Witnessed by: TCM · Western
Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum), of the Asparagaceae (formerly Liliaceae; Ruscaceae) family. Arching leafy perennial from a knotted, jointed white rhizome, with paired greenish bells hanging beneath the stem; native range: Europe and temperate Asia, in woodland and shady banks; the fleshy rhizome creeping just below the leaf-litter. Globally recognized as yu zhu (玉竹) in Chinese, and angular Solomon's seal, scented Solomon's seal, David's harp in English. The part used is rhizome (root). A firm, translucent, ivory rhizome ringed with round 'seal' scars; sweetish and mucilaginous to the taste, slippery and moistening with a faint bitterness.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
SOLOMON'S SEAL
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Solomon's seal
- Scientific name
- Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce
- Family
- Asparagaceae (formerly Liliaceae; Ruscaceae)
Form
- Part used
- rhizome (root)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- TCM
- sweet
- Western
- sweet · mucilaginous, faintly astringent
Temperature
- TCM
- cold (slightly)
- Western
- cool (moistening and gently cooling)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- TCM
- Lung · Stomach
- Western
- joints · lungs · digestion · mucous membranes · skin
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- TCM
- nourishes yin, moistens dryness, generates fluids, and moistens the Lung and Stomach
- Western
- demulcent, emollient, astringent, vulnerary, tonic; restorative to tendons, ligaments and joints
Cautions
- Contraindications
- damp phlegm, cold and weak digestion with loose stools, and fullness from stagnation
- Toxicity
- the medicinal rhizome is safe in dose; the raw berries of Polygonatum are not for use and the plant should not be confused with its lookalikes
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