Full Moon in Capricorn: Spotlight on Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum spp.)

On this beautiful Full Moon, which lands in Capricorn this month, I would like to introduce you to one of my favorite Capricorn plants: Solomon’s Seal.

Materia Medica Data

Latin Name: Polygonatum spp.  (Western herbalists today most commonly work with P. biflorum or P. multiflorum. However, all varieties in the Polygonatum species have similar properties.)

Plant parts used: Rhizome

Energetics: cooling, moistening, relaxing

Herbalistic Properties: nutritive, vulnerary, demulcent, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, expectorant, diuretic, tissue amphoteric

Incomplete list of ailments traditionally treated: wound healing, hypertension, hyperglycemia, rheumatism, broken bones, bruises, systemic inflammation, myofascitis, tendonitis, dislocated bones/joints, bone spurs, arthritis, hernia, back pain, uterine prolapse, upper respiratory dryness, muscle cramps, depression, emotional stubbornness

Astrological Rulership: Culpeper says, “Saturn owns the plant, because he loves his bones well.”

History: Solomon’s seal has been in use medicinally at least since the 1st century CE, where we see mention of it in Dioscorides’ herbal. 

The word “polygonatum” means “many knees,” and it refers to the shape of the rhizomes, which have many joints and bends, similar to knees.

Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, is associated with the knees in medical astrology. And this plant is an easy match for Capricorn and Saturn for many reasons, visual appearance included.

At each joint, the rhizome can be broken off, and at the break you see a round impression that looks like a wax seal.  Some older books claim that the shapes in the “seal” look like Hebrew letters. (I don’t see the resemblance, myself, but people are creative, I suppose.) The English name “Solomon’s Seal” comes from this visual effect— if the ancient Hebrew King Solomon had a wax seal, it may have looked like this.

The plant grows throughout the world. It is hardy and proliferates easily. The rhizomes are starchy and tasty, so they have a long history of being eaten as food in many cultures, from China to the Americas. The taste reminds me of water chestnut, with the addition of a kind of bready scent. I find the smell and taste comforting and home-y, like a freshly baked loaf of bread.

Many ancient cultures also recognized the medicinal value of Polygonatum, turning to it for help with skin problems, digestive issues, wound healing, diabetes, and more.  Interestingly, Dioscorides (1st c.), Gerard (15th c.), and Culpeper (17th c) all mention the power of Polygonatum to remove spots from the skin. I don’t know if they are actually referring to common freckles; more likely, they may be referring to solar lentigo, a common side effect of aging, in which the skin develops dark blotches.

How to work with Solomon’s Seal:

Today herbalists usually call on Solomon’s Seal for issues related to the bones, joints, and other musculoskeletal issues: arthritis, dislocated joints, overexertion during exercise, broken bones, sprained ankles, and so on.  The constituents in the rhizome help promote fluid movement through the joints. This means it moistens joints that are too dry (e.g. osteoarthritis), and it prevents pooling in joints that are too wet (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis). Polygonatum also promotes bone knitting, with its vulnerary powers. And it also has an astringent property, bringing a tonifying and strengthening action to all the connective tissues. It helps all of our internal hard bits (bones, cartilage, tendons, joints) sit properly, with the correct level of firmness, without losing their required flexibility.  (Aging. Skin. Bones. Strength. Firmness. Proper. Correct… Are you seeing some Saturnian words?)

That said, it is important not to put our herbs into boxes. Every herb is multi-talented and can do many things! Polygonatum has been shown in studies to reduce fatigue, support healthy immune expression, reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar levels, and reduce stress-induced Depression. And more! Don’t put your herbs in a box, indeed!

Whenever I see a plant that has a history of a use as food, that is a clue that it is probably also nutritive.  And it turns out, this is true for Polygonatum. I often like to work with Solomon’s Seal this way— something you can take every day for a boost of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other wonderful life-supporting properties.  

The main problem with working with Solomon’s seal daily, though, is the expense. Even though Polygonatum is easy to grow, it is considered “In Review” for being at-risk, due to habitat loss and overharvesting. Thus, purchasing it as an herb can be a bit more costly than some other herbs.  (It’s not as expensive as Ginseng, but it’s not cheap either!)  Thus, you need to be economical when using Solomon’s Seal.  (Economical… like any good Capricorn!) Some ideas for stretching the maximum benefits from your Solomon’s Seal:

• When making a water extraction, keep the roots in the pan, and keep adding hot water, to make twice or three times the normal amount of tea over time as you’d otherwise get.  

• Tincture it, instead of making tea with it, since tincture is more concentrated and taken in smaller doses than water extractions. 

• Mix it into blends with other herbs.

Ideally, though, you could grow your own!  It thrives in shade, and especially likes to be under trees. (Under a tree, it would form a ring shaped colony… Rings: a hallmark of Saturn.)  It is easy to grow and spreads nicely.  Some gardeners, ignorant of what they are missing out on, even consider it a weed.  It’s nearly impossible to over-water, so if you are an anxious gardener, this forgiving plant may be right for you.  It can even be grown in pots, if you live in an apartment. Solomon’s Seal grows easily, but not quickly.  True to Saturn’s nature, this plant requires some patience.  You will want to wait 2-3 years for your colony of Solomon’s Seal to establish their rhizomes, before starting to harvest it.

Emotionally, Solomon’s Seal has been observed to be helpful with stubbornness and rigid thinking. Just as it can moisturize dry joints, it can also bring more fluidity to attitudes and mindsets that are, themselves, stuck and creaky.  We see here, again, Saturn’s influence.  Saturnian people have very strong ideals, and this is a good thing. However, taken too far, Saturn’s children can grow to be unable to see beyond their entrenched perspectives and value system. They become like the stereotypical elder, yelling at kids to get off their lawns.  However, a healthy expression of Saturn would be someone who is unwavering in their values and beliefs, but still able to express their integrity in different ways, to adapt to each situation.  Like a joint, we need firmness but also movement in our lives. Solomon’s Seal brings this deep wisdom and health to our souls, even as it also nourishes our bodies.

This Full Moon in Capricorn is a great time to work with some Solomon’s Seal!