Troll flowers (Trollius europaeus) with their distinctive yellow colored round heads belong to the Ranunculae. Rare as a cultivated escape, they are protected and may not be collected, but may certainly be grown in one’s own garden.
Occurrence and cultivation of the troll flower
Because of its toxicity, troll flower should generally be treated with caution. Formerly widespread, troll flower has a firm place in folklore, and to a lesser extent in folk medicine. The name comes from the Old High German word “troll” (= round, spherical). Folk names in Europe include goldhead, peony, butter rose, butter ball, ball ranunculus, viper’s button, globe flower, boule d’or, crowfoot, renoncule des montagnes. It also plays a role in some folk tales. The slightly poisonous plant grows in a horst-like manner and reaches a height of up to 60 cm. Its spherical flower with nectar leaves typical of buttercups attracts mainly flies, small beetles, bumblebees and bees. Mammals such as cattle will not touch it because of its bitter taste and the toxins it contains, magnoflorin and protoanemonin. Of the 24 known species of trollflower, only the European trollflower occurs in Europe, preferring cool wet meadows (golden oat, cabbage thistle, meadowsweet or pipe grass meadows), in the mountains (at altitudes of up to 3000 m) or in moist deciduous forests (floodplain forests or swamp forests). Trollius europaeus occurs in two subspecies: Trollius europaeus L. var. Europaeus and Trollius europaeus L. var. Transsylvanicus, which occurs only in the Carpathians and Southern Alps. Geographically it settles from the Pyrenees to Finland, where it is the provincial flower of Lapland. In some landscapes Trollius europaeus still occurs in larger numbers, for example in Norwegian birch forests or in some areas of central Germany, for example in the natural monument Lehninger Trollflower Meadow near Pforzheim. Apart from the few places where it still occurs in the wild, it belongs to endangerment level 3 in Germany with a continuing trend towards a nationwide population decline. It was chosen as Flower of the Year in 1995 on the grounds that it indicates the disappearance of its habitat, moorland and wet meadows, which are also important for other plant and animal species and are worthy of protection. There are a number of measures to protect its population and to reintroduce it. It is also popular as an uncomplicated garden flower. Some hybrids specially bred for vigorous flowering have received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. For successful cultivation, troll flower requires moisture, low-oxygen soil and preferably partial shade. Sensitive individuals should protect their skin when caring for garden plants, and children should be taught about handling poisonous plants.
Effect and application
The constituents of Trollius europaeus include vitamin C, magnoflorin, protoanemonin, ranunculin, xanthophyll, saponins, β-carotene, and trollixanthin. Magnoflorin and protoanemonin are irritants to skin and mucous membranes. The substances are released when the plant is injured. Symptoms of skin contact include redness, blistering and itching (buttercup or meadow dermatitis). If any part of the plant is eaten, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, and nerve irritation or even paralysis may follow. At high doses, life-threatening reactions are possible. First aid for external symptoms is given by showering or washing off the affected areas; for internal poisoning, hydration or vomiting should help. However, it makes more sense to consult a doctor or a poison control center. However, the toxicity of the substance is weak in troll flower. When the flower is dried, the protoanemonin converts to the nontoxic anemonin. Ranunculin and xanthophyll are nontoxic. Protoanemonin is formed from the former, and the latter is responsible for the yellow coloration of the flower. The Swedish naturalist Peter Kalm (1716-1779) reported its medicinal use, provided the fresh plant was used, as it loses its effect when dried and heated. Where it is still used, a cold infusion of the plant is mentioned as a remedy for scurvy. A decoction from the root could rid animals of parasites. Experiments have shown that the active substances contained in the root have a strong choleretic effect (= stimulating the flow of bile).On blood vessels, especially of the liver, they have a dilating effect and the muscles of the internal organs slacken due to their influence, so that the troll flower actually has a laxative effect. Homeopathically, Trolleus europaeus is not used, although a homeopathic remedy can be prepared from the fresh plant. The deepest potency feasible in each case is D15 as dilution, globules and tablets. However, there is insufficient information on the effect of a homeopathic medicine by the BfArM (Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices), so its use is not recommended.
Significance for health, treatment and prevention.
Because of its toxicity, troll flower should generally be treated with caution. Thus, the laxative effect is rather due to a defensive reaction of the body to the toxin, which means that we can not speak of a remedy in a narrower sense. Against intestinal sluggishness or constipation, vitamin C deficiency and scurvy there are far more effective and above all harmless remedies. Outside Europe, troll flowers, including species other than European, are still used in medicine, for example in Russia and China. In China, the dried leaves are recommended, among other things, for sore throats, angina and tonsillitis, but also for otitis media, conjunctivitis and lymphangitis (inflammation of the lymphatic channels). However, in view of the toxins contained in troll flower and the observed physical reactions to them, extreme caution should be exercised in this recommendation. In general, it plays no role in modern medicine and naturopathy.
