Lovage Flashcards
How do you recognise Lovage?
A tall leafy plant
What are Lovage’s main constituents?
Constituents: • Volatile oils: • Monoterpene phenols – antimicrobial, anti-spasmodic, expectorant. • Monoterpene aldehydes – sedative, anti-viral and antimicrobial. • Phthalides including butylthalide, ligustilide – neuroprotective, hypotensive, anti-spasmodic & anti-oxidant,. • Coumarins: including bergapten, angelicin & umbelliferone -anti microbial, anti inflammatory, expectorant, antimutagenic. • Resins. • Acids. • Gum
What family is Lovage in?
A perennial member of the Apiaceae.
What is Lovage good for?
Traditionally considered to be a warming and drying herb in the 2nd degree, which is ruled by the Sun. It warms and digests cold humours- aiding the digestion, lungs, and kidneys. Coldness in the digestive system is seen as a cause of bloating, colic and cramps. Dosage: 20 – 40ml/week of 1:3 tincture (Steve). Actions: • Carminative. • Expectorant. • Diaphoretic. • Diuretic. • Anti-rheumatic. • Anti-microbial – particularly for UTIs. • Anti-spasmodic. Applications: • Colic, bloating & constipation. • To improve digestive motility. • Respiratory congestion and respiratory infections. • Asthma, wheezing. • Helpful in joint pain and inflammation, gout and gouty arthritic conditions, has similar benefits to celery in this regard. • Helps with lactation, period pains, menopausal symptoms, hot flushes, night sweats.
What is Lovage’s Latin name?
Levisticum officinale. Common name may derive from ‘Love-ache’ meaning ‘love parsley’, or from the Latin name legusticum associating the plant with the Italian city of Liguria.
What parts of Lovage do you use?
• Leaves used in soups and other food, medicinally the root is used.
What safety issues might Lovage have?
Safety: avoid in acute or chronic kidney disease. There is a theoretical risk of the herb inducing photosensitivity because of the phthalides
What useful research does Lovage have?
External links: • Chemical and bioactive characterization of thearomatic plant Levisticum officinale W.D.J. Koch: acomprehensive study. Note that this research was into the chemistry of the leaf. • Lovage (Levisticum officinale W.D.J. Koch) Roots: A Source of Bioactive Compounds towards a Circular Economy “…this work allowed us to present for the first time data regarding the chemical composition and biological activities regarding an anatomical part of the lovage plant that is generally discarded and undervalued by the agri-food industry…”• Lots of research done on this plant – here is a list – but little clarifying traditional use – yet!
