Hepatica nobilis, Liverwort

Epatica, Lichen or Trefoil
Di Suo Luo (Marchantia polymorpha) (TCM)

Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Botanical name:

There are over 9000 species of Liverwort, a number of species traditionally supplying the market:

Marchantia polymorpha (Common Liverwort)
Marchantia paleacea
Conocephalum conicum (Greater Liverwort)

Do not confuse with the small herb American Liverwort, Hepatica spp.

Parts used:

Whole herb

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, dry. Slightly Bitter

Classifications:

2A APERIENT MEDICINES
4g. HEPATIC

Uses:

1. Clears Damp-Heat, Benefits the Liver, Opens Obstructions:
-cleanses the Blood
-obstructions of the Liver and Spleen
-Jaundice
-Damp-Heat Edema, Strangury, Dysuria
-‘good for Liver heat, and for Jaundice’ (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)
-‘a singular good herb for all diseases of the Liver’ (Culpeper)

2. Clears Heat, Resists Toxin, Promotes Healing:
-Fever, Tertian Fever
-Wounds (West, TCM)
-Toxic Sores and Abscesses (West, TCM)
-Snake Bite (TCM)
-also used for Rabies (West)
–hemoptysis, hematuria, and internal ulcers
-recently shown to be useful for Cancer
-‘Inflammations in any part’; (Culpeper)

3. Benefits Lungs, Stops Cough:
-Chronic Lung disease
-Pleurisy, Tuberculosis

4. Benefits the Womb
-cleanses Afterbirth
-Menopause
-Leukorrhea, Spermatorrhea

5. Externally:
-Wounds, Fractures, Ulcers
-skin inflammation, redness, Rashes
-Tonsillitis
-Burns and Scalds (TCM)
-Cures Ruptures (Hernia)

Dose:

Infusion: 1 spoonful per cup
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Powder: 1–4 grams

Main Combinations:

1. Liver Heat:
i. Liverwort decocted with Endive (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)
ii. Liverwort with Centaury and Dandelion
iii. Liverwort, Endive, Lettuce, Violet, Raisins, Prunes, decocted together and form a syrup. (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)
iv. Liverwort with Barley, Asparagus root, Chicory, Dandelion, Fumitory, Hops, Licorice, Dodder (as in Syrup of Chicory and Rhubarb of Nicholas)
2. Inflammation of the Liver, Liverwort with Scarlet Pimpernel, Walnut leaf, Juniper berry, Heartsease, Alder Buckthorn (Frangula) bark (Ulrich)
3. Obstruction of the Liver with Heat:
i. Liverwort, Endive, 4 Cold Seeds, Chicory, Sorrel, Maidenhair, Cyperus rotundus (Wirtzung)
ii. Liverwort, Senna, Fumitory, Maidenhair, Dodder, Licorice (Fioravanti, 1659)
4. Obstruction of ther Spleen or Liver from Heat, Liverwort, Hart’s Tongue (Scolopendrum), Endive, decocted
5. Jaundice, Liverwort, Ivory, Saffron
6. Edema, Liverwort, Horehound, Wormwood, Sorrel (Pharmacopœia Bateana)
7. Cough, Consumption, Liverwort, Lungwort, Hyssop, Violet, Strawberry leaf, Licorice, Aniseed (Fioravanti, 1659)
8. Rabies, Liverwort (2 parts), Pepper (1 part), taken in 1 ½ dram doses.
9. Burning Fever, Liverwort, Endive, Plantain, Purslane, Violet (Wirtzung)
10. Pleurisy from Heat, Liverwort, Endive, White Dittany, Maidenhair (1 handful each), 4 Cold seeds (half oz.), Barley, Licorice, Jujubes (1 dram each), Violet, Water Lilly (half oz.) (Wirtzung)

Major Formulas:

Syrup of Chicory and Rhubarb (Nicholas)

Green Ointment:
Fresh Juniper berries (3 oz.), Fresh herbs of Southernwood, Mugwort, Easter Daisy, Betony, Fennel, Hyssop, Mint, Liverwort, Yarrow, Marjoram, Plantain, Veronica, Vervain, Sage, Rue (of each 1 oz.), Butter (48 oz.). Boil until the herbs crisp, and strain

Cautions:

None noted

Main Preparations used:

Extra Info
Research

Hepatica, Liverwort