Tag: Drimia maritima

The use of squill as a medicinal plant dates back to at least 1500 BC, where it was noted in the Ebers Papyrus, one of ancient Egypt's oldest medical texts [1.6.3, 1.6.6]. So, what is squill in cough medicine and why is this ancient remedy now used with extreme caution?

Mentioned in the ancient Egyptian Ebers Papyrus around 1600 BC, squill, derived from the bulb of the plant *Drimia maritima*, has one of the longest recorded histories of medicinal use. Today, the answer to what is squill used for in medicine is more complex, balancing historical applications with modern safety concerns over its potent cardiac glycosides.

Dating back to ancient Egypt, squill (*Drimia maritima*) has been used for everything from heart ailments to a rodenticide [1.5.1, 1.5.4]. Despite this long history, the answer to 'Is squill tincture safe?' is a definitive no for oral consumption due to its potent, toxic compounds [1.2.3, 1.2.8].