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Omnia Sana · Plant Monograph

Ground Elder

Aegopodium podagraria

Family ApiaceaeParts used Leaf, Root, StemAlso known as bishop's weed, goutweed, gout wort, snow-in-the-mountain

This monograph compiles 4 pharmacological actions, 9 traditional / indicated uses, supported by 10 cited sources, drawn directly from the Omnia Sana plant database.

Pharmacological Actions

Analgesic (pain relief)[8, 9, 10]
Anti-inflammatory[1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10]
Anti-rheumatic / anti-arthritic[1, 8, 9, 10]
Diuretic[1, 8, 9, 10]

Traditional & Indicated Uses

Arthritis / joint pain[8, 9, 10]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for arthritis / joint pain →detailed sources →
Back pain[8, 9, 10]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-rheumatic action

more plants for back pain →detailed sources →
Headache[8, 9, 10]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from analgesic action

more plants for headache →detailed sources →
Inflammation (general)[8, 9, 10]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for inflammation (general) →detailed sources →
Pain (general)[8, 9, 10]Traditional · 1/10
more plants for pain (general) →detailed sources →
Skin irritation[8, 9, 10]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from anti-inflammatory action

more plants for skin irritation →detailed sources →
Swelling / fluid retention[8, 9, 10]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for swelling / fluid retention →detailed sources →
Urinary support[8, 9, 10]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for urinary support →detailed sources →
Urinary tract infection (UTI)[8, 9, 10]Traditional · 1/10

inferred from diuretic action

more plants for urinary tract infection (uti) →detailed sources →

Safety, Cautions & Contraindications

Safety note[8, 9, 10]Caution

Generally safe as a food plant when young leaves are harvested. Contains furocoumarins (photosensitising compounds) — handling large quantities in bright sunlight may cause skin irritation. Individuals with Apiaceae allergies should exercise caution. Not recommended in therapeutic doses during pregnancy.

Safety note[8, 9, 10]Info

Duke (2002) does not appear to include a dedicated entry for ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria) in the Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition.

References

REF-0719, REF-0720, REF-0721, REF-1688, REF-1689, REF-1690, REF-1691

References & Sources

  1. Dębia, K., Dzięcioł, M., Wróblewska, A. and Janda-Milczarek, K (2025) 'Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.): An Edible Weed with Health-Promoting Properties', Molecules, 30(7), pp. 1603. doi:10.3390/molecules30071603 Traditional / reference
    https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30071603
  2. Engelhardt, L., Pöhnl, T. and Neugart, S (2022) 'Edible Wild Vegetables Urtica dioica L. and Aegopodium podagraria L.: Antioxidants Affected by Processing', Plants (Basel), 11(20), pp. 2710. doi:10.3390/plants11202710 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11202710
  3. Jakubczyk, K., Łukomska, A., Czaplicki, S., Wajs-Bonikowska, A., Gutowska, I. et al (2021) 'Bioactive Compounds in Aegopodium podagraria Leaf Extracts and Their Effects against Fluoride-Modulated Oxidative Stress in the THP-1 Cell Line', Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 14(12), pp. 1334. doi:10.3390/ph14121334 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14121334
  4. Tovchiga, O.V (2016) 'The influence of goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) tincture and metformin on the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in dexamethasone-treated rats', BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 16, pp. 235. doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1221-y Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1221-y
  5. Flieger, J. and Flieger, M (2020) 'The [DPPH/DPPH-H]-HPLC-DAD Method on Tracking the Antioxidant Activity of Pure Antioxidants and Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) Hydroalcoholic Extracts', Molecules, 25(24), pp. 6005. doi:10.3390/molecules25246005 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25246005
  6. Prior, R.M., Lundgaard, N.H., Light, M.E., Stafford, G.I., van Staden, J. and Jager, A.K (2007) 'The polyacetylene falcarindiol with COX-1 activity isolated from Aegopodium podagraria L', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 113(1), pp. 176-178. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.05.005 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2007.05.005
  7. Niziol-Lukaszewska, Z., Zagorska-Dziok, M., Ziemlewska, A. and Bujak, T (2020) 'Comparison of the Antiaging and Protective Properties of Plants from the Apiaceae Family', Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2020, pp. 5307614. doi:10.1155/2020/5307614 Preclinical
    https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5307614
  8. Grieve, M (1931) 'A Modern Herbal'. Traditional / reference
    Find this source
  9. Moerman, D.E (1998) 'Native American Ethnobotany'. Traditional / reference
    Find this source
  10. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
    https://powo.science.kew.org

Record last updated 2026-06-20 · Provenance: book+pubmed · Status: verified

This fact sheet is generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and reflects its latest synced data. It is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.

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