Lovage

Lovage is an old english garden herb whose use dates from the fourteenth century. Lovage's properties are similar to closely related umbelliferous plants like angelica, carrots,celery, and parsely. Lovage contains quercetin, which makes it a good garden remedy for allergies, respiratory problems, and is effective diuretic for treatment of urinary tract inflammation. As mentioned earlier, lovage is a medical and edible herb. It provides nutrition and cures diseases.

Lovage is a salad plant, having a strong and peculiar odour. The stalk is round, thick, and hollow, and deeply striated or channelled. The leaves are very large, each being composed of a number of smaller; these are set on a divided stalk, and are short, broad and indented at the edges. The flowers are small and yellow; the seeds are flat and brown. The root is thick, large and brown, having many fibres.

So, letas take a look at what health benefits the lovage root can bring to us from a professional view. Lovage is a bitter-sweet herb with a pungent aroma that will benefit indigestion, colic, flatulence and poor appetite. Lovage will aid the respiratory system, act as an expectorant and treat bronchitis and increase perspiration.

It is a diuretic and anti-microbial and either the seed, leaf or root can be infused to reduce water retention and kidney stones. Lovage will aid rheumatism and assist in the removal of waste products and for any urinary tract complaints. Lovage encourages menstruation, relieves menstrual pain and its warming nature also improves poor circulation. Lovage root is an ingredient of urological and cardiotonic medicine. Lovage is infrequently used in herbal medicine, internally, for kidney stones, cystitis, colic, poor appetite, menstruation pain and to promote digestion.

Externally it is used for sore throat. This herb acts as a weak diuretic and expectorant.

The roots and fruit are aromatic, stimulant, and diaphoretic, and may be used as remedies for flatulency, and hysterical disorders arising from uterine obstructions. The fresh roots provoke urine, and are good in jaundice. As they are sudorific, they are good in fevers. Half a drachm at a time of the dried root in powder taken in wine, wonderafully warms a cold stomach, and promotes digestion. It relieves inward gripings and pains. The decoction of the herb is good for the ague, and to ease pains in the bowels caused by cold.

The seed is still more effectual. The distilled water or a strong decoction, as a gargle, relieves quinsy. The decoction drank three or four times a day is effectual in pleurisy. The juice applied to the eyes takes away inflammation. The leaves bruised, and fried with a little hog's lard, and laid hot to any blotch or boil, will quickly break it.

Ligustrazine, or chuanxiongzine, can expand the coronary artery, increase coronary blood flow, improve myocardial oxygen supply, and decrease myocardial oxygen consumption.

Ligustrazine can dilate cerebral blood vessels, reduce vascular resistance, significantly increase blood flow to the brain and body, and improve microcirculation.

Chuanxiongzine can reduce platelet activity, inhibit platelet aggregation, and prevent thrombosis.

Neutral components contained in ferulic acid promote uterine smooth muscle in small doses and inhibit in large dose.

Water decoction has sedative effect on animal central nervous system, as well as a clear and long-lasting antihypertensive effect.

It can accelerate the absorption of fracture hematoma, promote callus formation.

It can prevent vitamin e deficiency.

It can inhibit a variety of bacteria.

It has antihistamines and choleretic effect.

Every part of this herb is edible and has numerous culinary uses.

In mediterranean cuisine, lovage leaves are finely chopped and added to tomato based sauces, also soups that contain potatoes, sauta copyright ed and seafood dishes.

The leaves can also be frozen, or dried to increase their shelf life.

Lovage leaf stalks tend to be fibrous and should be blanched in boiling water, after which they can be used like leafy vegetables; stems are also candied and used to decorate cakes like angelica.

The seeds are either ground or used whole and added to bread, biscuits, cakes and also pickled.

An herbal medicinal tea is also made from the roots, leaves and or seeds.

Lovage must not be taken medicinally during pregnancy or if you suffer from kidney disease.