Lily of the Valley: A Misunderstood Heart Tonic with More to Offer Than Poison

Lily of the valley has a long and proven reputation in herbal medicine in the treatment of heart complaints. It contains the glycosides convallarin and convallamarin which are powerful cardiac tonics and diuretics and are also used in allopathic medicine[244].

However, because of Lily of The Valley’s toxic properties it should never be used without caution and only in extreme moderation[9].

What parts to use and how to harvest

• All parts of the plant are antispasmodic, cardiotonic, strongly diuretic, emetic, febrifuge, laxative and sedative[4, 7, 9, 21, 46, 165, 222, 254].
• The plant is usually harvested when in flower and can be dried for later use[4], though it is stronger acting when fresh[238]. – this means the flowers can be dried and use as tea for gentler action.
• The inflorescence (the stem with all the flowers) is said to be the most active medicinally and is often harvested separately[4].
• An infusion (tea) of the flowers and roots is a digitalis substitute (obtained from Digitalis species), though less powerful, that is especially useful in the treatment of valvula heart diseases, cardiac debility, dropsy and chronic lung problems such as emphysema [4, 222, 254].

Alcohol-Based Tincture Preparation

• Standard Strength: Dry plant material to solvent ratio of 1:3. Source: https://herbalterra.com/lily-of-the-valley-aex
• When substituting dry herbs for fresh, the typical conversion ratio is 1:3 (1 part dry herb equals 3 parts fresh herb). Dried herbs are naturally more concentrated because they lack water content, so less dry herb is needed to match the potency of fresh herbs. For instance, if a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh basil, you would substitute with about 1 teaspoon of dried basil.
  However, Lily of the valley creates a unique situation. Fresh lily of the valley is more potent than the dried form, while for herbs like basil, you’d generally need three times the fresh amount. To solve for the difference I follow the standard 1:3 herb/solvent ratio regardless of fresh or dry (As opposed to the normally recommended 1:1 herb/solvent for other fresh herbs).

Action and uses

• Alternative to Digoxin, a prescription medicine for congestive heart failure and irregular heart rhythm.
• Lily of the valley encourages the heart to beat more slowly, regularly and efficiently, at the same time it is strongly diuretic, reducing blood volume and lowering blood pressure [254].
• Cardiac glycosides in lily of the valley are similar to those found in digitalis, from which digoxin, a drug used to treat congestive heart failure and irregular heart rhythms, is derived. The cardiac glycosides in the lily of the valley, primarily convallarin, convallamarin and convallatoxin, increase the force of the heart contractions, while the saponins have gastrointestinal effects.
• Its effect is less cumulative than digitalis which makes it safer for elderly patients [238].
• It is often prescribed combined with the fruits of Crataegus spp (Hawthorn Berries) [238].
• Ointment made of the roots treats burns with 100% prevention of scar tissue [222].

Professional recommendation

The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approve Convallaria majalis : Lily Of The Valley for arrhythmia, cardiac insufficiency, nervous heart complaints .

Max Dosage

• Tincture: 6g / day, divided 3 equal parts.
• 1 gram = 20 drops, or 1 ml
• So 3 equal doses of 2ml or 40 drops morning, noon and night.
• Dosage source: https://www.medicinenet.com/lily_of_the_valley/article.htm