Levisticum, Lovage

Hipposelinum
Sisaliyus (Unani)
 Picture
Picture Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

 Picture Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599
Picture Flora von Deutschland (27), Kohler, 1886

Botanical name:


Levisticum officinale
Ligusticum chinensis (syn. L. sinensis, L. wallichi) is the Chinese Lovage Ligusticum Chuan Xiong.

Parts used:


Root; also the Seed and Leaf

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry. Pungent
“Hot and Dry in the Second degree” … “Seeds are Hot and Dry in the Third degree” (Avicenna)

Classifications:


Dissolvent, attenuant, carminative (Avicenna)
3E. DIURETIC.    3G. EMMENAGOGUE
4h. NEPHRITIC

Uses:


1. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation: (West, TCM)
-delayed, short or scanty Menstruation; Amenorrhea, Irregular Menstruation
-Uterine Pain or obstruction, Hysteria (Avicenna)
-promotes Labor and Birth; expels Afterbirth and Dead Fetus
-“Facilitates easy Delivery in all types of animals‘. (Avicenna)
-Ligusticum Chuan Xiong and Western Lovage are used very similarly in this respect

2. Settles Wind, Moves the Blood, Eases Pain: (West, TCM)
-Headache, Dizziness, numbness, insomnia
-benefits the Heart; adjunct in Heart diseases, Palpitations, Angina
-“It is useful in Backache”. (Avicenna)
-“Proves to be useful for treating pain in Viscera”. (Avicenna)
-Ligusticum Chuan Xiong and Western Lovage are used very similarly in this respect

3. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine: (West)
-opens obstruction of the Liver and Spleen, Jaundice
-difficult Urination, Edema, Gravel
-Rheumatism, Wind-Cold pain

4. Warms and Strengthens the Stomach: (West)
-wind, colic, indigestion
-moistens the bowels, gently promotes the bowels

5. Resists Poison: (West)
-Fevers
-Epidemic and Pestilential diseases
-acute sore throat
-“Useful against the ill effects of all kinds of Bites” (Avicenna)

6. Clears Phlegm, Stops Wheezing:
-dissolve congealed Phlegm’ (Avicenna)
-“Lovage is useful in Asthma, Dyspnea, Orthopnoea and Chronic Cough particularly wben the roots and seeds are taken together”  (Avicenna)
-’cures Asthma’. (Schroder)

7. Kills Worms:
-“A dose of 3.5 gm’of Lovage purges out worms including Tapeworms” (Avicenna)

8. Externally:
-externally in Baths, Cataplasms, and Plasters for Wounds
-used as a gargle for Sore Throat and Tonsillitis (water or decoction)
-used as a wash for Spots and Freckles (water, infusion)
-used as a wash to clear the Eyes and benefit Eyesight
-applied to Boils and Carbuncles (fresh leaf applied)
-pimples and boils of the legs or vagina, apply distilled water of the leaf and stalk.

Dose:


Decocted in Wine for obstruction from Cold, and in water for those caused by Heat.
Decoction: 3–9 grams;
Powder: 1–3 grams

Comment:


1. Sichuan Lovage (Chuan Xiong) is closely related and is used similarly. It clears Wind, moves the Blood and Qi, resolves Stasis and Eases Pain. Primarily used for Menstrual disorders with pain or obstructed Menstruation. It is also a special medicine for Headache and Dizziness as it clears Wind and regulates the Blood. The use is so similar as to consider Lovage and Ligusticum Chuan Xiong to be almost synonymous in use.
2. TCM also uses Ligusticum sinenses Gao Ben. This is used for external Wind-Cold common cold and Influenza, especially with Headache and nasal congestion. Western Lovage is used more similarly to Ligusticum Chuan Xiong.
3. Lovage Seed was often preferred in classical Western formula. In general, it has similar functions to the root.
4. “It enhances breeding activity in animals”. (Avicenna)

Preparations
Based on Chinese use of Sichuan Lovage (Chuan Xiong), the root may be prepared with wine to enhance the effect of moving the Blood. This is warmer, and better for cold-type blood stagnation and pain. Of course, decocting the root in wine or preparing a tincture achieves similar benefits.

