Cerefolium, Chervil

Thomé, Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz, 1885

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Botanical name:
Anthriscus cererfolium
Three varieties are listed by Salmon (Botanologia, 1710): Garden, Wild, and Tooth-pick Chervil.

Parts used:
Leaf; Seed

Temperature & Taste:
Warm, dry. Pungent
discusses

Uses:
1. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema, Stoppage of Urine (used internally and externally)
-breaks Stones

2. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys:
-weakness in the Elderly, Mental Dullness, Fearful (Gerard–Root, Parkinson–Seed)
-promote Lust (Gerard); 'Breeds Seed' (Salmon)
-'restored some that have been Impotent' (Salmon–Essence)
-the Confected roots are perhaps most strong, but the root and seed has also been used.

3. Warms the Stomach, Moves Qi:
-abdominal distention
-indigestion, nausea
-green herb or green seed can be eaten for this purpose
-externally for Colic
-acid tincture cleanses the Stomach, relieves Nausea, and promotes Appetite

4. Moves the Blood:
-Dissolves congealed Blood
-blood stagnation in the Stomach, Abdomen, Lungs or Uterus (Salmon)
-promotes Birth, cleanses afterbirth (Salmon–Essence)
-juice, tincture or distilled water was most used for this purpose

5. Resists Poison, Kills Worms:
-preservative in time of the Plague (Confected Roots)
-Biting of Vipers, Rabid Dogs
-Worms in Children

6. Externally:
-applied to fresh Wounds
-applied to Chronic, Foul Ulcers
-applied to Gout (Ointment)
-beaten and applied to Tumors from Congealed Blood (Parkinson)

Dose:
Distilled Water: 4–6 oz.
Of the Juice: 2–4 oz. in wine
Roots Decocted in Wine: 3–9 grams

Preparation:
The Candied (Confected) root is a stronger tonic and was used to strengthen a weak stomach, and promote Lust.

Main Combinations:
Leaf or Seed can be eaten with Oil, Vinegar and Black Pepper to warm a Cold and Weak Stomach.

Cautions:
None noted

Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water, Salt of the Ashes.