Pastinacae sylvestris, Wild Parsnip

Secacul
Shaqaqul, Shaqaq Ul Misri (Unani)

PicturePicture
Wild Parsnip P. sativa
Della Materia Medicinale, Andrea Valuassori, 1562 English Botany, Sowerby, 1799

Botanical name:

Pastinaca sylvestris (syn. P. sativa)
Pastinaca secacul (also known as Wild Parsnip) is used in Unani. (This name is not a valid name)
Other species are given for Shaqaqul include Trachydium lehmanni, Eryngium caeruleum (in Kashmir), Polygonatum verticillatum (Chakrata).

Parts used:

Root, Seed

Temperature & Taste:

Very Warm, dry. Sweet, Pungent. Seed is warmest.
attenuates, opens

Classifications:

2M. DRAWING.  2S. STRENGTHENING
3H. LACTAGOGUE.  3J. INCREASE SEMEN

Uses:

1. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys:
-Promotes Venery [Sexual desire]; enhances semen viscosity (prolongs ejaculation)  (root)
-increases Seed (sperm) (Root, seed)
-Erectile Dysfunction, Sexual Debility, Premature Ejaculation, Spermatorrhea (Unani)
-Promotes Urine, used for Strangury
-debility related to Kidney weakness
2. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Good for Coughs, Pleurisy
3. Opens Obstructions:
-Attenuates and opens the Liver, Spleen (seed)
4. Warms and Promotes Menstruation:
-Promotes Menstruation, good for suffocation of the Uterus
-expels a Dead Child.
5. Promotes Milk:
-promotes and enriches Breast Milk

Dose:

Root in Powder: 2–5 grams
Seed in Powder: 500mg–2 grams

Comment:

1. It is used the same as Cretan Carrot, Daucus Cretici (Schroder)
2. Used as for domestic Parsnip, but warmer and stronger

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Main Combinations:

 
1. To warm and strengthen the Kidneys:
i. Wild Parsnip root, Cinnamon, Salvia hematodes, Tanacetum umbelliferum, Leser Cardamon
ii. Wild Parsnip root, Asparagus root, Withania

Major Formulas:

Shaqaqul:
Laboob Kabir
Laboob Sagheer
Majun Azaraqi

Cautions:

Not used in Kidney Yin deficiency

Main Preparations used:

Distilled Water of the Herb, Distilled Oil of the Seed, Seed Confection (rarely)