“To this day it (nettle) is boiled in the Highlands and in Ireland by the country people in the spring-time. Till tea became the fashion, nettles were boiled in meal, and made capital food.” John Cameron, Gaelic Names of Plants, 1883 Cover art by John William Waterhouse Stinging Nettle or urtica dioica and urtica urens … Continue reading Nettle: Three Nettles in May Keeps All Diseases Away
Category: Herbs
Belladonna: The Beautiful Yet Deadly Nightshade
“Belladonna… Extract of: This preparation is made strictly according to the official method, but is standardised to contain 1 per cent of total alkaloid.” H.S. Wellcome, Medicine in Ancient Erin, 1880 Cover art is 'Belladonna' by unknown artist and public domain Belladonna or Atropa belladonna is also called deadly nightshade, dwale, divale, banewort, black cherry, … Continue reading Belladonna: The Beautiful Yet Deadly Nightshade
Lemon Balm: A Beekeeper’s Dream
“And balm-breathing, faint mignonett, Oh! the cool-flowing, gentle Blackwater, And beams that light up its dark side, As it flows o'er the low meadow-inches, The groves of St Carthagh beside, When delirium brings gaunt shapes around me, And my temples throb wild in their pain, Oh! Blackwater, a dream of your flowin, Would bring rest … Continue reading Lemon Balm: A Beekeeper’s Dream
Comfrey: The Bone Knitting Herb
“The great Comfrey or consound, though it was official with us down to the middle of the eighteenth century, never had a very prominent place in professional practice; but our herbalists were loud in its praise and the country culler of simples held it almost infallible as a remedy for both external and internal wounds … Continue reading Comfrey: The Bone Knitting Herb
Meadowsweet: The Belt of Cù Chulainn
“Aye," said Math, "let us seek, thou and I, by our magic and enchantment to conjure a wife for him out of flowers"...And then they took the flowers of the oak, and the flowers of the broom, and the flowers of the meadowsweet, and from those they called forth the very fairest and best endowed … Continue reading Meadowsweet: The Belt of Cù Chulainn
Watermint: Medicine of the Sacred Waters
“When Summer strews its cloak of hues, Then the dells, Yield earth nuts, mint and marjoram And fragrant smells.” George Sigerson, Bards of Gaeilge, 1925 Cover art by John William WaterhouseWater mint or Mentha aquatica is also called marsh mint, apple mint, bergamot mint, water peppermint, wild peppermint or hairy mint. It’s called cartal, cartloin … Continue reading Watermint: Medicine of the Sacred Waters
Elderberry: Queen of the Herbs
“It is said by the wise women and fairy doctors that the roots of the elder tree, and the roots of an apple tree that bears red apples, if boiled together and drunk fasting will expel any evil living thing or evil spirit that may have taken up its abode in the body of a … Continue reading Elderberry: Queen of the Herbs
The Oak: King of the Forest
“I will be a giant oak in every ford and in every pass you will cross and the mark of my axe will remain in every oak forever.” Dagda, Cath Maige Tuired: The Second Battle of Mag Tuired, 9th century Sessile Oak and English Oak or Quercus petraea and Quercus robur are also called king … Continue reading The Oak: King of the Forest
Brigid’s Beloved Dandelion
“A hoop from three to four inches diameter was made of milkwort, butterwort, dandelion and marigold. This was bound with a triple cord of lint in the name of the Father, and of Son, and of Spirit, and placed under the milk-vessels, to prevent witches spiriting away the substance of the milk.” Alexander Carmichael, Carmina … Continue reading Brigid’s Beloved Dandelion
Yarrow of the Seven Cures
“Herbs gathered on May Eve have a mystical and strong virtue for curing disease; and powerful potions are made then by the skilful herb women and fairy doctors, which no sickness can resist, chiefly of the yarrow, called in Irish “the herb of seven needs” or cures, from its many and great virtues. Divination is … Continue reading Yarrow of the Seven Cures
Meadowsweet: The Belt of Cù Chulainn
“Aye," said Math, "let us seek, thou and I, by our magic and enchantment to conjure a wife for him out of flowers"...And then they took the flowers of the oak, and the flowers of the broom, and the flowers of the meadowsweet, and from those they called forth the very fairest and best endowed … Continue reading Meadowsweet: The Belt of Cù Chulainn
The Ivy Cottages 