What effect does the primrose have?
Cowslip (genus Primrose) contains so-called saponins in its rhizome as well as in its roots and flowers. These are considered the main active ingredient in medicinal use: saponins promote the production of mucus and facilitate its expectoration. Due to many years of good experience, cowslip is medically recognized for the treatment of cold-related cough.
- Whooping cough
- Asthma
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Increase in urine production
- gout
- rheumatism
- nervous complaints like trembling and stomach cramps
- migraine
- cardiac insufficiency
However, there is no evidence that the medicinal plant has a beneficial effect in these areas of application. There is also no evidence that cowslip has a positive effect on the soul.
What you should consider when using primrose
If you have an allergy to primrose plants, you should not use the medicinal plant.
Not all preparations based on primrose are suitable for children. Therefore, always pay attention to the instructions for proper use in the respective package insert and to the instructions of your doctor or pharmacist.
If a respiratory disease is accompanied by shortness of breath, fever and/or bloody/urulent sputum, you should seek medical attention without fail.
How is cowslip used?
The rootstock (rhizome) together with attached long roots (Primulae radix) or the dried flowers (Primula flos) of the primrose and cowslip (Primula veris, P. elatior) are used medicinally. The underground parts of the plant contain more saponins than the flowers and are therefore considered more potent.
From the rhizome and roots of cowslip (primrose root), as well as the flowers, you can prepare a tea.
Primroses are protected in many places and may not be collected wild. As a general rule, it is better to obtain primrose roots and flowers from a pharmacy or use ready-made preparations based on the medicinal plant.
Primrose root tea
It is possible to drink a cup of primrose tea sweetened with honey every two to three hours. The recommended daily dose from 16 years of age is 0.5 to 1.5 grams of primrose root (note: one teaspoon is about 3.5 grams).
For younger age groups, the following daily doses should be followed:
- under one year: 0.05 to 0.3 grams
- one to three years: 0.2 to 0.6 grams
- four to 15 years: 0.5 to 1 gram
Primrose flower tea
To make a primrose flower tea, pour a cup of hot water over one teaspoon of dried, finely chopped flowers (with calyx), cover and steep for five minutes, then strain.
It is possible to drink a cup several times a day. For children over ten years, adolescents and adults, a daily dose of two to four grams of primrose flowers is recommended (note: one teaspoon is about 1.3 grams).
- under one year: 0.5 to 1 gram
- one to three years: 1 to 2 grams
- four to nine years: 2 to 3 grams
To increase the medicinal effect, you can combine cowslip with other medicinal plants, such as anise or fennel, when preparing tea.
Home remedies based on medicinal plants have their limitations. If your complaints persist over a long period of time, do not get better or even get worse despite treatment, you should always consult a doctor.
There are also ready-to-use preparations based on the rootstock with roots or the flowers, for example, powdered primrose flowers in dragées, a tincture of primrose root or flowers (cowslip tincture), and a dry extract of primrose root packaged in tablets or capsules.
Combination preparations with other medicinal plants (such as thyme) are also available. Your pharmacist can explain to you how to use the preparations correctly.
Primroses are non-toxic to humans. However, saponins irritate the mucous membranes, which is why in individual cases stomach discomfort and nausea may occur – especially in case of overdose.
How to get the primrose products
In your pharmacy you can obtain the dried medicinal drugs of primrose for tea preparation (rhizome with roots, flowers) as well as finished preparations (tea mixtures, capsules, drops, etc.).
What is a primrose?
Primroses belong to the primrose family (Primulaceae) and the genus Primula.
Several perennial species of primroses are known, including the true cowslip and the high cowslip.
It forms a ground-covering rosette of velvety-haired, entire-edged leaves. In spring, flower stems up to 20 centimeters high emerge from this rosette. Several yolk-yellow flowers are arranged terminally in umbels. They bear whitish-green, wide bell-shaped calyxes.
The name cowslip comes from the keychain-like appearance of the inflorescences of the various species.
