Omnia SanaCommon names in 28 European languages →
The complete database record: 2 documented constituents, 3 pharmacological actions, 5 traditional / indicated uses, with 17 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Low perennial herb (Primulaceae) forming a basal rosette of wrinkled, oval, softly hairy leaves that taper abruptly to a winged stalk. A single leafless flowering stem rises from the rosette bearing a one-sided umbel of small, fragrant, deep yellow, funnel-shaped flowers with orange spots at the throat, nodding on slender pedicels.[10]
Habitat & Distribution
Native across Europe and western Asia, growing in unimproved, species-rich grassland, meadows, pastures, open woodland and hedge banks on calcareous or well-drained soils.[10]
Harvesting
Flowers are picked in spring as they open; the root/rhizome is dug in autumn.
Key Constituents
Concentrated in the root; responsible for the traditional expectorant (secretolytic) action.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from sedative action
more plants for insomnia / sleeplessness →detailed sources →
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Traditional Use & History
Cowslip has a long European folk tradition as an expectorant remedy for coughs and bronchial catarrh, and the flowers have traditionally been used as a mild sedative and for headache. Modern research on its saponin-rich root supports secretolytic (mucus-thinning) expectorant activity, and its flowers are rich in antioxidant phenolics.[1, 6]
Preparations
Dosage
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Allergy risk: avoid if you’re allergic to cowslip/other Primula species (European Medicines Agency, 2012). Stomach sensitivity: use caution if you have gastritis or a stomach ulcer-cowslip can upset the stomach in some people (European Medicines Agency, 2012). Possible side effects (especially high dose): nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; allergic reactions can happen (European Medicines Agency, 2012). Pregnancy/breastfeeding: not recommended due to lack of good safety data (European Medicines Agency, 2012). Kids: many preparations are not recommended under 12 (and some root extracts under 4) unless a labeled product specifically allows it (European Medicines Agency, 2012).
Duke (2002) provides clinical evidence (score 2) for cowslip's expectorant and secretolytic activities, consistent with Commission E approval for bronchitis and cough with mucus. Dose: 0.5–1 g root or 1–2 g herb as tea three times daily. Saponins in the root are responsible for the expectorant action. Duke warns that the plant may cause hemolysis in large doses due to saponin content, and caution is warranted in individuals with aspirin sensitivity due to phenolic acid content (Duke, 2002).
Herb-Drug Interactions
Harvest Readiness
[11]
[11]
[11]
[11]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Veldman, J., Bordewijk, E., Lloyd, A.R., Vlieger, A.M. and others (2023) 'Mechanistic Evidence of Andrographis paniculata, Pelargonium sidoides, Echinacea Species and a Combination of Hedera helix, Primula veris/elatior and Thymus vulgaris/zygis in the Treatment of Acute, Uncomplicated Respiratory Tract Infections: A Systematic Literature Review and Expert Interviews', Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 16(9), pp. 1206. doi:10.3390/ph16091206 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16091206 - Baczek, K.B., Kosakowska, O., Przybyl, J.L., Pioro-Jabrucka, E. and others (2017) 'Phenolics in Primula veris L. and Primula elatior (L.) Hill Raw Materials', International Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2017, pp. 2871579. doi:10.1155/2017/2871579 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2871579 - Prokofiev, A.B., Latypova, G.M., Bondarenko, T.A., Romanenko, E.B. and others (2023) 'Solid herbal extract of Primula veris L. improves morphofunctional condition of rats' myocardium in chronic alcohol intoxication', Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 13(3), pp. 306-314. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.02.006 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.02.006 - Tarapatskyy, M., Gumienna, A., Sowa, P., Kapusta, I. and Puchalski, C (2021) 'Bioactive Phenolic Compounds from Primula veris L.: Influence of the Extraction Conditions and Purification', Molecules, 26(4), pp. 997. doi:10.3390/molecules26040997 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26040997 - Trendafilova, A., Ivanova, V., Todorova, M., Aneva, I. and others (2025) 'Phytochemical Characterization and Anti-Biofilm Activity of Primula veris L. Roots', Molecules, 30(8), pp. 1702. doi:10.3390/molecules30081702 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30081702 - Colombo, P.S., Flamini, G., Rodondi, G., Giuliani, C. and others (2017) 'Phytochemistry of European Primula species', Phytochemistry, 143, pp. 132-144. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.07.005 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2017.07.005 - Latypova, G.M., Bondarenko, T.A., Katayev, V.A., Romanenko, E.B. and others (2019) 'Composition and cardioprotective effects of Primula veris L. solid herbal extract in experimental chronic heart failure', Phytomedicine, 54, pp. 17-26. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.015 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2018.09.015 - Brys, R. and Jacquemyn, H (2015) 'Disruption of the distylous syndrome in Primula veris', Annals of Botany, 115(1), pp. 27-39. doi:10.1093/aob/mcu211 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcu211 - Muller, A., Ganzera, M. and Stuppner, H (2006) 'Analysis of phenolic glycosides and saponins in Primula elatior and Primula veris (primula root) by liquid chromatography, evaporative light scattering detection and mass spectrometry', Journal of Chromatography A, 1112(1-2), pp. 218-223. doi:10.1016/j.chroma.2005.10.067 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2005.10.067 - Graikou, K., Damianakos, H., Ganos, C., Syklowska-Baranek, K. and others (2023) 'Comparative Phytochemical Analyses of Flowers from Primula veris subsp. veris Growing Wild and from Ex Situ Cultivation in Greece', Foods, 12(13), pp. 2623. doi:10.3390/foods12132623 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12132623 - Plants For A Future 'Primula veris (Cowslip)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Primula+veris Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Primula+veris - European Medicines Agency (2012) 'European Union herbal monograph on Primula veris L'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=European%20Union%20herbal%20monograph%20on%20Primula%20veris%20L - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.). Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org - Wicke, L (2007) 'Primula veris in the treatment of upper respiratory infections', pp. 109--116. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Primula%20veris%20in%20the%20treatment%20of%20upper%20respiratory%20infections - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition - Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, M. and Hosseinzadeh, H (2024) 'Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review', Phytotherapy Research, 38(6), pp. 3037-3059. doi:10.1002/ptr.8201 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.8201 - Block, K.I., Gyllenhaal, C. and Mead, M.N (2004) 'Safety and efficacy of herbal sedatives in cancer care', Integrative Cancer Therapies, 3(2), pp. 128-148. doi:10.1177/1534735404265003 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1177/1534735404265003
Selected studies & references
All 17 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.