Tilia, Linden

Lime flower, Tile tree, Tilia

Ortus Sanitatis, Meydenbach, 1491

New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Krauterbuch, Lonitzer, 1578

Atlas der officinellen pflanzen, Felix, 1899

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Botanical name:
Tilia europa
also T. vulgaris, T. cordata (Winter Linden),  T. platyphylla (Summer Linden), T. intermedia and T. americana.
Male and Female types were listed in older herbals, but only the female has seeds and flowers.

Parts used:
Dried flowers with bracts, Leaf; rarely the bark or berries

Temperature & Taste:
Neutral, dry. Sweet, Pungent.

Classifications:
4a. CEPHALIC

Uses:
1. Clears Wind and Heat, Moves the Qi, Stops Spasms:
-Liver heat and wind-type Apoplexy, Epilepsy, Vertigo, Headaches, Migraine
-Palpitations, Hysteria, Spasms and Insomnia
-Arteriosclerosis; Hypertension, especially with anxiety or nervous tension; some consider it specific for this.
-calms the Mind, Spirit and Nerves, and helps release constrained Qi
-helps promote Menstruation when obstructed by Qi; also for PMS. (Leaf or Flowers)

2. Clears Wind and Heat, Promotes Sweat:
-acute Wind-Heat conditions with fever, restlessness and Headache as seen in feverish Colds, Influenza
-childhood Eruptive Fevers including Measles and Scarlet Fever.
-acute dry, hacking coughs with yellow sputum.

3. Clears Heat and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-high colored and foul-smelling Urine; acute UTI’s, Cystitis etc.
-auxiliary for Urinary Stones. (Bark, leaves)

4. Stops Leakages and Bleeding (Berries):
-‘The berries powdered are much commended for the Bloody Flux, and other Fluxes of the belly’ (Pechy)
-Diarrhea etc.
-Heat-type bleeding of the upper body associated with strong Liver heat rising. (Berries)
    
5. Clears Heat:
-The charcoal from Linden wood has been used for Night Sweats, Spasmodic Coughs, and Fever, as well gastric acidity and gastric infections.

6. Externally:
i. The leaves or flower are used in poultices for hot Swellings and Abscesses
ii. the bark was decocted and used as a wash for Burns and Scalds.
iii. Charcoal from Linden wood used externally is good for Wounds and Burns.
iv. The leaves were used as a gargle for red Sore Throats, often with a little Alum and Honey.
v. Leaf or flowers is used externally as a wash for Itchy Skin Rashes.  

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DOSE:
INFUSION or BRIEF DECOCTION of the LEAF: 3–9 grams;
Of the FLOWER in INFUSION: 2–4 grams;
Of the TINCTURE of the FLOWER (1:5 in 25% alcohol): 1–4 mls, 2–3 times daily;
Of the DISTILLED WATER of the FLOWER: 1–2 oz.;
Of the POWDER of LINDEN WOOD CHARCOAL: 1.5–4 grams, usually taken in milk.

Main Combinations:
1. Cold, Influenza from Wind-Heat, Linden flower, Elder flower, Camomile
2. Measles, Linden flower with Elder flower and Rosehip
3. Scarlet Fever and other eruptive Fevers, Linden flower, Rosehip, Blackberry leaf, Aniseed, Sloe flowers
4. Hypertension:
i. Linden flower, Hawthorn
ii. Linden flower, Balm, Mistletoe
iii. Linden flower, Nettle, Balm, Broom tops
iv. Linden flower, Yarrow, Peppermint, Camomile
4. Epilepsy, Linden flower, Nettle, Cherry tree leaf or flower; the distilled water of these was said to have cured a woman of Epilepsy. (The Practise of the New and old Phisicke, Gesner, 1599)
5. Apoplexy, Paralysis of the Tongue: flowers of Linden, Lily of the Valley, Peony, Cowslip, Lavender, Sage, Betony, Rosemary, with Mustard seed; this was fermented in water with hops and ferment added, and distilled to give a spirit. (Royal Chemist, 1670)

Cautions:
1. Avoid full doses during pregnancy

Main Preparations used:
Spirit, Distilled Water, Charcoal of the Wood