Lovage Root and Leaf Profile
Also known as- Levisticum officinale, and Garden Lovage.
Introduction
Lovage is a flowering plant in the same family as carrots, parsley, and dill. Its dark green leaves resemble cilantro, while the stalks resemble celery. The herb is sweeter but stronger than celery. Introduced from Europe, it now grows wild in the United States in New England, the Great Lakes states, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Constituents
Quercetin. The root also contains 1,8-cineole, camphor, coumarins, eugenol, limonene, and methol.
Parts Used
The entire plant is medicinal, but typically the roots and the leaves are used in herbal medicine.
Typical Preparations
Teas, tinctures, encapsulations. Also eaten fresh as a vegetable. Sometimes combined with ligusticum (Chinese lovage root) or osha in cough remedies. The dried leaf may be sprinkled on food or added to soup stock.
Summary
Quercetin is what makes lovage an excellent allergy cure, and also an excellent treatment for bronchitis, indigestion, and colic. Grieve's Herbal notes that the roots, leaves and fruits are antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, mildly expectorant and stimulant. The leaves eaten as a vegetable or used several times a day as an herb may stimulate menstruation. Modern herbalists also use lovage to treat kidney stones, urinary tract infections, and to relieve flatulence and gas pains.
Precautions
May intensify sunburn. Not recommended while pregnant.
