Convallaria majalis L. Lily of the Valley
Family: Liliaceae
Description: “Creeping perennial with pairs of ovate to elliptic leaves. Racemes of 5-13 white, fragrant, bell-shaped flowers, waxy in texture, appear in late spring, followed by globose, red berries. H 23-30cm, S indefinite.” (Bown, 1995:111)
Habitat: Found in Eurasia and Northern temperate regions; in ‘valleys,’ deciduous woodland and damp gardens.
Harvest: Leaves, or leaves and flowers, are picked in spring and used fresh or dried in tinctures and fluid extracts. (Bown, 1995)
Parts used: Leaves
Dosage: 1:5 Tincture: 0.5-0.75ml tds, Dried: 150mg tds
Actions:
-CARDIAC TONIC,
-DIURETIC,
-Antispasmodic
Organ systems: Cardiovascular
Indications:
-Congestive heart failure;
-dyspnea [shortness of breath];
-atrial fibrillation [rapid irregular twitchings of muscle wall],
-arrhythmia.
Safety: Schedule III herb. Heart rate must be monitored as conduction defects can be exacerbated and ventricular extrasystoles or tachycardia may arise. In practice, doses up to 15ml a week well- tolerated (AD).
Contra-indications: Fitted Pacemaker; with dijoxin; caution with slow heart rate.
Key Constituents:
-Cardioactive glycosides: Cardenolides, (0.1-0.4%), incl. convallatoxin, convallatoxol
-Saponin
-Flavonoids, incl. quercitin, kaempferol, luteolin, apigenin, asparagin (diuetic)
Pharmacology: Cardiac glycosides found to inhibit active ion transport across cell membrane, ultimately stimulating calcium release from intercellular storage sites and leading to formation of contractile protein, actomyosin. By thus increasing myocardial contractility, the force of systolic contraction and therefore ventricular pressure is increased, increasing ejection and thus output; systole is shortened, resulting in a longer refractory period, and , by vagral reflex, a slowing of heart rate; thus it increases the efficiency of the failing heart. (AD)
History: Use dates back to at least 2nd century AD, when appears in a herbal by Apuleius. Similar in action to Digitalis species but less cumulative and therefore safer for elderly patients. (Bown, 1995) It proved useful in cases of poisonous gassing of soldiers at the Front in WW1 (Grieves, 1985)
Traditional and Practitioner sources:
“It without doubt strengthens the brain and renovates a weak memory. The distilled water dropped into the eyes helps inflammations thereof. The spirit of the flowers…is exceedingly good in the apoplexy, comforteth the heart and vital spirits.” Culpeper (Grieves, 1985)
“Cardiac tonic trophorestorative: increases coronary circulation and myocardial action. Suitable for all cardiac disturbances, but especially in conditions of incipient decompensation.
-Indications:
-Acute heart failure with oedema -use Tinct. Convallaria flor.;
-Dyspnoea, orthopnoea, anasarea;
-Congestive heart failure -use with Leonurus;
-Cardiac asthma, anginal syndromes;
-Endocarditis -use with Echinacea and/ or Phytolacca;
-Mitral insufficiency, dilation.” Priest and Priest (1983: 90)
“For excessive nervous irritability, mix half an ounce each of Lily of the Valley, Limeflowers, Hops and Skullcap herb and scald with two pints of boiling water; allow to stand tightly covered until cool…the dose is from a tablespoon to a wineglass 3-4 times daily.” William Smith (1977: 103)
