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Heracleum maximum 
​(cow parnship),
Apiaceae

by Eric Yarnell, ND, RH(AHG)
Last updated 18 June 2023
This monograph is protected by copyright and is intended only for use by health care professionals and students. You may link to this page if you are sharing it with others in health care, but may not otherwise copy, alter, or share this material in any way. By accessing this material you agree to hold the author harmless for any use of this information.Please donate to help support the extensive amount of time and energy it takes to create and maintain this site. Please donate to help support the extensive amount of time and energy it takes to create and maintain this site.
 

Table of Contents

Clinical Highlights
Clinical Fundamentals
Pharmacy Essentials
​Other Names
​​
Interchangeability of Species
​Advanced Clinical Information
Classic Formulas
Monograph from Eclectic Materia Medica (Felter 1922)
Ethnobotanical Reports
Botanical Information
Harvest, Cultivation, and Ecology
 

Clinical Highlights

Cow parsnip fruit is a potent analgesic.

Cow parsnip immature stem and flower buds are edible.

All parts of cow parsnip can cause photodermatitis after skin contact.
Picture
Heracleum maximum habit (copyright E. Yarnell 2023)
Picture
Heracleum maximum flowers (copyright E. Yarnell 2023)
 

Clinical Fundamentals

Part Used: fruit (fresh) as medicine (peeled immature stem or flower bud and mature fruit as food)

Taste: pungent with some hint of celery, mildly numbing

Major Actions:
  • Immunostimulating
  • Antiviral
  • Inflammation modulating

Major Organ System Affinities
  • Respiratory Tract

Major Indications:
  • Pain
  • Upper and lower respiratory infections

Major Constituents:
  • Phenylpropanoids
  • Furanocoumarins

Adverse Effects: 

Contraindications: 

Drug Interactions: 
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Pharmacy Essentials

Tincture: 1:2–1:3 w:v ratio, 30% ethanol
     Dose:
Acute, adult: 
Chronic, adult: 
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size

Glycerite:

Decoction: 2–3 g (1 heaping tsp) of root simmered, covered, in 250 ml of water for 15–30 min, the result of which makes one cup (not 8 oz, but one dose). The amount of water used can be adjusted to patient taste in subsequent cups.
     Dose:
Acute adult: 

Chronic, adult: 1 cup tid
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size

Capsules: these are not widely available..
     Dose:

Acute, adult: 1–2 g per dose, otherwise dosed as with acute tincture
Chronic, adult: 1–2 g tid (not usually taken chronically)
Child: as adult but adjusted for body size

If you need help formulating with this herb, or any other, you can use the formulation tool. Remember that when using this herb in a formula, due to synergy, you can usually use less.
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Other Names

Latin synonyms:
     Current correct Latin binomial:
Amelanchier carrii Rydb


English Common Names: 

Native American Common Names (grouped linguistically and geographically):
     Nēhiyawēwin ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ (Cree, Algonquian): 
​
     Ndee biyáti' (Western Apache, Athabaskan): 

     Akimel O'odham (Mountain Piman, Uto-Aztecan):
     Hopilàvayi (Hopi, Uto-Aztecan): 
     Núu-'apaghapi (Ute, Uto-Aztecan): 
     Rarámuri ra'ícha (Tarahumara, Uto-Aztecan): 

     Shiwi'ma (Zuñi, isolate): 

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Interchangeability of Species

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Advanced Clinical Information

Additional Actions:


Additional Indications:
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Botanical Information

Botanical Description:


Native range:

Picture
Native range of Amelanchier alnifolia
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Harvest, Cultivation, and Ecology

Cultivation:

Wildcrafting:

Ecological Status:
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References

Hosseinian BT (2007) "Saskatoon and wild blueberries have higher anthocyanin contents than other Manitoba berries" J Agric Food Chem 55(26):10832–8.
​
Mazza G (2005) "Compositional and functional properties of saskatoon berry and blueberry" Int J Fruit Sci 5(3):101–20.
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