Solomon’s Seal is in bloom. Such a beautiful plant with its trail of elegant white flowers along the stem. A shade loving perennial, its medicinal uses are significant and have been largely under appreciated. Many people would benefit from access to this plant and it is not readily available on the commercial market. It’s an important plant to start growing in your garden and sharing with others.
There are numerous species of Solomon’s Seal native to woodlands in many parts of the world. It is a member of the Lily family, making it cool, nourishing and moistening, and most helpful for tissue states characterized by dryness and atrophy. One of its most significant medicinal uses is for the musculoskeletal system, used to strengthen bones, marrow and tendons. It has also been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a yin tonic and in Ayurvedic medicine as a rejuvenative tonic and aphrodisiac, helpful for infertility, insufficient lactation and kidney weakness.
I owe much of my knowledge of Solomon’s Seal to herbalist Matt Wood who has shared his deep experience with this plant over the last number of decades that has created a revival of its use in contemporary herbalism. It moistens and lubricates the joints, tendons and connective tissue, making it helpful in a very wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. Tonifying as well as relaxant to the musculoskeletal system, Matt Wood describes it as “….loosening what is too tight and tightening what is too loose”.
It is the root that is used medicinally. It can be taken internally as a decoction or a fresh root tincture or made into an oil or salve for external use. A tincture of the fresh root is effective at a low dose, often in the range of 3-8 drops 2-3 times daily. It can be used on its own to great effect, however it often mixed with other herbs as well to target the condition more specifically.
It can be helpful in healing broken bones, painful and injured tendons and joints, sprained ankles, carpal tunnel, overuse syndrome, frozen joints, rotator cuff injuries, bursitis, hip dysplasia, connective tissue diseases, uterine prolapse, low back pain, bone spurs and other calcifications. Its uses for the musculoskeletal system are very wide ranging and powerful in effect.
It has been used traditionally to heal inflammation of the intestines and moisten dry conditions of the lungs. It has some cardiovascular affinity, which I expect may be in part due to helping heal the connective tissue lining of the blood vessels.
The young spring shoots are edible, somewhat like asparagus. The roots can be boiled and added to soups and stews and have been used as a food among the Indigenous People of North America as well as during times of significant famine in Europe. Avoid the berries as they are toxic.
It is a hardy perennial and quite easy to grow. Give it a nice shady spot in your garden and it will thrive and multiply. Those who have it growing in their garden are often looking to thin it out as it does grow quite prolifically. So keep an eye out for it and offer to dig it up from someone’s garden if they are finding it taking over their garden patch. It is an important herb to grow in your garden. As more people start to experience the healing effects of this plant, it could put too much demand on its availability and endanger its existence. If you have this growing in your garden and want to share it with others, let me know!
Thanks, Juanita, I was looking for info as mine is very prolific and I want to make a tincture for year around! I'll also check out what books by Matthew Woods my library has. Thanks for sharing all your great tips. BTW, on May 22, I joined Jim McDonald and about 30 other her enthusiasts in the Toledo area for a walk through Wildwood Metro park. It was wonderful to hear his voice and humor!