Sand-spurrey (Spergularia)
Spergularia
Western Herbalism
Western Herbalism

Sand-spurrey

Spergularia

Also known as Red sandwort, Red sand-spurry, Spurrey-sandwort.

CoolingDryingmoisteningTaste: BitterTaste: AstringentTaste: bland

Sand-spurrey is a small, low-growing annual or short-lived perennial of the pink family, found in sandy, saline, and disturbed soils along coasts and inland waste ground across Europe and now naturalized widely. The flowering aerial herb is the part used. It has a long-standing place in Eclectic and Latin American folk practice as a remedy for gravel and stones of the urinary tract, and was carried into European and Caribbean herbal traditions as a gentle diuretic and depurative for the kidneys and bladder.

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DiureticAntilithicDemulcentUrinary antisepticMild astringentDepurativeAnti-inflammatory (urinary tract)

Indications what the tradition reached for it in

Specific indications

Gritty urinary sediment or small stones with burning or dragging pain on urination, particularly where uric acid or oxalate gravel is suspected

Scanty, cloudy urine with a dull ache in the low back suggesting early stone or gravel formation

Safety

Pregnancy: Avoid in pregnancy due to lack of safety data.

Breastfeeding: Avoid during lactation due to lack of safety data.

The record lists 3 contraindications; open the plate in the library to read them in full.

In practice

Sand-spurrey is reached for when a patient reports gritty or sandy urinary sediment, recurrent small stones, or a nagging low back ache that suggests gravel is forming rather than an acute obstructing stone. It is used as a simple infusion or tincture, usually as part of a formula rather than alone, paired well with other traditional urinary antilithics such as gravel root, hydrangea root, or parsley piert, and with a demulcent such as marshmallow if there is irritation or burning. Because its main traditional role is preventive and supportive rather than acutely dissolving established stones, it is best used over weeks to months alongside increased fluid intake and dietary attention to oxalate or urate load depending on stone type. Practitioners should rule out an obstructing or infected stone requiring urgent care before relying on herbal management alone.

Dosing as the sources wrote it

PreparationAs writtenMetric
Infusion2-4 g dried herb as infusion, three times daily2000-4000 mg
Tincture (1:5, 40%)2-4 mL three times daily2-4 mL
Five drachms of the plant to a pint of water is the medium dose, to be taken daily; it may be sweetened, if desired.
Pills or syrup may be substituted for the decoction, in doses of 15 grains, every 1, 2, or 3 hours.972-972 mg
A similar quantity of extract inA similar quantity of extract in 1 ½ fluid drachms of pure glycerin and 3 fluid ounces of distilled water, gives a solution that keeps well, and of which the dose is a teaspoonful, to be repeated 6 times a day ... equivalent to a quart of the decoction.88.72 mL

Doses are reproduced from the sources for practitioners and are not a recommendation for any person.

From the sources

Overview. Sand-spurrey is a small, low-growing annual or short-lived perennial of the pink family, found in sandy, saline, and disturbed soils along coasts and inland waste ground across Europe and now naturalized widely. The flowering aerial herb is the part used. It has a long-standing place in Eclectic and Latin American folk practice as a remedy for gravel and stones of the urinary tract, and was carried into European and Caribbean herbal traditions as a gentle diuretic and depurative for the kidneys and bladder.

Clinical Notes. Sand-spurrey is reached for when a patient reports gritty or sandy urinary sediment, recurrent small stones, or a nagging low back ache that suggests gravel is forming rather than an acute obstructing stone.

Drawn from King's American Dispensatory, 18th edition (Felter and Lloyd), and the Bountiful Herbs editorial.

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