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On the whole, carrots have been an important crop in some parts of the world for millenia. In Asia there are more varieties than the usual orange-fleshed type with colors ranging from white to purple. The Wild Carrot is more commonly known as Queen Anne's Lace and is a common wayside weed of fields and waste places. This erect biennial, one to three feet, is believed to be native to Europe and introduced into North America by settlers. The lacy flowers appear June to September of the second year in concave umbrels. The flowers are small and white, although a single tiny purple blossom is often found in the very center of the umbrel. The leaves are finely divided. Fruits are ovoid with prickles on the three primary and four secondary ribs.
In general, it is the seeds of the wild carrot that are used medicinally, while it is the orange root of the garden variety that is used for nutritional and medicinal purposes.
PROPAGATION: By seed. Perennial. Can be found growing in fields and waste places.
MEDICINAL:
In general carrot is considered sweet, pungent, warm, urinary antiseptic, astringent, carminative, diuretic, anthelmintic, emmenagogue; affects speen, kidney, stomach.Wild seed is considered diuretic, carminative, emmenagogue, antiseptic. The juice of the cultivated root, tonic. The root of the Garden Carrot diuretic, anthelmintic, stimulant and may help to protect and heal the liver.Wild Carrot has been used internally for urinary stones, cystitis, jaundice, gout (whole plant), edema (whole plant), flatulent indigestion, menstrual problems (seed). The powdered seed has been used in infusion form for colic and as a diuretic; also for chronic nephritic condtions and for dropsy. Other uses for the whole plant have been: retention of urine, obstruction of urine. Other uses for the seed have been: gas, hiccoughs, dysentary, chronic coughs, gall bladder stones.The Garden Root has been used to lower blood pressure.In Chinese medicine the seed is used for chronic dysentary, while the root of the cultivated varieties are used as a preventative for cancer, diabetes, dyspepsia, gout and heart disease. The juice of the root is used on cancerous ulcers of the neck and uterus, cancer of the bowels and stomach. The presence of betasitosterol in the wild seeds has shown some activity in CA, LL, and WA tumor systems (Medicinal Plants of China, James A. Duke).Regular eating of Garden Carrots has been used to improve vision (particularly night vision) and improve skin. They may also possess anticancer effects and help to prevent the formation of cataracts.Infusion or decoction of seeds have been used for flatulence, as a diuretic, and to promote onset of menstruation.Carrot soup has been used for infant diarrhea. Raw grated or cooked carrots (mashed) have been used as a poultice for cuts, abscesses, inflammations, wounds, ulcers, carbuncles, scrofulous and cancerous sores. Dried powdered carrots have been added to soups or put into capsules or pill form and used to fight infections, glandular problems, headaches, joint problems.Grated carrots which are then dried have been eaten, one small piece at a time throughout the day to regulate periods.Raw scraped carrots have been applied to sore nipples.Raw carrots have been used in combination with garlic for worms in children.Carrots have been used in the diet to prevent the formation of kidney stones.To quit smoking some people have chewed on carrot sticks and found it helpful.Carrots along with other fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C which inhibits release of histimines thus curbing allergy and asthma symptoms.Carrot juice in equal portion with beet juice has been used during recovery from feverish illnesses. Some sources suggest adding a few drops of vegetable oil to aid the digestive system in absorbing the necessary nutrients.Experiments on mice who were given an extract of the wild seed orally after mating show an inhibiting influence on egg implantation (Medicinal Plants of China, James A. Duke), leading to speculation regarding its usefulness as a contraceptive. In fact, carrot seed has been used as a morning-after contraceptive by the Dutch settlers of Pennsylvania.In a Harvard study women who ate 5 servings of carrots per week had 68% fewer strokes than those who ate them rarely (less than twice a month).
DOSE:VETERINARY:OTHER: