Herbs - Primula (Primula officinalis).

What Is It?

This herb is more commonly known as cowslip, the plant has yellow and orange wild flowers and it is found throughout Europe and temperate regions of Asia. The flowers and root (less often) are used in herbal medicine.

Action

The flowers contain high numbers of flavanoids (around 19 have been isolated) whereas the root contains high levels of saponin glycosides. Both flower and contain phenolic glycosides, tannins and volatile oil. The flowers have potent anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antioxidant action, due to the flavanoids. It is sedative, a mild diuretic and laxative, antipyretic (reduces fever), hypnotic, platelet anticoagulant, antitussive (reduces coughing) and an expectorant.

Uses

Historically it has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

• Anxiety and stress
• Bronchitis (chronic)
• Chesty coughs
• Headaches (nervous)
• Hyperactivity
• Insomnia and sleeplessness
• Intestinal parasites (Chinese prickly ash)
• Intermittent claudication
• Lumbago
• Parasthesia (pins and needles)
• Rheumatism
• Temporal arteritis
• Varicose veins
• Whooping cough

Other information

It is rare in the wild due to overuse of chemical sprays and therefore it is sensible to use herbal tinctures or extracts that are commercially available, or can be prepared by a qualified herbalist.

Cautions

• The safety of primula during pregnancy and lactation has not been sufficiently studies and it should be avoided until more research has been undertaken.



• At the time of writing there are no well-known side effects, drug interactions or contra-indications.

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