Lycopus virginicus
Bugleweed
a perennial member of the Lycopus genus in the family Labiatae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
- Plant part
- Root
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Bugleweed has sedative properties and is used in modern herbalism principally to treat an overactive thyroid gland and the racing heartbeat that often accompanies this condition[6]. The whole plant is used as an astringent, hypoglycaemic, mild narcotic and mild sedative[8][1][3][5]. It also slows and strengthens heart contractions[5]. The plant has been shown to be of value in the treatment of hyperthyroidism[3][5], it is also used in the treatment of coughs, bleeding from the lungs and consumption, excessive menstruation etc[8][5]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women or patients with hypothyroidism[5]. The plant is harvested as flowering begins and can be use fresh or dried, in an infusion or as a tincture[8][5]. The root has been chewed, a portion swallowed and the rest applied externally in the treatment of snakebites[7].
- Product or use
- Antidandruff
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Cardiac
- Product or use
- Hypoglycaemic
- Product or use
- Narcotic
- Product or use
- Sedative
Environment
- Range
- Eastern N. America - New York and Wisconsin south to Georgia and Texas.
- Habitat
- Low damp shady ground in rich moist soils[9].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- high
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow spring or autumn in a cold frame[5]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first year. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in spring or autumn[5]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Tolerates most soil types so long as they are wet. Succeeds in full sun or in partial shade[5], in damp meadows or in wet places by ponds or streams[2].
References
Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-394-72811-4
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202