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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.


LINDEN
a.k.a. Basswood, Limes (Eng)
(Tilia americana) and (Tilia europaea)
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CAUTION! Avoid with heart problems.

NOTE: The American Linden is considered stronger in sedative and anti-depressant activity. The European Linden is milder and more like chamomile in action.

NEEDS: Lindens are trees which resist pollution and are valuable for more heavily populated areas. They will tolerate dry soil but good quality moisture retentive soil is preferable.
HARVEST: EUROPEAN: Flowers and inner bark. AMERICAN: Flowers, leaves, bark.

USES

MEDICINAL:
Gentle sedative, nervine, and diaphoretic.
Has been used forsleeplessness in children, feverish colds, respiratory infections, flu, migraine, palpitations, vertigo, nervous stress or tension, ateriosclerosis (and other affections of the blood vessel walls), high blood pressure, and long-term circulatory diseases.
Tea has been taken for indigestion, vomiting and insomnia.
Flowers have been used in the bath for hysteria and to promote sleep.
The charcoaled wood has been taken internally for digestion.
Said to clear cholesterol problems.
Combines well with hawthorn and mistletoe.

CULINARY:
In Europe used as a pre-dinner drink hot or cold.

CRAFT:
The inner fibrous bark used in matting, baskets, fish nets, shoes. The wood used for carving, piano soundboards and artists' charcoal.

COMMENT:
Called 'limes' in England.



©2001 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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