Skip to content
Herbs & Cultures
Image of Liverleaf

North America · Herb · № 949

Hepatica nobilis (incl. H. americana en H. acutiloba)

Region
North America
Origin
Deciduous woods of Europe, Asia and eastern North America
Traditions
Cherokee medicine, Haudenosaunee medicine
2 traditionsImage: Archenzo · CC BY-SA 3.0

Herb · North America

Liverleaf

Hepatica nobilis (incl. H. americana en H. acutiloba)

An early spring flower of the buttercup family with three-lobed leaves. Fresh, the plant contains irritating compounds.

Safety notes

Irritating to skin and mucous membranes when fresh, like other buttercups. Traditional use is no proof of effect; consult a doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or have a medical condition.

Cautions by tradition (2)
  • Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine: Irritating when fresh; do not gather it.
  • Cherokee (Tsalagi) medicine: The fresh herb is acrid; only dried, and not in pregnancy.

Preparation

Do not gather or prepare it yourself.

Use in traditions

The three-lobed leaves reminded Europeans of a liver; by the doctrine of signatures it was a liver remedy. According to the notes in Herrick, the Haudenosaunee used it for children's summer diarrhoea, for belly pain in pregnancy and, with other plants, at the birth. The roots were also used to tell the future.

Applications

Use by tradition

How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.

Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) medicine

Attributed effects

For children's summer diarrhoea, for belly pain in pregnancy and at the birth.

Preparation and amount

Do not prepare it yourself. The tradition boils the plant with other herbs.

Caution: Irritating when fresh; do not gather it.

Ways to prepare herbs
Tea (infusion)
All herbs from North America →