An aqueous extract of the plant is a hand cleanser, making the skin soft and supple.

Plants for a Future (2015) at www.plantsforafuture.org.uk http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Herniaria+glabra

According to Mrs Grieve, Rupter Wort has very active diuretic properties, which have been found successful in the treatment of dropsy, whether of cardiac or nephritic origin. Folk medicine recommends it as a depurative.

Grieve, Mrs M. (1931). A Modern Herbal, Penguin. Leyel, Mrs CF p.697

Active ingredients: saponin, the glycoside herniarin, essential oil, tannins.

Launert, Edmund. (1981). Edible and Medicinal Plants of Britain and Northern Europe. The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. p.42

A slow growing, matt-forming, groundcovering annual or perennial with a tap-root. The shoots are numerous, prostrate, 5-30cm long, green, slightly hairy but glabrous, much-branched. The leaves are up to 1cm long (usually much shorter), ovate-lanceolate, acute, sometimes ciliate. The flowers are tiny, 1.8-2.2mm in diameter, regular, green and arranged in dense axillary clusters. Fruit is a nutlet, glossy, at first reddish then black, 5-6mm long, not opening. This plant is a British native, growing to 3cm high by 30cm wide.

Launert, Edmund. (1981). Edible and Medicinal Plants of Britain and Northern Europe. The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. p.42

Grows well in hot dry soils. Dislikes excessive moisture. The leaves emit a musky smell when they are handled. Grow in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun. This plant can grow as groundcover or as an undershrub, in nutritionally poor soil and can tolerate some drought and strong winds. Sow seed at 13- 18°C in early spring, or in-situ in late spring. Pest and disease trouble free.

Plants for a Future (2015) at www.plantsforafuture.org.uk http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Herniaria+glabra

It is also called Smooth Rupture wort. The species name glabra means 'smooth' or 'hairless' referring to the leaves.

It was formerly used to treat hernias as well as cuts - herniated skin. In this capacity, it received its common name, Rupture wort.

In traditional medicine the whole plant is astringent, very actively diuretic and expectorant. It appears to have an antispasmodic effect upon the bladder and is used in the treatment of dropsy, catarrh of the bladder, cystitis and kidney stones. It has also gained a reputation for treating hernias. Externally, it has been used as a poultice to speed the healing of ulcers.

https://pfaf.org https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Herniaria+glabra

Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria

Africa, Northern Africa, Libya

Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco

Africa, Northern Africa, Tunisia

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Afghanistan

Africa, Northern Africa, Egypt

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania

Europe, Southwestern Europe, France

Europe, Middle Europe, Poland

Europe, Middle Europe, Switzerland

Europe, Eastern Europe, Belarus

Europe, Eastern Europe, Baltic States

Europe, Eastern Europe, Ukraine

Europe, Eastern Europe, East European Russia

Europe, Middle Europe, Austria

Europe, Middle Europe, Belgium

Europe, Middle Europe, Czech Republic

Europe, Middle Europe, Germany

Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary

Europe, Middle Europe, Netherlands

Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Kyrgyzstan

Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Uzbekistan

Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Kazakhstan

Europe, Northern Europe, Denmark

Europe, Northern Europe, Sweden

Europe, Northern Europe, Great Britain

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iran

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Lebanon-Syria

Asia-Temperate, Caucasus, Transcaucasus

Asia-Temperate, Siberia

Asia-Temperate, Middle Asia, Tadzhikistan