Virtues of True Solomon's Seal Root

We humans are subject to injury and overuse of these powerful yet at times fragile bodies. We can wrestle with the laws of physics at times and yet when we come up against the very edge of what our bodies can handle, we have the opportunity to learn just how firm these laws govern our world. And injury can happen when the edge is pushed. 

And so, we must be able to repair damage to the connective tissue, fascia, tendons, ligaments, bones, cartilage, and joints – and true Solomon’s seal root is one of the very the best remedies to help.

Polygonatum multiflorum of the Asparagaceae family, also called True Solomon's Seal.

Solomon’s Seal is a member of the lily family. Various species are native to Asia, Europe, and North America, where they have been used as food and medicine. The soft, sweet white to yellowish rhizomes look like bones and vertebrae, while the leaves wrapping around the stalk look like tendons and ligaments wrapping around bones, so Polygonatum has been used to strengthen the bones, marrow, and tendons. The “seals” on the rhizomes, where the stalk rises up, look like the  It is one of the plants known in Afro-American herbalism as ‘High John the Conqueror,’ in reference to magic or ‘conquering.’ It is worn as a mojo or chewed for ‘conquering.’

True Solomon’s Seal is used in Asia, Europe, and North America as a sweet nutritive for tendons and joints. Freshly dug roots, once washed and sliced, can be eaten and has a mildly sweet, radish kind of crispness to it. It holds for itself a nutritive starch for surviving long winters, and so gives this as a beneficial demulcent nutritive influence to soothe the irritation of the mucous linings. Hence it can be helpful in the upper respiratory system, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and the reproductive system.

​The rhizomes look like bones, knuckles, and vertebrae, the leaves clasp around the stem, looking very much like a muscle attaching to a bone, and the flowers appear at the joints and hand down below the stem. Solomon’s seal is considered to have a tonifying effect on the sexual system, both male and female. It contains small amounts of cardiac glycosides, like its cousin Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley), but not enough to make it a toxic plant as Lily of the Valley is. Indeed, it was an important part of the 1st Nations Indian diet and remains today a trail food for energy and sustenance.

Proper Identification & Look-A-Likes: False solomon seal - Maianthemum racemosum - is often confused with True Solomon's Seal and these are not botanically related but look similar enough to confuse some people. Simply remember that the flowers hang down below the stem of true Solomon's Seal and the flower are a single cluster at the tip of the stem for false Solomon Seal. 

The common name is said to come from the distinctive scars on its rhizomes, which when viewed with some imagination, resemble the seal of King Solomon, a symbol often depicted with two inverted triangles; the scars are left behind where previous year's stems once grew from the root system

spp. is used in TCM Chinese herbalism, where it is known as ‘yellow essence.’ It is classified as a sweet, neutral yin tonic, meaning it's a moistening, lubricating, and nourishing tonic. It lubricates the heart and lungs, tones the abdomen, builds the marrow, and increases semen (essence). As a yin deficiency tonic it is used for dry throat and thirst ( as mentioned, it gives mucus lining support), coughs due to dry lungs, diabetes, and grey hair from kidney yin deficiency. Modern research shows that it can be used to bring down high blood pressure, protect the liver, treat fatty liver, reduce blood sugar levels, and blood fat, called cholesterol, which floats in the blood as yellow fat globs. Yes, these globs of fat sometimes end up in blood test tubes and my patients get nervous seeing this but that is another topic.

Taste: sweet, slightly acrid, cool, moist
Tissue State: atrophy of tissues (also the whole human in general)

Respiratory System Support:
Pulmonary problems and hemorrhages.

Cardiovascular System Support
Heart; relaxes, increases the space between the heart beats. So it lowers our rate by relaxing the heart muscle enough to allow it to fill with blood more efficiently. 

Digestive System Support:
Intestinal upset; tension.
Hemorrhoids.

