Lavose

A genus of a single species of perennial constitutes this genus. Levisticum officinale (lovage) is an especially useful plant as it produces new shoots in early spring when few other fresh herbs are available. In medieval texts, lovage appears as luvesche (Old French) and loveache, associating the plant with love potions and aphrodisiacs. Both Levisticum and "lovage" are corruptions of the Latin ligusticum, "Ligurian", because L. officinale once grew abundantly in Liguria, Italy. Lovage has a flavor resembling celery and yeast extract, yet is little used as a culinary herb. Medicinally, it resembles the Chinese Angelica polymorpha var. sinensis (See, Chinese Angelica), for which it has been substituted.

In ancient times, lovage was planted in front of the house to keep away the plague, snakes, insects, and other evil forces. It was also often used in love potions. Today lovage is used to treat kidney disorders, gastric conditions, and respiratory congestion, and as a sedative.

Large, celery-scented perennial with stout, fleshy roots, hollow stems, and smooth, triangular- to diamond-shaped, divided leaves, to 70cm (28in) long. Tiny yellow-green flowers are borne in umbels, about 8cm (3in) across, in summer, followed by ovoid green fruits.


Common Name:
Lavose
Other Names:
Bladder Seed, Lovage, Love Parsley, Sea Parsley, Smallage, Smellage
Botanical Name:
Levisticum officinale Syn. Ligusticum levisticum
Genus:
Levisticum
Family:
Apiaceae
Native Location:
E Mediterranean
Cultivation:
Deep, rich, moist soil in sun or partial shade. Leaves may be damaged by leaf miners.
Propagation:
By seed sown in autumn; by division in spring.
Harvest:
Leaves are picked before flowering and distilled for oil or dried for use in infusions. Stems are cut in spring, when tender and succulent. Roots are lifted in the third year, and used fresh, or dried for decoctions, liquid extracts, tinctures, and oil distillation. Seeds are collected when ripe and dried for use in decoctions.
Height:
2m (6ft)
Width:
1m (3ft)
Hardiness:
Z5-8
Parts Used:
Leaves, stems, roots, seeds, oil, Rhizones, Fruit
Properties:
A bitter-sweet, sedative herb, pungently aromatic, that benefits the digestion, relaxes spasms, increases perspiration, and acts as a diuretic and expectorant. It is effective against many disease-causing organisms.
Medicinal Uses:
Internally for indigestion, colic, gas, poor appetite, kidney stones, cystitis, painful menstruation and slow labor. Externally for sore throat and aphrhous ulcers.
To treat indigestion, flatulence, menstrual problems, gastric conditions; to prevent kidney gravel.
Typical Dose:
A typical dose of lovage may range from 1.5 to 3.0 gm of finely chopped root mixed with 150 ml boiling water, steeped for ten to fifteen minutes, strained, and taken as a tea, two to three times a day.
Possible Side Effects:
Lovage's side effects include allergic reactions and skin sensitivity to sun.
Drug Interactions:
Taking lovage with these drugs may increase skin sensitivity to sunlight
Bumetanide, (Bumex, Burinex)
Celecoxib, (Celebrex)
Ciprofloxacin, (Ciloxan, Cipro)
Doxycycline, (Apo-Doxy, Vibramycin)
Enalapril, (Vasotec)
Etodolac, (Lodine, Utradol)
Fluphenazine, (Modecate, Prolixin)
Fosinopril, (Monopril)
Furosemide, (Apo-Furosemide, Lasix)
Gatifloxacin, (Tequin, Zymar)
Hydrochlorothiazide, (Apo-Hydro, Microzide)
Ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin)
Indomethacin, (Indocin, Novo-Methacin)
Ketoprofen, (Orudis, Rhodis)
Ketorolac, (Acular, Toradol)
Lansoprazole, (Prevacid)
Levofloxacin, (Levaquin, Quixin)
Lisinopril, (Prinivil, Zestril)
Loratadine, (Alavert, Claritin)
Methotrexate, (Rheumatrex, Trexall)
Naproxen, (Aleve, Naprosyn)
Nortriptyline, (Aventyl HCl, Pamelor)
Ofloxacin, (Floxin, Ocuflox)
Omeprazole, (Losec, Prilosec)
Phenytoin, (Dilantin, Phenytek)
Piroxicam, (Feldene, Nu-Pirox)
Prochlorperazine, (Compazine, Compro)
Quinapril, (Accupril)
Risperidone, (Risperdal)
Rofecoxib, (Vioxx)
Tetracycline, (Novo-Tetra, Sumycin)
Taking lovage with these drugs may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising:
Abciximab, (ReoPro)
Aminosalicylic Acid, (Nemason Sodium, Paser)
Antithrombin III, (Thrombate III)
Argatroban, (Argatroban)
Aspirin, (Bufferin, Ecotrin)
Aspirin and Dipyridamole, (Aggrenox)
Bivalirudin, (Angiomax)
Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate, (Trilisate)
Choline Salicylate, (Teejel)
Clopidogrel, (Plavix)
Dalteparin, (Fragmin)
Danaparoid, (Orgaran)
Dipyridamole, (Novo-Dipiradol, Persantine)
Enoxaparin, (Lovenox)
Eptifibatide, (Integrillin)
Fondaparinux, (Arixtra)
Heparin, (Hepalean, Hep-Lock)
Indobufen, (Ibustrin)
Lepirudin, (Refludan)
Salsalate, (Amgesic, Salflex)
Ticlopidine, (Alti-Ticlopidine, Ticlid)
Tinzaparin, (Innohep)
Tirofiban, (Aggrastat)
Warfarin, (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Disease Effects:
  • May worsen hypertension by increasing sodium retention.
  • May worsen kidney inflammation or impaired kidney function.
Culinary Uses:
Young shoots and leaf stalks are blanched and eaten as a vegetable, stalks are also candied like angelica. Seeds are added to soups, bread, and biscuits. Leaves are added to soups, stews, salads, and savory dishes. Dried leaves are made into tea.
Economic Uses:
Oil is used in commercial food flavoring, alcoholic drinks, and in perfumery.
Bibliography:
The Encylopedia of Herbs by Deni Bown Copyright © 1995, 2001 Dorling Kindersley Limited pp 259-260
The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide by Geo. T. Grossberg,MD and Barry Fox,PhD Copyright©2007 Barry Fox,PhD. Pp315-316