Cowslips fight chronic bronchitis
Cowslips, Primula veris, have a number of other names, including Mayflower, Herb Peter, (Wild) Primula and Fairywort. Cowslips are closely related to Primroses. The word “cowslip” comes from Old English cu-slyppe, meaning cow dung, which probably reflects the places in which it was found. Despite the original meaning of its name, the Cowslip is often called the Herald of Spring, because it is one of the earliest Spring flowers to appear.
Cowslip as a remedy has quite a long list of exclusions. It is not suitable for pregnant women. It is not suitable for anyone taking Warfarin or other anticoagulants (drugs which thin the blood). It is not suitable for anybody who is sensitive to Aspirin (salycylates). So long as you or the intended patient does not fall into any of these groups, it’s safe to read on.
Cowslips are becoming quite rare in the wild, so if you intend to use them for herbal medicine, you should grow them in your own garden. Although it’s a perennial, the roots have specific effects which are different to the leaves and flowers, so you may need to grow quite a few! It’s quite easy to propagate, either by sowing in late Summer or by dividing existing stock in late Spring or early Autumn. It prefers dry soil that is neutral or slightly alkaline.
Use the flower petals on their own to prevent or relieve spasms or convulsions, and as a sedative useful for treating hyperactivity and sleeplessness in children. They may also be helpful in treating asthma. The flowers and leaves (gathered in Spring, used either fresh or dried) to induce sweating, for pain relief, as an expectorant and diuretic. For all these purposes, make a standard infusion by using 2-3 teaspoonfuls of fresh or 1-2 teaspoonfuls of dried herb to a cup of boiling water. Allow to stand for at least 10 minutes, strain and sip slowly.
The roots (harvested in Spring, can be dried for later use) can be used to treat chronic bronchitis and catarrh, also to slow blood clotting and as a treatment for rheumatism. To use the roots, make a decoction by putting 30g (half an ounce) of dried root into a small pan containing 570ml (2½ cups, 1 UK pint) of water, bringing to a boil and simmering for about 20 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced by half. The dose is one cupful per day.
Infusions and decoctions can be sweetened with honey if preferred.
An oil made from chopped flowers can be used externally to treat bruising.
As you can see, cowslip is an extremely useful herb, but to avoid contamination by chemicals, like all herbal remedies, it’s important that it is grown organically. To find out more about growing organic cowslips, visit the Gardenzone.
Related Posts
Lungwort
Primrose
MelilotRelated posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
January 19th, 2009 at 13:52
[...] or Wild Primrose, Primula vulgaris (sometimes labeled Primula acaulis), is closely related to the Cowslip, and a lot tougher than it looks – it will cope with almost anything except full shade, even salt [...]