Lovage - Useful Properties And Uses Of The Root Of Lovage

Lovage

Use and beneficial properties of medicinal lovage

Botanical characteristics of lovage

Lovage is a perennial, cultivated plant, quite unpretentious and resistant to cold, it does not require special care. In addition, lovage is not picky about sunlight and heat; on the contrary, it grows better when the lower part of the plant is located in the shade.

Lovage, as a rule, blooms in the second year of life, only then the plant strives for light, since it is so necessary for the maturation of seeds. Lovage is also called mountain celery. Indeed, these plants are very close in botany. In nature, lovage usually grows at the foot of the mountains or on the slopes, for this reason it was named "mountain celery". It grows especially well in humid lowlands. The root is used for food, since it is large and fleshy in the plant. The top, namely greens, is more used as a spice and when salting vegetables. Among other things, lovage is also used as a medicine.

The plant in the second year of its life reaches about two meters. The yellow flowers are collected in a dense umbrella. Every year the plant becomes more and more beautiful, grows and bushes in width.

The use of lovage

Lovage juice is widely used in folk medicine. A decoction of the roots and leaves of this plant is used. The broth has an expectorant, diuretic and tonic properties. All parts of the plant are used - the root, leaves and seeds.

For example, in cosmetology, lovage decoction is recommended when treating hair, simply rinsing it. After such a shower, the hair becomes incredibly splendid, silky and shiny. It is believed that a tincture from this plant can help men regain strength and interest in women. Ladies use it as a natural aphrodisiac, applying a few drops of essential oil of this "magic" plant to the skin. It seems that the scent attracts men like moths - the light of a lamp.

A specially prepared decoction of lovage is used to treat ascites (dropsy), diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as well as to relieve the inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract. For neuralgia or heart disease, a decoction from this plant is also recommended, since it has sedative properties. In addition, it perfectly cleanses the skin and promotes the healing of purulent wounds. For gout and rheumatism, it is good to use tinctures prepared with alcohol as a grinding.

Cosmetologists recommend a decoction of lovage root to get rid of age spots. There is even a recipe to combat alcoholism. To do this, you need to take 250 grams of vodka and insist in it with 50 grams of lovage roots and two bay leaves. Those who have used this remedy say that after drinking a glass of infusion, there will be no more desire to drink alcohol.

Preparation of decoction and infusion of lovage

Broth. With a glass of hot water, you need to pour one spoon of chopped roots, then boil for 30 minutes in a sealed container, then cool for 10 minutes. The resulting broth should be filtered and brought to the original volume with boiled water. Use this remedy 1-2 tablespoons 3 times a day.

Infusion. Roots are used to prepare the infusion. Pour one teaspoon of chopped roots with a glass of boiling water, cool and drain. They take the medicine in equal portions throughout the day for 5-6 doses.

To prepare the herb infusion, 2 teaspoons of herbs are poured into ¼ liters of cold water, heated to a boil, and then filtered.

Useful properties of lovage

Even ancient people possessed knowledge of the nutritional, medicinal, stimulating and aromatic beneficial properties of lovage. This plant contains a lot of potassium salts, vitamins, minerals, and essential oils. The lovage root contains starch, sugar, tannins, coumarin, malic acid, resins, and gum.

Any part of lovage contains essential oils in varying amounts. For example, in seeds they are up to 1.5%, in the root - about 0.5%, in fresh leaves - 0.25%. The essential oil in the form of a thick brown mixture is highly soluble in alcohol. Due to this feature, it is used in medicine.

Contraindications to the use of lovage

You can not use lovage for women during pregnancy, as it promotes blood flow to the pelvic organs.

The author of the article: Sokolova Nina Vladimirovna | Phytotherapist

Education: Diploma in "General Medicine" and "Therapy" received at the Pirogov University (2005 and 2006). Advanced training at the Department of Phytotherapy at the Peoples' Friendship University of Moscow (2008).