Seseli, Siler MontaneHartwort, Laserwort, Mountain Cumin |
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Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485 |
Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491 |
SeseliNew Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563
Left: Seseli massiliense; Right: Seseli ethiopicumKrauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
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Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578
Siler montanumFlora von Deutschland (27), Kohler, 1886 |
Siler tortuosumFlora von Deutschland (27), Kohler, 1886 |
The Chinese Saposhnikovia divaricata (syn. Siler divaricata)Ledebour, Icones plantarum novarum, 1829
Siler montanum(Photo by Kenraiz) (Wikimedia)
Botanical name:
Siler montanum (syn. Laserpitium siler, L. montanum, L. trifoliatum, L. garganicum, Daucus siler)
Ferula-leaved or Fennel-like-leaved types were used synonymously (the first called Siler Montane, the latter, Rock Fennel); S. tortuosum (syn. S. massiliense) is also used; other varieties were known.
TCM uses the related Saposhnikovia divaricata (Fang Feng) (syn. Siler divaricatum, Ledebouriella divaricata, Rumia seseloides, Saposhnikovia seseloides). Both plants were previously grouped together in the Siler genus and are similar in appearance and use.
Parts used:
Root, Seed
Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent, Sweet, Bitter
cuts, opens, discusses
Uses:
1. Clears Wind-Cold, Resists Poison:
-Cold, Influenza
-in Antidotes against epidemic and infectious diseases
-Cough, shortness of Breath, Catarrhs
-‘a special Antidote against Hemlock’. (Schroder)
-Scrofula (from Wind-Phlegm)
2. Clears Wind and Damp, Regulates Qi:
-Chiefly for Head diseases, Epilepsy, Cramps, weak Sight etc
-Opens obstructions of the Liver
-Wine decoction for Back pain
3. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Stranguria
-Stones of the Kidney and Bladder
4. Regulates Qi, Benefits the Uterus, Promotes Menstruation:
-Promotes Menstruation, clears a Dead Fetus
-suffocation of the Uterus
-Infertility from Damp or obstruction
5. Clears Damp, Benefits the Stomach, Moves Qi:
-clears Wind and crudities from the Stomach
6. Externally:
-Cramps, Convulsions
-congealed Milk
-obstructed and foul Womb
Dose:
Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 3–9 grams
Comment:
Tabernemont said the seeds of Brank Ursine were sold for it in the shops (though this seems unlikely). They may have been an adulterant.
Substitute:
The closely related Chinese Saposhnikovia divaricata (Fang Feng) (formerly Siler spp.) may be used for Siler montanum in most instances.
Main Combinations:
1. Epilepsy:
i. Seseli with Orris decocted in wine. (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485)
ii. Seseli with Peony root, Squill, Mint, Wormwood, Sage, Rue, Licorice, Raisins
iii. Seseli with Stoechas, Agaric, Cardamon, Hyssop, Licorice, Peony (Mesue)
iv. Seseli, Rue, Oregano, Balm, Marjoram, Rosemary, Betony, Sage, Clove, Nutmeg, Aniseed, Pyrethrum (as in Powder for Epilepsy of Philon)
2. Apoplexy, Seseli, Rosemary, Doronicum, Peony, Costus, Lavender, Peony, Aniseed, Cinnamon, Clove, Aloeswood, Amber (as in Powder Against Apoplexy)
3. Dizziness, Vertigo, Seseli, Calamus, Red Coral, Calendula, Betony, Rosemary, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Aniseed, Peony, Cardamon, Clove (as in Powder for Cold Diseases of the Head)
4. Poor Memory, Seseli, Clove, Ginger, Senna, Calamus, Gentian, Indian Spikenard, Aniseed, Cumin, Caraway, Lovage seed, Mace (as in The Powder of Trithemius)
5. Headache, Seseli, Feverfew, Lovage
6. For Wind and Cold, Seseli with Ginger, Hyssop, White Pepper, Black Pepper, Parsley seed, Elecampane, Long Pepper, Ameos, Aniseed, Fennel, Honey (as in Antidote for Wind and Cold of Nicholas)
7. Cold and Wind affecting the Stomach, with Nausea, poor Appetite, Stomach weakness, Siler seed, Calamint seed, Pennyroyal seed, Parsley seed, Celery seed, Thyme, Black Pepper (as in Electuary of Calamint of Galen)
8. To benefit the Eyes and clear the Sight:
i. Seseli seed, Eyebright, Fennel, Celandine, Rue, Rosemary, Aniseed
ii. Seseli, Fennel, Blue Germander, Stavesacre, Celery seed, Aniseed, Parsley seed, Pennyroyal, Hyssop, Saxifrage, Juniper berry (as in Electuary of Pope Innocent Against Blindness)
9. To promote Menstruation, Seseli with Madder, Asparagus root, Mint, Valerian, Pennyroyal, Balm, Licorice, Currants (Wirtzung)
10. Infertility:
i. Seseli with Red and White Behen, Ash tree keys, Turnip seed, Cinnamon, Marjoram, Balm, Pearl (Wirtzung)
ii. Seseli, Parsnip seed, Turnip seed, Ivory, Ash tree key, Cinnamon, Doronicum, Rosemary, Balsam wood, Blatta Byzantina, Marjoram, Pennyroyal, Balm, Citron peel, Spikenard, Ambergris, Pearl (as in Confection for Impregnation)
iii. Seseli, Madder, Mugwort, Mint, Wormwood, Fennel root, Marjoram, Calamus, Aniseed, Clove, Balm flower, Cyperus root, Cinnamon, Raisin, Mastic, Ginger, Mace, Clove, Ivory, Saffron, Nutmeg, Doronicum, Zedoary, Basil (as in Electuary to Promote Fertility)
Major Formula:
Powder for Cold Diseases of the Head (Renodeus)
The Powder of Trithemius
Powder Against Apoplexy (2) (Zwelfer)
Powder for Epilepsy of Philon
Antidote for Wind and Cold (Nicholas)
Antidote for Cold Kidneys and to Excite Libido (Nicholas)
Confection for Infertility from Cold
Electuary of Calamint (Galen)
The Queen of Colen’s Electuary
Electuary of Pope Innocent Against Blindness
Electuary for a Duke (Electuarium Ducis) (Nicholas)
Extraordinary Confection for Epilepsy
Electuary to Promote Fertility (Wirtzung)
Confection for Impregnation (Renodeus)
Expert Pills for Epilepsy from Phlegm
1. Electuarium ad Coitum Augmentendum
Siler Montane
Cumin
Nettle seed 10 drams
Ginger 15 drams
Satyrion 5 drams
Pine nut 20 drams
Annis 6 drams
Triturate with Butter, then add clarified Honey.
Dose: ½ oz. (Isaac)
Cautions:
1. Not used for Yin deficient Heat, or Wind associated with severe Blood deficiency.