Eryngium, Sea Holly

Shaukah al-Yahud, Qirsana (Unani, Avicenna) Picture Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Picture New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Picture Medical Botany, Stephenson & Churchill, 1831

Picture E. campestre.
Flora von Deutschland (4), Kohler, 1884

 Picture E. planum
Flora von Deutschland (4), Kohler, 1884
Picture Members CLICK HERE for the PRO VERSION

Botanical name:


Eryngium spp.
Although E. maritimum is the principle species, several species have been used:
  1. E,. maritimum (Sea Eryngo or Sea Holly)
  2. E. campestre (Common Eryngo)
  3. E. planum

Parts used:


Root

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Sweet

Classifications:


2M. DRAWING.    2S. STRENGTHENING
3C. ALEXIPHARMIC.    3I. APHRODISIAC.    3J. INCREASE SEMEN
4h. NEPHRITIC.    4j. NERVINE

Uses:


1. Benefits the Kidneys, Promotes Urine:
-Edema or frequent Urination from Kidney weakness
-Urinary retention
-Strangury, Cystitis, Prostatitis

2. Clears Heat, Nourishes the Yin, strengthens the Bones:
-Lumbar pain (Matthiolus); weakness and pain pf the lower back and legs from Kidney deficiency
-lower back weakness; weakness of the bones and joints, chronic Arthritis or Rheumatism

3. Nourishes Yin, Settles Wind, Stops Spasm:
-Spasms, Epilepsy (Matthiolus)
-Fright, Insomnia

4. Clears Damp, Opens Obstructions:
-opens obstructions of the Liver and Spleen (Matthiolus)
-Hepatic; opens Liver, Gall Bladder and Spleen;
-Jaundice

5. Benefits the Uterus, Promotes Menstruation:
-promotes Menstruation (Matthiolus)
-obstructed, delayed or irregular Menstruation

6. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Venomous Bites
-Quartan Fever (Matthiolus)
-Poison

7. Externally:
-swellings in the Throat, Scrofula
-applied as an ointment to Fractures
-applied to stings, and bites of any Snake for which it is applied and taken internally.
-A poultice or cataplasm applied to the belly to prevent Abortion.
-The juice is dropped in the ears for abscesses of them.
-The powdered root applied as a poultice aids tissue regeneration


Dose:


 … available in PRO version

Preparation


 … available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


Opening Roots – Five & Two

1. Hectic Fever, beginning of Consumption, Sea Holly with  … available in PRO version
2. Consumption, decoct Sea Holly with … available in PRO version
3. To prevent Miscarriage, Sea Holly with … available in PRO version
4. Urinary Stones and Strangury, decoct Sea Holly with … available in PRO version
5. Cold diseases of the Nerves, Sea Holly with … available in PRO version
6. Kidney weakness and Impotence, Sea Holly with … available in PRO version

Major Formulas:


Powder for Epilepsy (De Medicis Pulveribus)
Electuary of Orchid (Diasatyrion) (Nicholas)
Antidote for Cold Lumbar, for Venery, and Defect of Semen (Nicholas)
Wonderful Confection for Cold Nerve Diseases

Cautions:


Generally Safe.
Some related species have been said to be abortifacient, yet Sea Holly has been used to prevent miscarriage. It should be used cautiously in Pregnancy and full doses should be avoided. In addition, it is only suitable for Threatened Miscarriage with deficiency, not Heat.

Main Preparations used:


Candied root