also known as Maggi herb, love parsley, sea parsley, lavose, liveche, smallage, European lovage) Levisticum officinale
Lovage is a hardy herb that dies back in winter and reappears in spring time. It will grow into a large bush up to 2m hight. It has clusters of light green flowers in summer followed by brown aromatic seeds. The leaves can be harvested from spring until autumn.
This herb has been cultivated for thousands of years and the Romans preserved the leaves in vinegar for flavouring, the Greeks have used it to aid digestion and relieve flatulence by chewing the seeds.
The flavour is similar to celery and actually quite strong therefore that herb needs to be added rather sparingly to dishes. The new spring shoots are milder, the mature dark green leaves are strong in taste and bitter and can be added to soups or stews.
Lovage is not just a flavourful herb perfect for soups, it does also, like all plants, come with amazing health benefits. It is used in Europe and kind of hard to find in North-American regions. All the better that it is an ingredient in TL Bouillon Paste and you can enjoy the taste and health benefits simply by adding this bouillon paste to your home cooked meals.
Health Benefits
Lovage has beneficial properties for the digestive system and contains vitamins such as A, B and C and the minerals iron, sodium and magnesium. It is considered to be one of nature’s antibiotics, with the ability to deal with bacteria and viruses. Besides soothing digestion, it has a cleansing effect on the body too, which benefits organs such as kidneys, and provides improvement in areas like skin, immune health, respiratory system, lowered inflammation, allergies and menstruation.
Digestive System
The anti-inflammatory effects of lovage sooth upset stomachs. It can help to reduce bloating and excess gas by reducing irritation in bowels and improving energy flow and a healthy peristalsic movement in your colon.
Respiratory System
Lovage can act as an expectorant to clear out excess phlegm and mucus in your tracts. Furthermore, eucalyptol, one of the primary soothing agents found in lovage, can reduce irritation and inflammation in the lungs, promoting increased healing.
Skin Health
When leaves are applied directly to the skin, or a salve is made, it can be very effective for reducing the symptoms of psoriasis and acne, leading to smoother, better-looking skin. The antioxidants found in it can also help to prevent wrinkles in some cases and increase blood flow to the surface of the skin, improving tone and appearance.
Anti-bacterial
Studies have shown that lovage has a significant effect on various microbes and other pathogens.
Anti-allergenic
The soothing nature of lovage is also beneficial for soothing the effects of allergens. Furthermore, it contains significant amounts of quercetin, which is a natural inhibitor of histamines. This will reduce the allergic response of your body, eliminating itchy eyes, runny noses, and other more serious allergic reactions.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant
The anti-inflammatory benefits of lovage makes it the perfect remedy for those suffering from conditions like gout, arthritis, and hemorrhoids. If you suffer from inflammation in your body, you might try consuming some lovage leaves or adding it to your next dish.
Kidney Health
Medicinally, lovage is mostly used for its diuretic properties in cases of water retention and urinary difficulties. Lovage is taken by mouth as “irrigation therapy” for pain and swelling (inflammation) of the lower urinary tract, for preventing of kidney stones, and to increase the flow of urine during urinary tract infections. Although lovage stimulates urination, it doesn’t lead to loss of electrolytes. It keeps body fluids and minerals in great balance, preventing the risk of dehydration, thereby supporting the kidney health.
Menstrual Relief
Lovage can be beneficial in regulating menstruation symptoms, including cramps and bloating. The high density of nutrients in lovage helps effectively in keeping energy and mood high during that more stressful part of the month.
In general lovage leaves can be used in salads or as tea (using dried leaves). In fact, the leaves are considered one of the oldest known salad greens. Typically the dried leaves are used to flavour soups, stews, casseroles, stocks, and more.
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