Cowslip

Cowslip:
Primula veris: N.O. Primulaceae
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Herb Peter. Paigle. Peggle. Key Flower. Key of Heaven. Fairy Cups.Petty Mulleins. Crewel. Buckles. Palsywort. Plumrocks. Mayflower. Password.Artetyke. Drelip. Our Lady's Keys. Arthritica. (Anglo-Saxon) Cuy lippe(Greek} Paralysio

Many of the Primrose tribe possess active medicinal properties. Besides the Cowslip and the Primrose, this family includes the little Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis), as truly a herald of warm summer weather as the Primrose is of spring.

The botanical name of the order, Primulacece, is based on that of the genus Primula, to which belong not only those favourite spring flowers of the country-side, the Primrose, Cowslip, and their less common relative the Oxlip, but also the delicately-tinted greenhouse species that are such welcome pot plants for our rooms in mid-winter.

Linnaeus considered the Primrose, Cowslip and Oxiip to be but varieties of one species, but in this opinion later botanists have not followed him, though in all essential points they are identical.

Part Used Medicinally. The yellow corolla is alone needed, no green part whatever is required, only the yellow part, plucked out of the green calyx.

Constituents:. The roots and the flowers have somewhat of the odour of Anise, due to their containing some volatile oil identical with Mannite. Their acrid principle is Saponin.

Medicinal Action and Uses. Sedative, anti-spasmodic.
In olden days, Cowslip flowers were in great request for homelv remedies, their special value lying in insomnia, strengthening the nerves and relieving restlessness

Cowslip Wine made from the flowers is an excellent sedative.

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