LOVINGATO, WILD CELERY
LEVISTICUM OFFICINALE KOCH.
(Umbelliferae-fam.)
Where it is found: Its homeland is Asia. It is cultivated as a medicinal plant.
Structure: It is a perennial herbaceous plant. The stem is up to 2 m. high, striped along its length, naked and hollow. The root is yellowish brown, fleshy, spindle-shaped. The leaves are compound, pinnate, lanceolate, the sections are deeply cut and the surface is shiny. The flowers are pale yellow, the main arms and the base of the stem are surrounded by many leaflets and are found together in a compound spiracle. The fruits are yellowish brown, elliptical, with membranous wings on the edges, and are shed in two halves along the length. The whole plant has a special scent. It blooms in July and August.
Parts Used: 2-3 year old roots are removed from the soil in February-March, washed, thick ones are split, dried in the shade or in ovens heated up to 40 degrees. Dry roots have a characteristic odor, taste is bitter. Acceptable moisture content is % 12. Packed in bags. Stored in dry and airy buildings.
Chemical Composition: (Consisting of terpineol, cineole, carvacrol etc.) essential oil, sugars, starch, resin, gum, tannin, malic acid etc.
In Which Diseases Is It Used: The main effect of the plant is diuretic. It is used in cirrhosis, urinary tract infections and kidney stones. It is also used in heart diseases, gastritis, menstrual irregularities, spleen and liver diseases.
In folk medicine, it is used for intestinal inflammation, gas, cough, nervous weakness, dizziness, fainting, hysteria, swelling of the feet, increased bile secretion. Externally, it is applied as a compress for purulent pimples, freckles on the face, wounds that heal slowly, etc. The stems and leaves are a good medicine against children's worms when boiled. The leaves are also used as a spice in cooking.
In veterinary medicine, root and stem infusions are given against cough (horses and sheep) and to facilitate digestion in pets.
Usage: 1 tablespoon of root is boiled with 400 grams of boiling water and a tea glass is taken 4 times a day before meals.
