BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Also known as: Perennial celery, Lovage
Check the scientific name and the part used; a photograph is not sufficient for foraging plants intended for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
01 · UNDERSTAND
Properties & uses.
Urinary elimination
Traditional adjunctive use for minor urinary complaints.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
02 · UNDERSTAND THE ACTION
How does the plant act?
Lovage is presented here as a plant for urinary use documented through its root, rather than the leaves used as a flavoring. Its traditional role is as an adjunct to increase urine output in minor complaints. This framework does not establish a clinical antiseptic action or an effect on stones. The preparation and botanical part are essential to understanding what the word “lovage” covers.
Urinary elimination
Traditional use of root herbal tea aims to increase urine output; it requires being able to drink normally.
Read the referenceWhat this means for preparation.
Check for the root on the label. Culinary leaves and essential oil are not substitutes for the preparation evaluated.
03 · EXAMINE THE EVIDENCE
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Recognition based on use
- Type of research
- EMA assessment of medicinal use of the root.
- Preparation concerned
- Fragmented dried root, in an oral aqueous preparation.
- Observed results
- The dossier recognises traditional use for minor urinary complaints.
- Limitations to consider
- It does not provide a reliable clinical measure of an effect specific to each herbal tea or proof of bacterial eradication.
What can we take from this?
No molecular mechanism is asserted without verified data. Difficulty urinating, blood or fever calls for more than simply choosing a herbal tea.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
04 · CHOOSE A PREPARATION
One plant, several preparations.
Only forms documented in this profile’s sources are presented.
InfusionRoot · Route: oral
Dried, cut root.
Please note: Do not replace with culinary leaves or an essential oil.
Read the source05 · BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
Contraindications
- Allergy to Apiaceae or anethole.
- Do not use if fluid restriction is prescribed, particularly for severe heart or kidney disease.
Medicine interactions
- No established interaction is included in this entry; this does not guarantee compatibility with a treatment.
Adverse effects
- Adverse effects insufficiently documented in the sources used here.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: medicinal use is not recommended because of insufficient data.
Children & adolescents
For adults only in this leaflet; insufficient pediatric data.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
06 · PUTTING KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE
Preparations & recipes.
No home recipe is provided in this profile. For an appropriate preparation, refer to the product leaflet and ask your pharmacist for advice.
07 · CHECK THE SOURCES
Sources for this profile.
- EMA — Levistici radix: assessment and documentsAccessed on 09/10/2026
- ANSES — summary of precautions for food supplements (June 2023)Accessed on 09/10/2026
Illustration: Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz — Otto Wilhelm Thomé (1885), via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.
A TOUCH OF SOLÉA
Myriam’s tip
Myriam is reviewing the tip for this profile.
Myriam
