The Garden Lovage is one of the old English herbs that was formerly very generally cultivated, and is still occasionally cultivated as a sweet herb, and for the use in herbal medicine of its root, and to a less degree, the leaves and seeds. It is sometimes grown in gardens for its ornamental foliage, as well as for its pleasant odor, but it is not a striking enough plant to have claimed the attention of poets and painters, and no myths or legends are connected with it. The name of the genus, Ligusticum, is said to be derived from Liguria, where this species abounds. The root, leaves and seeds are used for medicinal purposes. The young stems, treated like Angelica, for flavoring and confectionery.
Lovage contains a volatile oil, angelic acid, a bitter extractive, resins, etc.
The coloring principle has been isolated by M. Niklis, who gives it the name of Ligulin, and suggests an important application of it that may be made in testing drinking water. Formerly, Lovage was used for a variety of culinary purposes, but now its use is restricted almost wholly to confectionery, the young stems being treated like those of Angelica, to which, however, it is inferior, as its stems are not so stout nor so succulent. A herbal tea is made of the leaves, when previously dried, the decoction having a very agreeable odor. Lovage was much used as a drug plant in the fourteenth century, its medicinal reputation probably being greatly founded on its pleasing aromatic odor. It was never an official remedy, nor were any extravagant claims made, as with Angelica, for its efficacy in numberless complaints.