Primrose (Primula veris)

With its golden yellow flowers, the primrose or cowslip is one of the first flowers of spring. The primrose plant, which is a protected species, comes from Central Europe and Asia. There are no records of this medicinal herb from ancient times, as it does not occur in the Mediterranean region.

Medicinally, it is mostly the primrose roots that are used, more rarely the flowers, in the form of tea or ready-to-use medicines. The roots contain 5-10% saponins as well as flavonoids, phenylglycosides and traces of essential oil. The saponin content in the flowers is significantly lower.
The value-determining ingredients have an expectorant effect and promote expectoration. For this reason, primrose preparations are used for respiratory diseases with thick mucus, coughs and chronic bronchitis.

In folk medicine, primrose root also plays a role in the treatment of rheumatic complaints and gout, arthritis and nerve complaints due to its content of anti-inflammatory salicylic acid derivatives.