Aquilegia, Columbine

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

Florum, et coronariarum odoratarumque nonnullarum herbarum historia, Dodoens, 1569

Flora von Deutschland (21), Kohler, 1885

Uses:

1. Clears Heat and Damp, Opens Obstructions, Reduces Swelling:

-Liver pain or tenderness, Jaundice, Cholecystitis
-Restless, Liver Headache
-Hepato-protective effects have been demonstrated
-Scrofula, Lymphatic Swellings, Nodes
-conserve of the flowers strengthens Liver and Spleen (Salmon)
-Insomnia and restlessness

2. Clears Heat and Poison:

-Fever
-Seeds promotes expression of rashes in Small Pox, Measles etc. (Schroder)
-acute Sore Throat, Tonsillitis
-Skin diseases, Eczema
-distilled water “discusses any internal Abscess”. (Tragus)

3. Moves the Blood, Clears Stasis:

-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-Seed powder with wine has been used to promote Labor.
-bruising, Trauma and Fractures (Bock, Kreutterbuch, 1565)

4. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:

-Whooping Cough
-Hemoptysis, Lung Ulcers (Bock, Kreutterbuch, 1565)

5. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:

-Edema, Stones (root, Paracelsus)
-chewing the root regularly was said to hinder Stone formation (Matthiolus)
-Ulcers of the Kidneys, Bladder or Urethra
-“Seeds are esteemed potent Diuretics”. (Tournefort, 1730)

6. Externally:

-aches and pains from Cold (herb boiled in Oil)
-applied to Wounds; mouth wash for mouth Ulcers (leaf decoction or juice with Honey
-distilled water or decoction of the leaves is used for Sores, Inflammations and Ulcers of the Mouth and Throat.
-Tonsillitis, Ulcers of the Throat, gargle a decoction of the Seed. (Lobel)
-Sores and Ulcers of the Genitals
-topically to Wounds
-old foul Ulcers, Running Sores, Fistula (Juice)
-Burns and Scalds (herb boiled in Oil)
-Applied to Fractures (Ointment)
-“the distilled Water is a good Cosmetic for smoothing the Skin of the Face”. (Tournefort, 1730)

Main Combinations:

1. Jaundice:
i. Columbine seed (1 dram) is taken with Saffron (10 grains), powder and give as a dose, letting the patient sweat well afterwards. (Matthiolus)
ii. Columbine seed (6 drams), Saffron (1 dram), Tartar Vitriolate (½ dram). Form 7 doses. (Gazophylacium Medico-Physicum, Woyts, 1746)
iii. Columbine seed (25 grains), Ivory shavings (1 ½ scruples), Earthworm (½ scruple). (Langius)
2. Measles and Small Pox, Columbine seed powder (½–1 dram) taken with Water of Fumitory or Blessed Thistle. (Simon Paulii)
3. Gargle for Mouth Sores and Ulcers, as a Wash for Genital Sores and Ulcers, or to irrigate Fistulas, Columbine Wine Decoction (1 pint), Columbine Water Decoction (½ pint), Alum powder (1 dram), Honey (4 oz.). (Salmon)