Polygonatum is a genus with over 50 species of flowering Solomon Seal. Solomon Seal here, is the species most common to Eastern North America, known as Polygonatum biflorum and belongs to the Lily family. Blooming in May and June, Great Solomon Seal is an elegant native woodland plant that brings beauty and mystery to any dappled sun or shaded garden. Solomon Seal's gracefully arching stems, create pairs of creamy white tubular fairy-like flowers that dangle from its attractive foliage leaving little black seed pods to adorn the plant the rest of the summer.
The young shoots are edible and cooked like asparagus while the rhizomes are the main medicinal part of the plant. Native Americans used it as both food and medicine and early settlers valued the starch content of the rhizome to sustain them over the Springtime. The berries, leaves and stems should not be eaten.
The name Solomon Seal comes from the healed over scars of the rhizomes left by older leaf stems and which resembles a wax seal. The stem scars also indicate how old the plant is, with one scar for each year of growth. When the rhizome is cut, the cross section reveals a six pointed Star of David. Solomon became King during the reign of his father David. The plant was named after Solomon for his wise and discerning judgement while governing his people. When one finds a native plant growing close to you, the plant is calling you to come into relationship with it, for its healing medicine. The key actions of Solomon Seal have been traditionally associated with respiratory and lung disorders with, anti-inflammatory, with astringent and demulcent properties, as well as expectorant (for dry coughs) and is somewhat sedative. Peter Holmes in his series, The Eastern Energetics of Western Herbs speaks of Solomon Seal as a tonic for the lungs, kidneys and stomach which I have taken to with delight and curiosity to support my health of the past few years. Solomon seal with its feminine and nourishing qualities moistens dryness, improves nutrient absorption and clears heat, building back up the yin successfully where there has been debility and weakness. Jim McDonald, herbalist, recommends Solomon Seal to successfully treat the musculoskeletal system, and when taken as a tincture will strengthen the connective tissues, support and speed up the healing process of broken bones, sprains and injured tendons much like Comfrey has been known to do. Solomon Seal, Polygonatum biflorum’s rhizomes can be ethically harvested in the early fall in nature or in your garden by leaving a portion of the roots intact to come up again the following Spring. Take only what is needed. Wash and chop the rhizomes and add them to your jar. Pour 100 proof alcohol over top of the chopped roots and set the jar aside in a darkened space for a minimum of six weeks. Label. Give it a shake from time to time. Decant the remedy to smaller 50 and 100 ml bottles to preserve its medicine. Take 25 to 50 drops 1 to 2 x a day for a minimum of three weeks for best results. Please check with a qualified herbalist before combining any herbal remedy when taking prescription drugs. Available in the Dharani Dispensary. References:Peter Holmes
Thea Deer Summer

These are the rhizomes of Solomon Seal collected from the roots of the plant in the fall and made into a tincture for the present day. When one looks closely at the rhizomes you can see where the scars have formed the star of David.