Substitutes:


The Chinese Ligusticum Chuan Xiong may be used for Lovage, especially for Headaches and Gynecological disorders.

Main Combinations:



Gynecology, Obstetrics:
1. Menstrual cramping and pain Lovage with Cyperus rotundus.
2. To strengthen the Blood and regulate menstruation, Lovage with Dang Gui.
3. Postpartum Blood stasis, Lovage with Motherwort

Headache:
4. Headache:
i. Lovage with Rue, Fennel seed, Pepper (Galen)
ii. acute Wind and Cold headache, combine Lovage with Angelica
iii. internal Wind, Lovage with Peony
iv. acute Headache, Lovage with Siler Montane and Feverfew.
v. acute Heat type Headache, Lovage with Camomile, Balm
vi. Headache and Migraine, Lovage with Betony, Rue, Celandine, Eyebright, Pennyroyal, Rosemary, Oregano, Sage, Licorice, Madder (as in Syrup of Betony)
ix. Headache from deficiency, Lovage, Peony, Mistletoe

Stomach:
5. Stomach Pain, indigestion from Cold:
i. Stomach, Spleen or Intestine pain from cold and wind, Lovage, Galangal, Cinnamon decocted in wine. (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)
ii. Lovage with Ginger, Indian Spikenard, Amomum, Asarum, Parsley seed, Black Pepper, Thyme
iii. Lovage seed with Sagapen, Cumin, Nigella, Caraway, Bitter Almond, Long Pepper, Marjoram, Wild Mint, Calamus, Bay berry, Rue (as in Electuary of Bayberries)
iv. Lovage with Galangal, Aloeswood, Clove, Ginger, Long Pepper, Cinnamon, Calamus, Mint, Cardamon, Fennel seed, Caraway (as in Powder of Galangal Compound of Mesue)
v. Lovage seed with Calamint seed, Pennyroyal seed, Parsley seed, Celery seed, Thyme, Black Pepper (as in Electuary of Calamint of Galen)

Other:
6. To improve Memory, Lovage seed with Calamus, Gentian, Indian Spikenard, Siler Montane, Aniseed, Cumin, Caraway (as in The Powder of Trithemius)
7. To benefit the Sight, Lovage seed with Eyebright, Betony, Rosemary, Elecampane, Fennel (as in Electuary to Strengthen the Sight)
8. Inflammation of the Urinary tract, Rupturewort, Uva Ursi, Linseed, Lovage root (Meyer)
9. To protect from Cold exposure when travelling, Lovage with Pepper taken in Wine. (Avicenna)

Major Formulas


Potion for Headache (Galen)
Syrup of Betony (Bononiense)
Syrup of Mugwort (Augustana)
Powder of Calamint Compound (Nicholas)
Powder of Cumin Greater (Nicholas)
Powder of Galangal Compound (Diagalanga) (Mesue)
Powder of Musk Bitter (Diamoschu Amarum) (Mesue)
Warming Pearl Powder (Diamargariton Calidum) (Mesue)
The Powder of Trithemius
Electuary of Calamint (Galen)
Electuary of Hyssop (Diahyssopus) (Nicholas)
Electuary to Strengthen the Sight (Wirtzung)
Electuary of Bayberries (Electuarium de Baccis Lauri)
Electuary for Back Pain (Galen)
Antidote prepared for the Empress Helena
Antidotum Augustini (Nicholas)
Electuarium Acharistum (Nicholas)
Antidotus Acharistos Altera

Cautions:


Not used during Pregnancy

Main Preparations used:


Distilled Water, Distilled Oil, Salt from the Ashes

1. Tincture of Lovage:
i. Lovage root (2 oz.), Lovage seed (1 oz.), Alcohol (10 oz.). Digest, express, filter. (Pharmacopoeia Wirtembergica, 1798)

2. Extract of Lovage:
i. Lovage root, Alcohol (2 pounds each), Water (9 lbs.). Digest 12 hours; express, distil off the alcohol and evaporate the residue to an extract. (Pharmacopoeia regni Poloniae, 1817)