Female Reproductive System Support
Profuse menstrual flow, vaginal irritation, restores hormonal glow to the face, tonifies the ovaries, strengthens the estrogen side of the cycle, ovarian pain, fertility issues

Male Reproductive System Support
Premature ejaculation, increase semen production, fertility issues

Muscular-Skeletal System Support
Muscular and skeletal tensions, bone spurs resulting from such tensions.
Repetitive use injury; carpel tunnel syndrome; arthritis associated with old injuries, calcifications, and muscular and skeletal tensions, joint injuries, soft tissue and bone injuries, recovery from orthopedic surgeries which is quite traumatic for these bodies.  

External Body Support
Bruises, external on poison ivy (make a spray with the fresh root tincture).

Preparation and Dosage: The rhizomes are dug up and collected in the fall, dried for use by decoction, or extracted fresh in alcohol and water for a shelf stable tincture. High-proof alcohol has to be used since the sticky roots cause a sweet syrup if extracted in a low-proof sweet alcohol. I use above 60% alcohol. The roots can also be extracted in rubbing alcohol with other herbs for use as a liniment externally only to unbroken skin. I just use my tincture as a liniment.

Solomon's seal root can be prepared as a tea, tincture, capsule, poultice, liniment, salve, or spray.

Dose: external or internal use in small to large amount depending on the condition and situation. Consult with someone that knows your situation and this plant. 

Contraindications: The berries are considered toxic. No reported issues otherwise. 

Environmentally Considerations: It's quite challenged in some areas due to overharvesting here in the northeast US. The demand has driven the price up quite a bit in the last 20 years. I grow my own because I do have woodland terrain here which Solomon's seal plants thrives in. Solomon's seals are ideal for shaded, woodland gardens where they can be allowed to grow undisturbed. Prefers filtered light, well-drained, moist, humus-rich acidic soil with a pH of 5.0-7.0. It should be watered regularly, but not over-watered. 

The deer absolutely love it and so protection is needed. 

Propagation: Can be propagated by dividing rhizomes or by seeds. 
Harvesting: When harvesting the rhizomes, which are actually a modified starch-storing stem that runs along the surface soil, and the roots underneath are small and can be taken too, but leave several inches of the newest portion where the most recent stem came from untouched and replant this so that you don't damage the plant's existence. 

Plant Spirit Medicine: I use it on an energetic level for strengthening and acting as a protectant herb especially when used with Vervain and Agrimony.

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Summary of the Medicinal Actions We LOVE:

​​Anti-Inflammatory:  One of the constitutions in Solomon's Seal is allantoin and may counteract the inflammatory response for injuries related to the muscular-skeletal systems.

Anti-Rheumatic: eases pain, infection in the joints, inflammation.  On connective tissues it works on stiffness, injury, overuse, underuse and lack of nourishment and detox to the connective tissue.

Demulcent (mucilaginous herb meaning it’s slimy and coating): it is cooling, soothing and moistening for throat lungs and skin. Indications specific for dry coughs (as a tea). 

Diuretic & Mild Laxative: increases the secretion and flow of urine by flushing the body of toxins and excess water, provides kidney support.

Immune System: it helps the immune system to adapt internally to the needs and healing of bones, connective tissues, and joints. It also directly “feeds” the irritated joints and cleanses by reducing inflammation. 

​Mild Sedative: soothes nervousness, distress, irritation and inflammation associated with muscles and connective tissues, bursae, menstrual cramps

Tonic Herb: toning the kidneys, heart and reproductive organs and is soothing on the digestive system, can be beneficial to the skin. 

Vulnerary (wound healing): Solomon's Seal works on sprains and strains inflamed tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.

Matthew Wood speculates that Solomon's Seal might stimulate the body to produce cortisone, and my current belief is that it acts on the synovial glands, improving the production or quality of synovial fluid in some way and thus lubrication in the joints.  Often you can clearly perceive a notable lessening of friction in the joint shortly after a dose is taken. When matches with the right persona nd right condition it is quite miraculous at times.

While we continue to ponder these mysteries, we can also continue to trust the ancient stories carried through time of a remedy still in use today. 

Thank you for traveling this far. If your apothecary stock needs fresh root tincture, I have you covered. Much Love, Jen 

Solomon's Seal Fresh Root Tincture