Lily of the Valley
Parts Usually Used
Young leaves, roots and flowers
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
A perennial plant that grows in the shade and has a single pair of basal, oblong-ovate leaves entire (not toothed); veins parallel; connecting veins obvious when held to the light and a single leafless raceme of very fragrant, small, white, bell-shaped flowers. Spreading by root runners; 4-8 inches. A slender, creeping rootstock produces 2 oblong-elliptic, pointed, basal leaves up to 1 foot long.
Their bases sheathe the bottom of the flower stalk, which bears at the top a one-sided raceme of white, bell-shaped flowers. Flowering time is from early spring to June. Seed is ripe in September. ) It is a perennial, often forming large colonies; 3-6 inches. Leaves usually 2, base strongly cleft (heart-shaped). Tiny, 4-pointed flowers; April to July. Berries are whitish, turning pinkish; speckled.
), here reported on.
Where Found
Widely cultivated, but still found in some woodlands (escaped from cultivation)and often near old homesites, barns, yards, etc. Native to Eurasia but is commonly grown in gardens in the United States and Canada, from where is sometimes escapes into the countryside.
Medicinal Properties
Antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, emetic, laxative, tonic, mucilaginous
Biochemical Information
Cardiac glycosides, saponins, convallarin and convallaric acid, asparagin, cheliodonic acid and various other organic acids.
Uses
Historical herbalists regarded this plant as a remedy associated with the brain, lymph, and cardiovascular system, noting it as a source of the glycoside convallatoxin. Traditional practitioners administered it to individuals recovering from strokes, particularly where speech recovery was impaired. Herbals historically recommended the plant for dizziness, palsy, apoplexy, high blood pressure, and various forms of dropsy, as well as for general heart pain and valvular conditions, considering its glycosides to act similarly to digitalis.
In Russian folk tradition, the herb was utilized for convulsive disorders. Topical ointments prepared from the plant were applied for headaches, rheumatic discomfort, and gout, while an ointment derived from the root served as a folk application for burns and the prevention of scar tissue. Furthermore, historical sources recorded its use alongside sea onion (Urginea maritima), asserting that this combination provided support to the heart muscles without the cumulative properties associated with digitalis.
Warning
Lily of the Valley contains glycosides that act somewhat like digitalis (foxglove) and can produce irregular heartbeat and upset stomach. Potentially toxic. Leaves can be a mild skin irritant. Overdose or large doses can cause strong stomach and intestinal irritation. Improper administration could result in toxic effects; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Use with proper medical supervision only.
Bibliography
The Herb Book , by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974. , Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994 Culpeper’s Complete Herbal & English Physician: Updated With 117 Modern Herbs , by Nicholas Culpeper, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, 1990, (reprint of 1814) The Complete Medicinal Herbal , by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993 Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants , by Steven Foster and James A.
, Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000 The Nature Doctor: A Manual of Traditional and Complementary Medicine , by Dr. A. , 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. , Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023