Levisticum, Lovage

Hipposelinum
Sisaliyus (Unani)

Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

Kurtzes Handtbuchlein, Ryff, 1599

Flora von Deutschland (27), Kohler, 1886

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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

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

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Uses:
1. Moves the Blood, Promotes Menstruation: (West, TCM)
-delayed, short or scanty Menstruation; Amenorrhea, Irregular Menstruation
-Uterine Pain or obstruction, Hysteria (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)

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:
Decoction: 3–9 grams;
Powder: 1–3 grams

Comment:
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Preparations
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Substitutes:
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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)

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

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Cautions:
Not used during Pregnancy

Main Preparations used:
Distilled Water, Distilled Oil, Salt from the Ashes