About Tofieldia pusilla (Michx.) Pers.
Tofieldia pusilla is a species of flowering plant in the family Tofieldiaceae. It is also sometimes classified in the lily family, Liliaceae. In Europe, its common name is Scottish asphodel, while in North America it is known as Scotch false asphodel. This plant is native to northern North America and parts of Eurasia, with a circumpolar distribution that extends across Canada, the northern United States, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Europe. In Scottish folk medicine, Tofieldia pusilla has been used in traditional Scottish medicine to treat a range of ailments including skin conditions, respiratory problems, and digestive issues. Specifically for digestive issues, the plant's roots are used to make a tea thought to have a soothing effect on the stomach and intestines. The apparent anti-inflammatory effect of this Tofieldia tisane does not conflict with the irritant effect of fresh Tofieldia pusilla material. Heating and steeping during preparation eliminate calcium oxalate crystals, which is also demonstrated in the traditional preparation of araceous vegetables like taro, which, like Tofieldia, are poisonous when raw. Removing calcium oxalate druses lets the therapeutic effects of other compounds present in T. pusilla manifest, without interference from the irritant effect of these toxic crystals.
