10 Benefits of Organic Lovage

Posted: 11 Jan 2015 07:00 AM PST

Lovage, a member of the parsley family, is a widely-used herb in parts of Europe and southwest Asia. Its use in food and natural healing modalities is nothing new, yet it isn't surprising that you may not have heard of this life giving herb. Lovage has many health benefits, including supporting kidney health, fighting harmful organisms, and possibly reducing joint pain.

Benefits of Organic Lovage

While science continues to explore the many benefits of lovage, there are some researched benefits that have been established for a number of years. Here are 10 benefits that you may experience from using this versatile plant.

1. Flushes the Risk of Kidney Stones

Lovage is an aquaretic, or a type of diuretic that encourages urination without electrolyte loss. The increased urination clears gravel and calcified stones from the kidneys, possibly aiding in the prevention of kidney stones. Not only that, lovage flushes the urinary tract, possibly preventing urinary tract infections and other urinary problems.

2. Supports Lung Strength

Traditional medicine uses lovage to loosen phlegm in the lungs, which in turn improves airflow, proper breathing, and oxygen intake. Its often used as an expectorant for respiratory conditions like bronchitis. In one trial eucalyptol, the active chemical compound in lovage that reduces lung inflammation, produced significant results by day 4 in both asthmatic and healthy volunteers. ^[1]

3. Soothes Rough Spots in the Body

It turns out lovage is loaded with anti-inflammatory compounds that may soothe rough patches in the body. Compounds in lovage that provide this benefit include limonene, eugenol, and quercetin. Studies involving limonene have shown it provides anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body, although it has been especially noted to help reduce issues associated with colitis. ^[2]

4. Promotes Healthy Skin

Lovage is recommended as a natural way to fight skin conditions like dermatitis and acne. The exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, but traditional skin care approaches include lovage in their routines.

5. Fights Harmful Organisms

Most plants produce natural chemicals to fight off harmful organisms. While some plant chemicals–like resveratrol–act independently, researchers have found the chemical compounds in lovage work together to create a very powerful effect against harmful organisms. Scientists have found lovage one of the most potent extracts against gram-negative bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, H. pylori, and H. influenzae. ^[3]

6. Eases Digestion and Relieves Gas

Lovage is recommended to soothe the digestive tract, reduce bloating, and relieve gas. This is attributed to its anti-inflammatory effect and its high nutritional value.

7. Relieves Joint Pain

The herb is considered a natural remedy for joint pain associated with gout and rheumatic swelling of the joints. In addition, it doesn't come with any of the terrible side effects caused by many joint pain medications.

8. Alleviates Allergy Symptoms

The anti-inflammatory effects of lovage naturally help reduce the symptoms of allergies. But when it comes to allergies, lovage goes a bit farther. Quercetin, a compound present in lovage, inhibits histamine release and alleviates skin irritation associated with the allergic response. ^[4] ^[5]

9. Traditionally Recommended for Menstrual Pain

Among its many traditional uses, lovage is reported to provide relief from menstrual pain. Its high nutrient density combined with its powerful soothing benefits may explain why its traditionally used for this issue. Adding lovage to the diet prior to the beginning of a menstrual cycle may support bodily well being, although its effect will differ from one individual to the next.

10. Excellent for Recipes

Lovage is a wonderful addition to your favorite recipes, adding taste and increasing your meal's nutrient value. It's often used as a replacement for celery, although it's more pungent so most recipes recommend using about half the amount of the celery called for. The leaves make an excellent salad, and the seeds are used as a spice and often sprinkled over salads and soups. Lovage can even be brewed as an herbal tea. It's rich in B-complex vitamins, essential for energy, and vitamin C which supports skin and immune system health.

One Final Thought

Lovage is safe, natural, and can easily be found as a food or herbal supplement. As with any food source, it may not be suitable for some conditions. If you are pregnant or suffer from kidney problems, talk to your doctor as it may not be safe or recommended for your condition.

Do you use lovage? We'd love to hear about your experience with this incredible herb!

-Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

Juergens UR1, St?ber M, Schmidt-Schilling L, Kleuver T, Vetter H. Antiinflammatory effects of euclyptol (1.8-cineole) in bronchial asthma: inhibition of arachidonic acid metabolism in human blood monocytes ex vivo. Eur J Med Res. 1998 Sep 17;3(9):407-12.
d’Alessio PA1, Ostan R, Bisson JF, Schulzke JD, Ursini MV, B?n? MC. Oral administration of d-limonene controls inflammation in rat colitis and displays anti-inflammatory properties as diet supplementation in humans. Life Sci. 2013 Jul 10;92(24-26):1151-6. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2013.04.013.
Garvey MI1, Rahman MM, Gibbons S, Piddock LJ. Medicinal plant extracts with efflux inhibitory activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2011 Feb;37(2):145-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2010.10.027.
Chirumbolo S. The role of quercetin, flavonols and flavones in modulating inflammatory cell function. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets. 2010 Sep;9(4):263-85.
Weng Z, Zhang B, Asadi S, Sismanopoulos N, Butcher A, Fu X, Katsarou-Katsari A, Antoniou C, Theoharides TC. Quercetin is more effective than cromolyn in blocking human mast cell cytokine release and inhibits contact dermatitis and photosensitivity in humans. PLoS One. 2012;7(3):e33805. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0033805.

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