Umbelliferae

Names: Queen Anne's Lace, Bird's Nest Weed, Devil's Plague (!)

Habitat: Europe, Asia, North America and N. Africa.

Collection: The aerial parts of the herb should be collected betweenJune and August when in flower or when seeding in August and September.

Part Used: Dried aerial parts and seeds.

Constituents: * Flavonoids

* Daucine, an alkaloid

* Volatile oil

* Petroselinic acid, tannins

Actions: Diuretic, anti-lithic, carminative, anti-spasmodic.

Indications: The volatile oil that is present in Wild Carrot is anactive urinary antiseptic, which helps explain its use in the treatment of suchconditions as cystitis and prostatitis. It has been considered aspecific in the treatment of kidney stones for a long time. In thetreatment of gout and rheumatism it is used in combination withother remedies to provide its cleansing diuretic action. The seeds can be usedas a settling carminative agent for the relief of flatulence andcolic.

Combinations: For urinary infections it may be used with Yarrow andBearberry. For kidney stones use it with Hydrangea or Gravel Root.

Preparations & Dosage: Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto lteaspoonful of the dried herb and let infuse for l0-l5 minutes. This should bedrunk three times a day. To prepare an infusion of the seeds, use l/3-lteaspoonful to a cup of water.

Tincture: take l-2 ml of the tincture three times a day.