Found across Europe, Asia, and Africa, the plant averages a foot in height and produces round fruit covered in barbed thorns. It has a slightly salty, bitter taste.
Sanicle loosens phlegm, making it easier to cough up.
It also has a mildly astringent effect, tightening and drying the tissues. Only the leaves and flowers are medicinal. At customary doses, Sanicle poses no risks. No drug interactions have been reported. No harmful effects are known.