The mountain ranges of the Valencian Communitylike the valuable Mariola mountain range, provide shelter to a modest endemic plant: the cat’s tail (Sideritis Tragoriganum).

Like other species of the same genus – also common in the eastern Iberian region – the cat’s tail It has been used in popular medicine and, especially in veterinary medicine, as a vulnerary herb for wounds and bites.

What is the plant like?

The cat’s tail plant is a bush barely 40 cm high, grayish, woody, with erect stems, with linear leaves and pale yellow flowers, grouped in whorls distant from each other.

In addition to being cat’s tail, this plant is known as rabogato or zahareña. In the Valencian Community they call it gat rabet either cat’s wedge.

The cat’s tail blooms from late spring, and for medicinal purposes the flowering tops are harvested. With these, very good tasting infusions are prepared.

Medicinal properties

The active ingredients in cat’s tail include flavonoids, saponosides, tannins and an essential oil. Traditionally it has been a plant highly appreciated for its properties by Valencian herbalists, who have integrated it into different mixtures.

Due to its composition, properties are attributed to it anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, digestive, antiseptic, vulnerary and healing.

What is it for?

Due to these properties, cat tail has traditionally been indicated in different conditions:

• It has been indicated, first of all, as digestive and carminative remedyto relieve gas and bloating, heavy digestion, bad taste in the mouth and gastroesophageal reflux. It is one of this selection of plants recommended for gastroenteritis.
• It is also considered good support in case of gastric inflammationgastroduodenal ulcer, gastrointestinal spasms and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.
• Furthermore, since it has an antiseptic and antibacterial effect, it is considered useful for stopping and relieving respiratory infectionsin flu processes, laryngitis, pharyngitis and tracheitis.
• Externally It is also used in conjunctivitis, inflamed eyelids, mouth sores, stomatitis, on minor burns, contusions, bruises, eczema, fungi and joint pain.

How to use

The cat’s tail is basically in the shape of dried plant to make an infusion or decoction.

The filtered infusion is also used in the form of eye drops, mouthwash, local wash, in compressesetc.

You can also find in herbalists liquid extract and tincture cat tail

Infusions and other remedies

These are some herbal mixtures that include cat tail in their formulation to take advantage of some of its most notable properties.

1. Digestive herbal tea for after eating

This traditional, very complete mixture combines cat’s tail in equal parts with other digestive plants such as licorice, fennel and the two anises, green and star anise.

How to prepare it: A quarter of a liter of water is used for each tablespoon of the mixture. Boil it for just 3 minutes, let it rest for another 10 and drink it throughout the day, after having eaten. It has a very pleasant flavor, enhanced by anise and fennel.

2. Herbal tea for respiratory infections

In case of laryngitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis or tonsillitis, this plant is combined with oregano, hyssop and Scots pine shoots, in equal parts.

How to prepare it: In a proportion of one tablespoon of the mixture per glass of water, or if you want to have a larger supply, four tablespoons per liter of water. Boil it for 2 minutes, let it rest and drink it during the day.

3. Mouthwash for sore throat

In the form of a mouthwash or gargle, cat’s tail is used to soften the throat and eliminate irritation, in pharyngitis, laryngitis and tonsillitis, as well as to treat canker sores.

How to prepare it: Cat’s tail, walnut leaves, mint, agrimony and thyme are mixed in equal parts. About 5 grams per glass of water are boiled for 10 minutes and this decoction is gargled about 6 times a day. You can add a pinch of baking soda, but you should avoid ingesting it.

Jordi Cebrián. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist from “El Manantial de Salud”