotweed has been used for centuries to treat stomach upset, as its tannin content provides a relieving astringent effect while also acting as a diuretic.

Its benefits for the urinary system are supported by the fact that urinary discomfort is largely caused by the adherence of bacteria to the surface of the urinary tract. Specifically, the main causative bacteria is Escherichia coli , which usually lives in the digestive tract and from there spreads to the perianal area... up to the urethra.

This is where centinodia comes into play, as it is a "friendly" ingredient that helps reduce the adhesion of bacteria in the urinary tract, facilitating their immediate expulsion .

This is how you can incorporate centinodia into your diet

Whether in the form of an infusion or as a dietary supplement, this plant with health benefits is easily found in specialty stores. To relieve gastrointestinal discomfort , it is often taken as an infusion: 2 grams dissolved in just over half a glass of boiled water (150 ml), three times a day.

If, after consulting a health professional, they recommend dietary supplements , we can find knotweed accompanied by other well-known active ingredients useful for the urinary tract, such as the American cranberry.

References

Rainer W. Bussmann, Ketevan Batsatsashvili, Zaal Kikvidze, Abdolbaset Ghorbani, Farzaneh Khajoei Nasab, Narel Y. Paniagua-Zambrana, Manana Khutsishvili, Inesa Maisaia, Shalva Sikharulidze, David Tchelidze. 'Polygonum aviculare. Ethnobotany of the Mountain Regions of Far Eastern Europe. Ethnobotany of Mountain Regions'. Springer Nature Link. Accessed online at https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-3-030-28940-9_108#citeas on September 10, 2025.