COMMON NAME: Lovage Root, Smallage, Love Parsley

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Levisticum officinals, Angelica levisticum, Ligusticum levisticum

FAMILY NAME: Apiaceae (Umbrella, Carrot)

INDIGENOUS COUNTRY: Southern Europe

COUNTRY OF PRODUCTION: Hungary

HISTORY INFORMATION: This herb was very popular in the Middle Ages and was recommended for rheumatism, jaundice, malaria, sore throat and kidney stones. The roots of lovage were the key ingredient of most of these medicines. The root alone was suppose to have a diuretic effect that would relieve jaundice, colic, stomach problems and obesity. The plant itself also had external applications. The leaves added to the bath water were for relieving skin and eye problems, fresh juice from the leaves and stems for curing pink eye. An infusion made from the seeds was used to ease freckles. Today lovage is more commonly used as a culinary herb in salads, soups, stews and sauces.

GENERAL INFORMATION: This plant as an essential oil crop is very expensive to cultivate. The best oil comes from the root of established plants, so one must wait a few years to get good roots. Essential oil yield is about 1%. The foliage and seeds are very abundant, but the oil from them is not considered as good. This is one of the most beautiful oils to distill. It has a lovely purple color that unfortunately oxidizes to an amber brown. If anyone wants an excuse to home distill, lovage root is one just to witness the purple color. Plant oil is sometimes passed off as the more expensive root oil. You can easily tell the difference by scent and constituency. The leaf oil has a green smell and is much thinner than the light yellow root oil.

DESCRIPTION OF PLANT: A perennial herb growing to 6 feet high with hollow stems ribbed like celery dividing into branches near the top bearing tiny yellow umbrels of flowers.

PARTS PROCESSED: Root, leaves and seeds.

PROCESSING METHODS: Steam distilled.

COLOR RANGE: Purple quickly turning to amber brown, light yellow.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Class: Phthalides. Sedanoic alkyl phthalides, alkylidene, E-butyliden-phthalides, terpenes, ketones

PHYSICAL ACTIONS AND USES: Analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, calmative, carminative, deodorizer, depurative, detoxifier, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, galactagogue, hypotensor, laxative, nervine, parasiticide, revitalizing, stimulant (digestive, kidneys), stomachic, tonic (heart), warming. Used for detoxing, congestion, gout, edema, poor circulation, rheumatism, water retention, anemia, flatulence, indigestion, spasm, cystitis. Used to purify, reduce cellulite, calm, reduce stress, ease breathing, uplift moods, increase sexual desire and experience, increase love feeling (euphoric), improve mental clarity and alertness.

MENTAL USES: I love you and you do not have to love me back. I know that opening to love makes me vulnerable to your hurting me. I can handle the hurt if or when it happens.

EMOTIONAL USES: Hurt, closed heart, abused often brutally, unable to make sense of the cruelty in the world, defensive, protective TO no fear experiencing love or feeling vulnerable to the love experience, strong emotional center, little can knock you off center as the worst of events can be processed quickly, effortlessly and effectively.

SPIRITUAL USES: Can indicate that you have been severely hurt and have decided to close your heart to protect yourself. Lovage is for a closed heart, so closed that the heart may be described as having rusty hinges. Lovage removes the rust allowing the heart to open. The challenge in life is not to love less but to love more. Naturally we retreat from perceived hurt and abuse. Damage to your energy field has occurred because of closing your heart. The closing has harmful effects because it diminishes the amount of love the person is willing to take in. The life force becomes less or weakened. There is intense need to love the abuse or abuser in a healthy and productive manner.

APPLICATIONS: Aroma lamp, bath, inhaler, light bulb ring, massage, mist spray.

WARNINGS\CONTRAINDICATIONS: Nontoxic, possible skin sensitizer, nonphototoxic at low dosages but phototoxic at moderate to high levels of usage.