Solomon's Seal Herb

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's Seal

Polygonatum biflorum

Other Names: American 's Seal, King 's Seal, King

's-seal, Small 's Seal, Lady's Seals. St. 's Seal.

http://www.altnature.com/gallery/'s_Seal.htm

Habitat

Perennial native herb found growing in moist sandy, loamy or rocky

woods and thickets, N. America from New Brunswick to Michigan, south

to Tennessee and Florida. Cultivation: a very hardy plant, it prefers

a light soil and a shady situation. Seeds, or transplants, if taken

up with plenty of soil. The creeping root, rhizome, or underground

stem, is thick and white, twisted and full of knots, with large

circular scars at intervals, these scars give 's Seal it's

name. Stems grow to a height of from 18 inches to 2 feet, or even

more and bend over gracefully. Large, light green, and broad ovate

leaves grow alternately on the stem, clasping it at the bases. The

flowers are tubular, succulent and thick, light yellow- green, and

hang in little drooping clusters of two to five, growing from the

leaf axils. Flowers bloom April to June. The fruit is a small berry

about the size of a pea, blackish-blue, fruit is not edible, said to

be poisonous. Gather roots in fall as flows fade, dry for later herb

use.

Properties

's Seal is edible and medicinal, the young edible shoots are

an excellent vegetable when boiled and eaten like Asparagus. The root

is edible after boiling in three changes of water or sun baked, and

is a good source of starch. This herb has a long history of use in

alternative medicine dating back to the time of Dioscorides and

Pliny. The main constituents are saponins (similar to diosgenin),

flavonoids, and vitamins. A medicinal infusion of root or rhizome, is

used in alternative medicine as an astringent, demulcent, and tonic.

The dried herb is taken as a laxative and restorative, and is good in

inflammations of the stomach, indigestion, profuse menstruation, lung

ailments, general debility, bowels, piles, and chronic dysentery. A

medicinal poultice of the fresh roots is said to fade bruises, also

applied to cuts and sores.

Folklore

Once believed to have aphrodisiac properties, and used in love

potions. More than likely due to its ability to stop profuse

menstruation. Gerard says: 'The roots of 's Seal, stamped

while it is fresh and greene and applied, taketh away in one night or

two at the most, any bruise, blacke or blew spots gotten by falls or

women's wilfulness in stumbling upin their hastie husband's fists, or

such like.'

Recipe

" Medicinal " tea: To 1 tsp. dried herb add 1 cup boiling water, steep

for 10 min. sweeten to taste, take in the morning as laxative.

Article by Deb & Bergeron

http://www.alchemy-works.com/herb_solomons_seal.html

's Seal Root

Polygonatum odoratum

This herb gets its name from the fact that when the plant dies back

in the fall and the stalk falls from the root, the scar left behind

is shaped like a Star of , also known as the Seal of .

It is said that King , reknowned not only for being wise but

for sorcery, put his seal on this plant to indicate its worth. Thus,

this magick herb can be helpful for making difficult decisions and to

increase wisdom. You can carry it as a protective amulet, use it in

exorcism, place it on the altar to help ensure the success of a work,

or burn it when consecrating an athame. An infusion of the roots is

sprinkled about to turn away evil. The root has also been used as a

means of calling the Elementals. It is associated with the Fall

equinox and is identified with Saturn. The Cherokee censed their

homes with this root (it smells like fresh popcorn). The Menominee

smudged with it to revive unconscious patients.