Carrot

Botanical: Daucus carota

Family: Umbelliferae (carrot)

Other common names: Philtron, Bird's Nest, Bees' Nest, Wild Carrot, Garden Carrot, Bird's Nest Weed, Bird's Nest Root, Devil's Plague, Queen Anne's Lace*

*Important note:  Carrot should never be confused with poisonous hemlock, which is also sometimes referred to as Queen Anne's Lace.

Carrot is used as both a food and a medicine. The Carrot was well known to the ancients, and old writers tell us that a poultice made of Carrot roots had been found to mitigate the pain of malignant ulcers, and that the leaves, when applied with honey, helped cleanse running sores and ulcers. Today, Carrot is considered carminative, stimulant and very useful in cases of flatulence, windy colic, hiccups, dysentery and chronic coughs. It is also a potent antiseptic and diuretic that can help to relieve urinary and bladder infections.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Viable Herbal Solutions is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

History and Uses:
Carrot is considered a biennial herb that grows an average of  four to ten inches in length. It is thought to be native to southern Europe, though it is now cultivated throughout the United States, Canada and elsewhere.  Carrot is used as both a food and a medicine, with the root, leaves and seeds used medicinally.  The Carrot was well known to the ancients, and was mentioned by Greek and Latin writers by various names, but it was Galen (circa second century A.D.) who called it Daucus to distinguish the Carrot from the Parsnip. The name Carota for the garden Carrot is found first in the writings of Athenaeus in 200 A.D., and in a book on cookery by Apicius Czclius in 230 A.D.  Carrot's primary properties are considered diuretic and stimulant.  Old writers tell us that a poultice made of Carrot roots had been found to mitigate the pain of malignant ulcers, and that the leaves, when applied with honey, helped cleanse running sores and ulcers.  An infusion of the root was also used as an aperient.  An infusion of the whole herb was considered an active and valuable remedy in the treatment of dropsy, chronic kidney diseases and affections of the bladder. An infusion of tea, made from one ounce of the herb in a pint of boiling water, was taken in wineglassful doses in the morning and evening, and was considered excellent for lithic acid or gouty disposition.  Additionally, a strong decoction was said to be very useful in expelling gravel and stones.  Carrot is considered carminative, stimulant and very useful in cases of flatulence, windy colic, hiccups, dysentery and chronic coughs.  Raw Carrots are sometimes given to children for expelling worms, and the boiled roots, mashed to a pulp, are sometimes used as a cataplasm for application to ulcers.  Carrot seeds are excellent in obstructions of the viscera, and in jaundice (for which they were formerly considered a specific).   The juice of the Carrot contains crystallizable and uncrystallizable sugar, a little starch, extractine, gluten, albumen, volatile oil (upon which the medicinal properties of the root depend and which give them their distinctive odor), vegetable jelly (pectin), saline matter, malic acid, tannins and carotin (an odorless, tasteless principle).  The essential (or volatil)e oils are usually mixtures of hydrocarbons of various groups, generally containing terpenes and oxidized aromatic derivatives.  The tannins in Carrots have an astringent effect, which precipitate proteins such as micro-organisms in the urinary tract, and also astringe any inflammation.  Wild Carrot leaves contain significant amounts of porphyrins, which are said to stimulate the pituitary gland that are also thought to lead to the release of increased levels of sex hormones and stimulate the uterus.  The plant is also used to encourage delayed menstruation and induce uterine contractions; and so, it should not be used by pregnant women.  An essential oil obtained from the seed has been used cosmetically in anti-wrinkle creams.  A strong decoction of the seeds and root make a very good insecticide.  Owing to the large percentage of carbohydrate material contained in Carrots,  rabbits who fed on Carrots alone for several days were found to have an increased amount of glycogen stored in their liver - the carbohydrates having been converted into glycogen in their body.  Attempts have also been made to extract sugar from Carrots, but the resulting thick syrup refuses to crystallize, and in competition with either cane sugar or beetroot, it has not proved commercially successful.  The chief virtues of the Carrot remain in their strong antiseptic qualities.  The wild Carrot is rich in vitamins and carotene, from which the body manufactures vitamin A, and Carrots have been noted as an important nutritional item in the diets of patients who are being treated for cancer.  An infusion of the herb is used as a treatment for fluid retention, and the powdered seeds are sometimes made into a tea taken to relieve colic.

Recommended Dosage:
Take two (2) to three (3) Capsules, two (2) to three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Contraindications:
Pregnant women should not use Carrot, as it is a uterine stimulant, and excessive use (many times the recommended dosage) is not recommended.

Capsule Information:
Our Carrot supplements are encapsulated in 100% Gluten-free, Vegetable Cellulose, Certified Kosher, size "00" Capsules. (click here for size comparison) Each capsule contains approximately 600 mgs.