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Common Name: Intoxicating Mint

General Information

Lagochilus inebrians is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Europe to C. Asia.

Habitat

Steppes[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though it experiences very cold winters in its native range[] and so should be completely cold-hardy in this country. The main problem it is likely to face is with our cool damp weather. It comes from a sunny and fairly arid region of the world with a continental climate and so it is likely to require a very sunny position in a well-drained dry soil.

Edible Uses

A bitter-tasting tea is made from the dried branches, it is usually sweetened with sugar before being drunk[]. See also the notes on medicinal uses below.

Medicinal

The branches are antispasmodic, haemostatic, hallucinogenic, hypotensive and sedative[]. An infusion is also used internally in the treatment of allergies and the shrub has also been used to treat skin disorders[].
The branches are harvested in the autumn after flowering and are dried for later use[]. They become more fragrant and medicinally active once they have been dried[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - We have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer and consider giving them some protection from winter rain[].