Dorothy FarrarLily of the valley
Lily of the valley are very popular, they herald spring. But it is not only a very beautiful spring bloomer, the lily of the valley is also a medicinal plant. They look very similar to wild garlic, but must not be confused, because lily of the valley is poisonous.
General overview
The lily of the valley belongs to the plant family of the asparagus family, but has now become rare and is protected. It is mainly found in the semi-shade of deciduous forests, with beeches being preferred. Its homeland is Europe and North America and where it is still growing, it is found in larger groups. This plant has very thin roots, also called rhizomes. They develop in a creeping manner and anchor themselves about 50 cm deep in the ground.
The lily of the valley grows to a height of 10 to 30 cm. It has oval, pointed leaves that are initially curled up. The flower then develops from the center, a small, white, bell-shaped grape. The flowers have a very strong scent that attracts many insects and of course people find it very attractive. The lily of the valley flowers from April to June.
This plant is very poisonous, it is often confused with the delicious wild garlic . A mix-up usually has fatal consequences. So if the supposed wild garlic tastes bitter and your mouth scratches or burns after eating it, call an ambulance immediately or call the poison control center.
Occurrence and cultivation
The lily of the valley is very poisonous, but it is a valuable medicinal plant . It has a very positive effect on heart diseases, but today it is only used by conventional medicine. Anything else would be too dangerous, as I said, the lily of the valley is poisonous. The lily of the valley appears in various herbal books as early as the 15th century, it is said to have an effect on epilepsy, relieve dizziness and heal eye problems.
Of course, it is used for heart disease and gout, fainting or ulcers. For a long time, lily of the valley was considered a panacea, but because of its toxicity it has disappeared from folk medicine. Since the 19th century, however, the lily of the valley has gained a firm place in conventional medicine, and it is still used today to treat heart problems.
Application and effect
The lily of the valley has a similar effect to the foxglove, but is less poisonous. But it is toxic, which should not be underestimated. It should therefore only be used under medical supervision to avoid symptoms of poisoning . The whole plant is used to produce the medicine, so the lily of the valley is harvested during the main flowering period.
All parts of the plant are valuable, so leaves, stems and flowers are dried, but very carefully, because all parts of the plant are equally poisonous. The active ingredients are also at their highest during the flowering period, all parts of the plant contain steroid glycosides, convallatoxin and convallatexol. Lily of the valley only comes in tablet form, they require a prescription and need to be dosed by a doctor. Medical monitoring is important, so serious side effects are excluded. Lily of the valley strengthens the heart!
What does the lily of the valley help against?
importance to health
Lily of the valley preparations are used for mild cardiac insufficiency, when the first signs of physical exertion are noticeable. The active ingredients promote heart health , which means that shortness of breath and increased heart rate can also be well regulated. Incidentally, the preparations also help when there is an increase in pressure in the lungs and in rheumatism caused by the heart.
The daily dose must be strictly observed, so it is not recommended to make a tea from this plant. It is very toxic and an overdose can cause nausea , vomiting , diarrhea , or stomach upset. However, the lily of the valley is definitely advisable for the treatment of heart diseases, it increases performance and allows the patient to breathe more calmly again. The lily of the valley increases the quality of life of these patients and ensures greater well-being.
The lily of the valley is also used in homeopathy , where cardiac arrhythmias, water retention, smoker’s heart and chest tightness are treated. All other drugs require a prescription, the doctor must decide when the pills can be used. In particular, this concerns:
- the age of a child
- severe heart failure
- slow heartbeat
- disturbed electrolyte balance.
If taken at the same time, interactions with other tablets cannot be ruled out. It is the toxicity that strengthens the heart from lily of the valley supplements. The gastrointestinal tract cannot absorb these toxins immediately, so the toxic effect is not immediately apparent, but it is there. Severe poisoning causes severe cardiac arrhythmia, which in severe cases can really end in fatal ventricular fibrillation . If there is even a slight suspicion of poisoning, an ambulance should be called immediately.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.