- Region
- Europe
- Origin
- Europe, Asia
- Traditions
- Western herbal medicine
Europe · Herb · № 311
Melilotus officinalis
Herb · Europe
Melilot
Melilotus officinalis
Traditionally attributed effects: soothing, diuretic, antispasmodic, anticoagulant.
Safety notes
Not with blood thinners such as warfarin or with clotting problems. Traditional use is no proof of effectiveness; if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Herbal medicine worldwide: Not with blood thinners such as warfarin or with clotting problems.
Preparation
Flowering aerial parts.
Use in traditions
Dried melilot smells of hay because of coumarin. When cattle in North America bled to death in the 1920s after eating mouldy sweet clover hay, dicoumarol was discovered, from which the blood thinner warfarin was developed. In folk medicine the herb was used for varicose veins and in poultices.
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.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Soothing, diuretic, antispasmodic, anticoagulant.
Preparation and amount
Flowering aerial parts.
Caution: Not with blood thinners such as warfarin or with clotting problems.