Lily of the Valley L liliaceae

N.O. Liliaceae

Names:

Known as Lilium convallium in the 16th century., Our Ladys' Tears, Convall-lily, Lily Constancy,May Lily, Convallaria,Ladder-to Heaven, Male Lily, Convallaria magalis (LINN),

History

Lily of the Valleys' specific name, Majalis, or Maialis connotes "that which belongs to May".Historic astrology has the plant under the dominion of the planet Mercury, since Maia, the daughter of Atlas,was mother of Mercury or Hermes in Greek mythology

Wild Lilyof the Valley is called Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum Canadense)

Constituents:

Cardio-active glycosides (Cardenolides) simialr to foxglove glycoside.
a saponiside, convallomarine
convallotoxine
convallotoxole
convallotoxicide

Uses

Used to regulate heart action similarly to and considered safer than the foxglove.

Considered an important drug in some national pharmacopeias, it is seldom used as such outside Eastern European countries.

diuretic, emetic, perfume base from flowers, formerly an ingredient in snuff (dried roots and leaves), for cardiac debility or dropsy, slows the disturbed action of a weak,irritable heart; increases heart power.

It is preferable to Digitalis, since it does not accumulate in the body to toxic proportions

decoction of flowers taken for obstruction of the urinary canal

recommended as a substitute for aloes'purgative qualities

Contra- Indications:

POISON:

TO BE ADMINISTERED BY PHYSICIANS ONLY

Remedies and Recommended Doses, But Don't Try This At Home!

One ounce of herb is taken as a tincture, infused in a pint of boiling water and taken by the tablespoonful

recommended doses:

Fluid extract, herb, 10 to 30 drops

Fluid extract,whole plant, 10 to 30 drops

Fluid extract, flowers, 1/2 to 1 drachm

References:

P 179, The Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Herbalism, edited by Malcolm Stuart, Orbis Publishing, London

P 480, A Modern Herbal, Mrs M. Grieve Tiger Books International, London

P 66, Referencing Wild Lily of the Valley Flower,A Field Guide to Wildflowers Northeastern, Northcentral North America Peterson, Mc Kenny,Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Publisher