Lovage

Levisticum officinale

Other names: Garden lovage, sea parsley, Levistici radix, Liebstöckel

Edible plant

European

Photo credit: 4028mdk09 / Wikimedia Commons

Safety information

Toxicity: Low at monograph/culinary doses. Root contains furanocoumarins — theoretical phototoxicity, but EMA assessment found photosensitivity not clinically relevant for oral root use as recommended; avoid concentrated essential oil internally.

Contraindications: Allergy to Apiaceae (celery/carrot family) — risk of allergic reactions; conditions requiring fluid restriction (cardiac/renal); pregnancy/lactation (not recommended — emmenagogue reputation; insufficient data); acute kidney inflammation.

Interactions: Caution with diuretics (additive aquaresis); theoretical caution with photosensitizing drugs at high doses; insufficient data otherwise.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Not recommended (emmenagogue reputation; insufficient data).

Evidence level

Traditional (systematized)

Documented in systematic traditional medicine literature.

Preparations

infusion · root

Part used: root

Traditional use: increase urine flow / flushing of the urinary tract; adjuvant in minor urinary complaints

Proposed mechanism: aquaretic; coumarin chemistry

Evidence:Traditional (systematized)

edible · leaf

Part used: leaf

Traditional use: carminative / digestive seasoning(Folk and historical sources have not been validated by clinical research.)

Evidence:Folk

General preparation guide →

Associated conditions

increase urine flow flushing/irrigation of the urinary tract minor urinary complaints bloating gas

Edibility

Edible parts: leaves (celery/parsley-like) and seeds as seasoning; young stems candied

Toxic lookalike warning

A member of the Apiaceae — never confuse foraged umbellifers with deadly relatives (poison hemlock Conium maculatum, hemlock water-dropwort Oenanthe crocata, fool's parsley Aethusa); use only the cultivated, known plant

Nutritional notes

Leaves provide vitamin C and minerals in herb amounts; aromatic celery-flavor seasoning; not a staple nutrient source

Healing traditions

European

Sources (3)

Coumarins of Lovage Roots (Levisticum officinale): LC-MS Profile, Quantification, and Stability (PMC, 2023)
Final Community herbal monograph on Levisticum officinale Koch, radix — EMA/HMPC (EN)
Final assessment report on Levisticum officinale Koch, radix — EMA/HMPC (EN)

All sources →