Botanical Index No. 311

Cow Parsnip

heracleum sphondylium

Medicinal Actions

Colic

Primary Conditions Treated

Arthrosis Asthma Bacteria Backache Boil Bruise Callus Cancer breast liver spleen Catarrh Chancre Cholera Cold Convulsion Corn Cough Cramp Dandruff Dermatosis Diabetes Diarrhea Dyspepsia Dyspnea Enterosis Epilepsy Flu Gas Gastrosis Gray Hair Headache Hip HIV Hoarseness Hysteria Induration Jaundice Leukemia Myalgia Neuralgia Neurasthenia Ophthalmia Otosis Pain Parotosis Penis Psoriasis Pulmonosis Rheumatism Sclerosis Seborrhea Smallpox Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Swelling Syncope Syphilis Toothache Tuberculosis Tumor VD Vitiligo Wart Worm Wound

General Dosage

Powdered root was taken, along with a strong tea of the leaves and tops, for epilepsy; 2 g fluid extract; 30 drops tincture for cough, 3 tsp herb/2 glass cold water, steeped for 8 hours, and sipped throughout the day.

Safety & Contraindications

Not covered. Like many umbellifers, this one is serious phototoxic, the furanocoumarins causing blistering and exfoliation. Avoid sunshine, ultraviolet light, and solaria during administration. Root contains psoralen, under investigation for treatment of psoriasis, leukemia, and AIDS.

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