Imperatoria, Masterwort Ostrutium, Smyrnium, Astrentium

Gart der Gesundheit, Cuba, 1485

Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Imperatoria ostruthium
Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen, 1897

Imperatoria ostruthium
Losch, F., Kreuterbuch, unsere Heilpflanzen in Wort und Bild, (1905)

Masterwort Root
Notes on Pharmacognosy, Otto Augustus Wall, 1902

Botanical name:

Imperatoria ostruthium (syn. Peucedanum ostruthium)

Parts used:

Root

Temperature & Taste:

Hot, dry. Pungent

Uses:

1. Clears Wind-Cold, Resists Poison:
-Epidemic and Infectious diseases, to prevent and treat
-venomous bites; Snake, Rabid Dogs, Spiders
-Quartan Fever
-promotes good complexion (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630)

2. Warms the Stomach, Clears Cold Phlegm:
-resolves and expectorates cold and thick phlegm from the Lungs
-Asthma, Wheezing, Shortness of Breath
-Colic; Cold and Wind of the Stomach
-digestive weakness from cold/damp and wind
-cold-type Abdominal pain

3. Clears Wind-Phlegm, Stops Spasms:
-diseases of the head coming from Wind-Phlegm
-Apoplexy, Paralysis, Lethargy, Trembling, Numbness, Convulsions

4. Moves the Blood, Opens obstructions:
-Potently promotes Menstruation and Birth
-Cold and Moist diseases of the Uterus
-internally for Bruising and internal Blood Stagnation
-obstruction of the Liver and Spleen

5. Warms the Kidneys, Promotes Urine:
-Edema from Cold and Moist Kidneys
-Aphrodisiac; Impotence from Cold and Weak Kidneys

6. Externally:
-to break Plague Sores and Carbuncles
-Gout and Joint pain coming from Cold
-gargled for Toothache
-chewed to sweeten the breath
-topically for Scabby heads and Itching
-decoction in wine is used as a wash or the powder applied to putrid and foul Ulcers

Dose:

1. Seed and Root may be used in similar doses.
2. Tincture is strongest to move the Blood
3. Acid (Vinegar) Tincture is stronger to resist Infection and against Poison.
Powder: 500–1500mg with Honey
Decoction in Wine: 2–4 oz., taken with Honey or a suitable syrup.
Juice: half–1 teaspoonful
Lohoch: Juice mixed with half part of clarified Honey and thickened in a water-bath: 1 teaspoonful
Tincture of the Root: 3–6 mls., primarily to move the Blood and warm the Kidneys
Oily Tincture of the Root or Seed: 10–60 drops for Strangury, Gravel, Paralysis, Trembling, Numbness, Lethargy etc.
Distilled Water of the Herb, Root and Seed: 1–6 oz.

Main Combinations:

1. To prevent infection during Epidemics, with Angelica, Valerian, Gentian, Zedoary, Juniper berry, Rue, Blessed Thistle prepared as a Vinegar.
2. Cold and Moist Uterus, Masterwort, Pontic Wormwood, Aven root (Radix Caryophyllata)
3. Colic; Cold and Wind of the Stomach:
i. Masterwort taken in wine.
ii. Masterwort with Calamus, Aniseed
4. Itching Skin diseases, Masterwort, Elecampane, Long Birthwort, Wormwood (2 drams each), Bay berries (3), Gentian (1/2 dram), Sulphur (3 drams), form an ointment with Butter. (Herbarium Horstianum, 1630)

Major Formulas:

Orvietan Antidote
Triphera Greater (Nicholas)

Cautions:

Not used during Pregnancy

Main Preparations used: