ZIZIA AUREA

SOURCE INFORMATION

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Family: Apiaceae
• Genus: Zizia
• Species: Zizia aurea

Origin

• Zizia aurea, commonly known as Meadow Parsnip or Golden Alexanders, is native to North America.
• It can be found in various habitats including meadows, prairies, open woods, and along stream banks.
• The plant is particularly prevalent in the eastern and central regions of North America, from Canada to the United States.

Historical Facts

• Zizia aurea has a rich history of traditional medicinal use by Native American tribes.
• Indigenous peoples, such as the Cherokee, Iroquois, and Algonquin, utilized various parts of the plant for medicinal purposes.
• The plant was traditionally used to treat a range of ailments, including digestive issues, nervous disorders, and women’s health conditions.
• Additionally, Zizia aurea was valued for its edible qualities, with the young shoots and leaves being consumed as a nutritious spring vegetable.
• In botanical terms, Zizia aurea has also been appreciated for its ornamental value, with its golden-yellow flowers adding color to meadows and gardens.

DRUG PATHOGENESIS

Zizia aurea acts primarily on the nervous system, exhibiting effects on mental health and neurological conditions.

It is known to alleviate symptoms of hysteria, epilepsy, chorea, and hypochondriasis.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

• Suicidal tendencies accompanied by alternating moods of laughter and weeping.
• Head symptoms include pressure on the top and in the right temple, often associated with backache.
• Increased sexual power in males, with great lassitude following coitus.
• Female symptoms include intermittent neuralgia of the left ovary and acrid, profuse leucorrhoea, often with delayed menses.
• Respiratory symptoms include a dry cough with stitches in the chest and dyspnoea.
• Extremity symptoms include unusual tiredness, chorea (especially during sleep), fidgety legs, lameness in arms, and spasmodic twitching.