Properties of herb Paris

Contents

1 Medicinal properties of Paris quadrifolia

Medicinal properties of Paris quadrifolia

CHARACTERISTICS OF HERB PARIS

Scientific noun: Paris quadrifolia L.

Common noun:: Herb-Paris.

Family: Lily family – Liliaceae

Habitat: Deciduous woods of usually calcareous soil in Europe and Asia.

Description of herb Paris

Paris quadrifolia is a perennial herb of the Lily family – Liliaceae– up to 40 cm.

Erect stems, springing from a crawling rhizome.

Every stem has at the top a whorl of usually 4 sessile leaves, till 12 cm.

The flower stands at the end of a long peduncle, having 4 exterior tepals, pale-greenish, and 4 interior ones very narrow and yellowish. 6-10 protruding stamens.

The fruit is a berry, black-bluish.

Active principles of herb Paris

Saponins: paridin, paristyphnin, pennogenin
Citric -acid
Paridol
Ecdysterone

Active parts: Fruits and rhizomes

Paris quadrifolia drawing — Herb Paris drawing (Paris quadrifolia)

PROPERTIES OF HERB PARIS

Medicinal uses of Paris quadrifolia

Herb Paris has been used as a cardiac sedative in cases of palpitations. As external vulnerary it has been applied in the treatment of wounds that wouldn’t usually heal with other medications, specially ulcerous wounds.

I is also used as component in preparations that are used to combat headaches, backache, fever, tremors, vertigo, excessive perspiration, pains in the chest, inflammations of the eyes, etc.

Given the toxicity of its components its use is dissuaded in home-made preparations!!!

Toxicity of herb Paris
Toxicity of Paris quadrifolia is high. Especially in the ingestion of its fruits, although, fortunately, in most cases can be detected on time, given the slow absorption of the components.

On the other hand, the fact that they are very unpleasant to taste, makes that, the possible victim usually spits the content of the mouth quickly. It is mortal for the animals that ingest it, either mammals or fish.