medicinal herbs
Hog's Fennel
Peucedanum officinale
Herb: Hog's Fennel
Latin name: Peucedanum officinale
Family: Umbelliferae
Medicinal use of Hog's Fennel:
The plant is anodyne, antispasmodic, aperient, diaphoretic, diuretic and pectoral. An infusion is used in the treatment of coughs, bronchial catarrh etc. The root is mainly used, it is harvested in the spring or autumn and dried for later use. A homeopathic remedy is made from the roots. It is used in the treatment of bronchial catarrh, coughs, intermittent fevers and to stimulate menstrual flow.Description of the plant:
Plant:
PerennialHeight:
120 cm(4 feet)
Flowering:
July toSeptember
Habitat of the herb:
Banks near the sea and in grassland. Salt marshes.Other uses of Hog's Fennel:
Yields a gum, similar to "Gum Ammoniac" (which is obtained from Ferula communis). The root is wounded in the spring and then yields a considerable quantity of a yellowish-green juice which dries into a gummy resin and retains the strong sulphur-like smell of the plant. The gum of Ferula communis is used as an incense and also has medicinal value.Propagation of the herb:
Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible otherwise in early spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.Cultivation of Hog's Fennel:
Banks near the sea and in grassland. Salt marshes.Known hazards of Peucedanum officinale:
Skin contact with the sap of this plant is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people. It is also said to contain the alleged 'psychotroph' myristicine.Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.