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DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.



LILY of the VALLEY
(Convallaria majalis)
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CAUTION! All parts are POISONOUS and should be prescribed by PROFESSIONALS ONLY. Because of its toxicity, it is not used today except in the most rare of cases.

PROPAGATION: By division in spring. Perennial.
NEEDS: Part shade to full shade. Good rich soil.
HARVEST: Do NOT. All parts POISONOUS.
FLOWERS: In zone 5 they appear in June.

USES

DYE:
Produces yellow to greenish-yellow with young leaves and chrome mordant.
Produces gold with autumn leaves and chrome mordant.

HISTORY:
An historically used herb containing glycosides that act similar to digitalis. Now known to be highly unsafe to use, but in its time was employed to treat cardiac insufficiency, angina and the aging heart. The flowers were once utilized to make a substitute for digitalis.




©2001 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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