Lovage is a large, vigorous, easy to grow, hardy perennial, first producing a flush of edible leaves in spring, then sending up impressive flower stalks that can reach six to seven feet tall in mid- to late summer. The green-yellow flowerheads are popular with bees and are followed by edible seeds. It is a relative of celery and parsley. It’s happy in most soil conditions, needs little maintenance, and suffers few problems.
As well as being an impressive plant, lovage offers several different harvests. The young leaves are the most widely used part – they can be picked in spring and summer and have a mild, sweet celery flavor with a hint of aniseed. Chopped leaves can be added to salads, as well as many cooked dishes, including soups and stews. The young stalks can also be blanched like celery, cooked, or candied like angelica, and the seeds can be used in baking. Even the roots are edible.
There is only one type of lovage available, Levisticum officinale, which is widely sold as seeds or young plants. Growing lovage from seed is relatively simple, but as one plant is usually all you need, buying a young plant is an easier and quicker option, and often worth the small extra cost.
Lovage has a long history of use in traditional medicine, where its roots, leaves, and seeds have been employed for their diuretic, digestive, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can ease pain and swelling in the lower urinary tract, prevent kidney stones, relieve bloating and gas, ease indigestion and heartburn, and relax stomach cramps.
Lovage also has expectorant properties, which helps to loosen and expel phlegm from the respiratory tract. It has been historically used to soothe coughs and other chest and lung complaints. Some evidence also suggests that its high quercetin content may provide a natural antihistamine effect, helping with allergy symptoms.
Now, if that wasn’t enough medicinal benefits, I have even more for you about the wonderful lovage. It can alleviate joint pain caused by gout and rheumatism, soothe irritated skin, and help regulate irregular menstrual periods and help with the pain associated with them.
While generally considered safe in moderate amounts, lovage should be used with caution in some cases:
- Photosensitivity: Lovage can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
- Pregnancy: It is not recommended for pregnant women due to the risk of uterine contractions.
- Kidney or heart disease: Individuals with kidney or heart disease should consult a doctor before use, especially since lovage acts as a diuretic.
- Drug interactions: Those taking diuretics (“water pills”) should not use lovage, as it can cause excessive fluid loss.
This is definitely a plant you need to grow. It can be grown in pots but it does much prefer the soil.
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Stay natural!
~Dr. Amanda P. Cartwright