I really wanted this post to be all about the medicinal uses of lilies—the true lilies of the Lilium genus. Unfortunately, while lilies have been used for centuries throughout Asia for both food and medicine, there is very little modern research to support the historical usage. And I couldn’t track down how the lilies were historically prepared. I just about quit researching this one and abandoned it to the trash bin, but for two points. The first is that more research is always being conducted. Little modern research today could well morph into much research and clinical trials tomorrow. You might wish to pay attention to this herb. Two, lilies have also been used for food. And while you may not wish to eat the lily bulbs (they are reputed to be quite tasty), you’ll definitely want to be able to offer foraging suggestions to the neighbors.
So the first part of today’s article will cover the historical medicinal uses. What I couldn’t locate were the exact preparations. Quite aggravating. Tea? Tincture? If the latter, what proof of alcohol? What’s the dosage? Contraindications? Most, but not all, uses appear to involve the bulb. And at least one article noted that growing conditions greatly affect the quality of the medicine in the bulb.
THE MEDICINAL USES OF LILIES Lilium spp.
Liliaceae family
PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES
- Antidepressant[1]
- Anti-inflammatory[2] [3] [4]
- Antioxidant[5]
- Antipyretic[6]
- Antitumor[7] [8]
- Aphrodisiac[9]
- Diuretic[10]
- Expectorant[11]
- Galactagogue[12]
USAGE
- Cardiovascular
- Palpitations[13]
- Endocrine
- Diabetes
- Lilium lancifolium[14]
- Gastrointestinal
- Vomiting[15]
- Hepatic
- Liver disease
- Bulbs of L. martagon[16]
- Musculoskeletal
- Arthritis
- Lilium lancifolium[17]
- Neurological
- Respiratory
- Asthma[20]
- Lilium lancifolium[21]
- Bronchitis
- Cough
- Hemoptysis
- Bulb, L. brownii[26]
- Laryngitis
- Lilium lancifolium[27]
- Lung conditions[28]
- Bulbs[29]
- Pneumonia[30]
- Skin
- Abrasions[33]
- Burns[34]
- Bulbs[35]
- Corns[36]
- Mastitis
- Poultice of petals and bulbs, Lilium candidum[37]
- Shingles
- Poultice of petals and bulbs, Lilium candidum[38]
- Snakebite
- Bulb infusion to drink and bulb plaster applied to bite[39]
- Surgical wounds[40]
- Swellings
- Bulbs[41]
- Other
- Tumors[42]
Clearly, lilies won’t be a first choice for medicinal uses. They won’t be my first choice for food, either. While they do grow here, they don’t spread well. They’re definitely not sustainable. However, they apparently thrive in other parts of the country. Daylilies, also quite edible and actually reported to taste the best, spread like weeds in some places. Anyway, with spring approaching there will be a lot of lilies in stores soon. You might bring some Easter lilies home because it’s traditional practice for you. Or you might come across some sad ones at the grocery store on deep discount, like I often see here. I’ve pasted in addresses for a couple of recipes for preparing the lily bulbs. The flowers are eaten in salads.
THE CULINARY USES OF LILIES
All flowers of the lily genus (Lilium) are edible. Daylilies (Hemerocallis) are also edible.
- Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum Thunb.) have been cultivated throughout Asia for both food and medicine for centuries. Eat the white flowers. [43]
- Tiger lilies (Lilium lancifolium) are orange with dark spots. The buds, petals, and bulbils are edible.
- Madonna lilies’ (Lilium candidum) pure white, fragrant flowers are often used as food, especially as a garnish or added to salads.
- Martagon lilies (Lilium martagon) have pink, purple, and white flowers. The young shoots can be cooked and eaten like asparagus.
- Orange lilies (Lilium bulbiferum) have orange flowers. The bulbils that form in the leaf axils can be eaten cooked or raw.
References:
https://redcook.net/2009/05/19/lily-bulbs/
https://www.ediblemanhattan.com/departments/urban-forager/if-you-cant-beat-em-eat-em/
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113002973
[3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[4] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11432755/
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[7] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113002973
[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[9] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[10] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[11] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[12] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[13] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[14] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11432755/
[15] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[16] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[17] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11432755/
[18] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[19] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[20] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[21] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113004327
[22] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113004327
[23] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11432755/
[24] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[25] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113004327
[26] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[27] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11432755/
[28] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113002973
[29] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[30] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113004327
[31] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113004327
[32] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11432755/
[33] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113002973
[34] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113002973
[35] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[36] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113002973
[37] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[38] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[39] http://medievalmedicineonline.blogspot.com/2011/05/lily-in-pseudo-apuleius.html
[40] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113002973
[41] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874121000787
[42] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113002973
[43] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874113002973
No comments:
Post a Comment