Witnessed by: Western
Cowslip (Primula veris), of the Primulaceae family. Rosette perennial raising an umbel of fragrant deep-yellow nodding flowers on a single stalk; native range: old meadows, downs and open woodland across Europe and western Asia. Globally recognized as paigle, keyflower, St Peter's keys, herb Peter, palsywort in English. The part used is root and rhizome, flower. Root faintly bitter and acrid with a smell of anise; flowers sweet and honeyed.
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.
COWSLIP
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- cowslip
- Scientific name
- Primula veris L.
- Family
- Primulaceae
Form
- Part used
- root and rhizome, flower
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Western
- bitter · acrid
Temperature
- Western
- warm and drying
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- lungs · nervous system · mucous membranes
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Western
- expectorant, secretolytic, antispasmodic, mild sedative, diaphoretic
Cautions
Contraindications: known sensitivity to primula, gastritis or peptic ulcer, first trimester of pregnancy
Toxicity: root saponins may irritate the stomach; contact with the plant can cause allergic dermatitis
Interactions
- Western
- anticoagulants: salicylate constituents may add a mild antiplatelet effect
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