Medicinal Plant Lexicon

Primrose

Primrose
Photo: Sertürner Bildarchiv

Botanical name

Primula veris L.
Primula elatior (L.) Hill

Family

Primulaceae

Common name

Primrose, Cowslip, Oxlip

Information about the plant

With three different subspecies, the primrose populates the meadows and sparse shrubs over a large area from East Asia through Central and Middle Asia to Central Europe. It is not present in the north.

The botanical name Primula veris comes from the Latin "prima" (= the first) and "ver" (= the spring, gen. veris = of spring) and means "first small fruits of the spring", reflecting the fact that primrose is one of the first plants to flower in spring. In German, there is also the shortened name "Primel". "Cowslip" refers to the key-shaped flower form; until the 16th century, the plant was also known as the "key to heaven" because of the flower arrangement, which resembles a bunch of keys. It was believed that it could "unlock the heavens" through its healing properties.

The scapes, up to 20 cm high, spring up from a rosette of velvety hairy leaves. At the end, pleasantly fragrant flowers are arranged in an umbel. The sepals are fused into a tube, from which the yolk-yellow corolla with 5 lobes prominently protrudes. The scapes of the closely related P. elatior grow up to 30 cm tall; their corolla is pale yellow to sulphur yellow and does not have a scent. The flowering time of both species is from April through May.

Medicinally used parts of plants (herbal drug)

Both the dried rootstocks (rhizomes) with the attached 1 mm thick, long dried roots (primrose root - Primulae radix) and the dried flowers (Primulae flos) together with the calyxes (primrose flowers - Primulae flos cum calyce) are used. Both drugs can be obtained from P. veris and/or P. elatior. The drug from the root is supplied from the former Yugoslavia, Turkey, and Bulgaria.

Constituents of the herbal drug

Primrose roots contain triterpenoid and phenolic glycoside. Primrose flowers (primulas) also contain triterpenoid.

Quality of the drug

The quality of primrose root (Primulae radix) is specified in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) and the quality of the following drugs or drug preparations is specified in the German Drug Codex (DAC):

  • Primrose root tincture (Primulae radicis tinctura)
  • Cowslip blossoms (Primulae flos cum calycibus)

Medical applications

Recognised medical use

The HMPC has classified primrose root and primrose flowers as traditional herbal medicinal products (see "Traditional use").
ESCOP: Primrose root: for coughs caused by colds; this indication is based on human experience and long-standing use.

Traditional use

The HMPC has classified primrose root and primula (primrose flowers) as traditional herbal medicinal products (Article 16a of Directive 2001/83/EC). Based upon long-standing use, primrose root and primrose flowers can be used as an expectorant for coughs associated with colds.

Herbal drug preparations in finished dosage forms

Primula root

  • Cut primrose root as a tea
  • Dried extract in capsules, tablets, and soluble instant teas
  • Liquid extract in drops and juice
  • Tincture in drops and solutions
  • Thick extract in juice
Primula flowers
  • Primula flowers in tea blends
  • Powdered primula flowers in coated tablets

Dosage

Finished medicinal product: see patient information leaflet.
Tea infusion: drink 1 warm cup of primrose root or primrose flower tea sweetened with honey every 2 to 3 hours as an expectorant. Daily dose of primrose root: 0.5 to 1.5 g of the drug; daily dose of primrose flowers: 2 to 4 g of the drug.

Preparation of a tea

Primrose root: 0.2 to 0.5 g of the finely cut drug is mixed with 150 ml of cold water, the mixture is brought to a boil, removed from the heat and strained after 10 minutes.
Primrose flowers: 150 ml of boiling water is poured over 1.3 g (1 teaspoon) of the drug and strained after 10 to 15 minutes.

Notes

No safety studies are available on the use of primrose root and primrose flowers during pregnancy and lactation. Not all primrose root preparations are suitable for children between 4 and 12 years of age (see patient information leaflet!). It is not advisable to use primrose root for coughs in children under 4 years of age, as these symptoms should be treated by a doctor; the use of primrose flowers in children under 12 years of age is not recommended due to a lack of evidence.

Side effects

None known.

Interactions

None known.

References

Herbal drug monographs

HMPC (2013), ESCOP (2021)

Further literature

Commentary on the European Pharmacopoeia (Primrose root, No. 1364)

→ Medicinal plants
→ Glossary
→ Advisor

adonis roseAdonis rose    african plum treeAfrican Plum Tree    african geraniumAfrican geranium    alder buckthorn – cascara buckthornAlder buckthorn – Cascara buckthorn    aloeAloe    andornAndorn    angelicaAngelica    aniseAnise    arnicaArnica    artichokeArtichoke    ashAsh    bearberryBearberry    belladonnaBelladonna    bilberryBilberry    birchBirch    black cohoshBlack Cohosh    blackberryBlackberry    bogbeanBogbean    boldoBoldo    buckwheatBuckwheat    butcher's broomButcher's broom    calendulaCalendula    carawayCaraway    cat's whiskers / orthosiphonCat's whiskers / Orthosiphon    cayenne pepperCayenne pepper    celandineCelandine    centauryCentaury    chamomileChamomile    cinnamonCinnamon    clovesCloves    comfreyComfrey    devil's clawDevil's Claw    dittany of creteDittany of Crete    echinaceaEchinacea    elderElder    eucalyptusEucalyptus    euphrasia officinalisEuphrasia officinalis    fennelFennel    fenugreekFenugreek    foxgloveFoxglove    fumitoryFumitory    garlicGarlic    gentianGentian    gingerGinger    ginkgoGinkgo    ginsengGinseng    goldenrodGoldenrod    greek oreganoGreek oregano    hawthornHawthorn    hemp - cannabisHemp - Cannabis    henbaneHenbane    hopsHops    horse chestnutHorse Chestnut    horsetailHorsetail    iceland mossIceland moss    indian frankincenseIndian Frankincense    ipecacuanhaIpecacuanha    ivyIvy    lady's mantleLady's Mantle    lavenderLavender    lemon balmLemon balm    lindenLinden    linseedLinseed    liquoriceLiquorice    lovageLovage    marshmallowMarshmallow    meadowsweetMeadowsweet    milk thistleMilk Thistle    mintMint    mistletoeMistletoe    motherwortMotherwort    mountain pineMountain pine    mulleinMullein    myrrhMyrrh    nettleNettle    oakOak    olive treeOlive tree    passion flowerPassion flower    peppermintPeppermint    pinePine    primrosePrimrose    psyllium - indianPsyllium - Indian    psyllium-plantainPsyllium-plantain    pumpkinPumpkin    purple loosestrifePurple loosestrife    restharrowRestharrow    rhubarbRhubarb    ribwort plantainRibwort Plantain    rosemaryRosemary    safflowerSafflower    sageSage    saw palmettoSaw Palmetto    sennaSenna    siberian ginseng/taiga rootSiberian ginseng/Taiga root    speedwellSpeedwell    spruceSpruce    st. benedict's thistleSt. Benedict's thistle    st. john's wortSt. John's wort    sundewSundew    sweet cloverSweet clover    tea treeTea tree    thymeThyme    tormentilTormentil    turmericTurmeric    valerianValerian    verbenaVerbena    vitexVitex    willowWillow    witch hazelWitch hazel    woody nightshadeWoody nightshade    wormwoodWormwood    yarrowYarrow