Wood Avens

Wood Avens (Geum urbanum), also known commonly as Herb Bennet, has been used medicinally since Roman times. It is named 'geum' from the Greek 'geno' meaning to yield an agreeable fragrance - the freshly dug roots having a clove-like scent and another of this plant's names is 'Clove Root'.

These aromatic roots were thought to protect against evil and poisons in medieval times, when the plant was worn as an amulet to ward off evil spirits and venomous beasts. It was known as 'Herb Benedict', a name given to antidote herbs owing to a story in the life of St Benedict. Its trefoil leaf symbolising the Holy Trinity and its five golden petals the five wounds of Christ, it appears as a decorative feature in medieval architecture, too.

The leaves used to be added to salads and soups, used for flavouring ale and to fragrance linen, preserving it from moths. The roots boiled in wine were used as a cordial against the plague and Culpeper considered it good for diseases of the chest or breath, or for the stitch.

The infusion may be helpful taken at the start of chills or catarrh and the herb is still used in modern herbal medicine: internally to treat diarrhoea, gastro-intestinal infections, bowel disease, uterine haemorrhage or intermittent fever and externally for haemorrhoids, vaginal discharge and inflammation of the mouth, gums and throat.



An astringent, antiseptic herb which reduces inflammation, checks bleeding and discharges, lowers fever and acts as a tonic for the digestive system.

Flowers May to October. Collect the flowering plant in July or August. Harvest by cutting plants as flowering begins (dry for infusions) or lift roots in the spring (use fresh or dry for decoctions). Roots lifted on the 25th March from dry soil are traditionally the most fragrant and they must be dried carefully then sliced and powdered to best retain their properties.

PLEASE NOTE: These notes on the history and use of herbs have been compiled for general interest and are not intended as medical advice, for which you should consult a professional herbalist.

BIBLIOGRAPY:
'A Modern Herbal' Mrs M. Grieve FRHS ed. Mrs C. F. Leyel (1973)
‘Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe’ Dieter Podlech (1987)
'RHS Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses' Deni Brown (2002)

Beautiful Stranger

One of the joys of allowing the herb garden to 'get away from me a bit' (to put it mildly!) is the delight of stumbling across surprises and nature's free gifts.

A week or two back, I pulled up short during my early morning visit to the garden .. at the back of the stand of Evening Primrose something was coming into flower, it was beautiful and it was pinky purple. I had a good look at it - the leaves and habit were so like the Evening Primrose all around it that I hadn't spotted the interloper in its midst - so fair play to it, I say! I just love it when a new plant comes to find me .. a great opportunity to get the old books down, dust them off and learn something new and amazing. So who is this beautiful stranger?

Well, I think, Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum) - please lend me a hand here, if you are familiar with this plant? I got the preliminary id from my field guide, Collins' Complete Guide to British Wildlife, the photo looked spot-on and the description 'pinkish-purple flowers.. pale centres... appear July-August' is also spot on. The joy of the internet is that once you get a lead like this, you just type it in and before you will appear hundreds of images .. so you can get to see the plant from every angle and in lots of different situations.

The stems and leaves are supposedly hairy (hence 'hirsutum', presumably!) and this didn't strike me immediately. However there is a certain fluffiness about the leaves in the photo, so I'll be out having a little look for that later this evening.

Mrs Grieve tells us that Evening Primrose is related to the willowherbs, so I don't feel so daft for not spotting it now (!) and also that the willowherbs are rich in tannin.. used in fact as a tea substitute in some times and places .. and so the leaves have often been used as astringents. However, and PLEASE NOTE, there are 'reports of violent poisoning with epileptic-like convulsions' associated with the use of Great Hairy Willow Herb itself, so this is one plant I will just be happy to enjoy seeing in the garden, methinks!

Nettle Diary

This is the photo diary of a little nettle which grew this year alongside our compost:

March 9th

March 12th

March 18th

April 29th

May




This nettle was tall and green and handsome, bursting with life. I had hoped to dry some tops for making infusion. But I was too slow and somehow, overnight so it seemed, flowering happened and I missed my opportunity. Now the nettle is in a bucket with some rainwater and soon all its goodness will be returned to the earth by way of my vegetable patch, making way for a playhouse for the little'un under the tree.

Dandelion Salad

I've been reading about the tradition of using bitters to stimulate digestive juices to help breakdown rich meals. As my poor old tum has been sadly in need of assistance lately, I am trying having a little dandelion salad starter before my main meal. Its just a handful of washed, chopped dandy leaves mixed in with a handful of conventional salad leaves and I chucked a tomato in for colour and dressed with olive oil and a splash of my homemade nasturtium vinegar (more on this another time!)

I have to say, I think it helped... I had a roast dinner afterwards and didn't have any problems till about 4 hours afterwards. Will definitely use again, especially as it was really rather tasty!!

Weeds

Little violets ..

didn't notice the beautiful spiders until I enlarged the photo!

Blackberries

What a wonderful morning! We went blackberrying in the sunshine yesterday and came home stained but happy.

Combined with some aged eating apples in a crumble, and have three bags stashed away in the freezer for future puddings and smoothies.

Also made a blackberry oxymel - this is a new thing for me, its from the 'A Year with James Wong' book. Have put the blackberries in a jam jar and covered with cider vinegar and in ten days' time I have to strain it and then it should keep in the fridge. Plan is to dilute it in hot water with honey for a vitamin C drink for the little'un in cold and flu season (and me too, come to that!).

Chickweed

An extremely prolific weed, chickweed (stellaria media) is an abundant source of edible and medicinal foliage. It has traditionally been harvested as a vegetable, cooked like spinach or used in salads or soup. It has also been used as a healing herb for centuries. The name ‘chickweed’ derives from its use as food for birds and domestic fowl and ‘stellaria’ comes from the Latin ‘stella’ or star, relating to the shape of its flowers.

Chickweed is used internally to treat rheumatism and chest infections, externally for itching skin conditions, eczema, psoriasis, urticaria, ulcers, boils and abcesses.

The leaves infused in oil make a simple remedy for dry, itchy skin (try adding a tablespoon to bath water for eczema) and a poultice of fresh leaves in muslin can be used for inflammation or external abcesses (use the water you boiled the herb in to bathe the affected area). However, chickweed is mostly used in the form of an ointment which is cooling when applied to piles or sores.

A soothing, cooling herb that relieves itching and promotes healing.



Flowers bloom from March through to late autumn, the leaves closing up at night to protect tender buds and shoots.

Collect the whole herb from May to July, when in best condition.

CAUTION: Do not use during pregnancy; Excess causes diarrhoea and vomiting.

PLEASE NOTE: These notes on the history and use of herbs have been compiled for general interest and are not intended as medical advice, for which you should consult a professional herbalist.

BIBLIOGRAPY:
'A Modern Herbal' Mrs M. Grieve FRHS ed. Mrs C. F. Leyel (1973)
'RHS Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses' Deni Brown (2002)
‘Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe’ Dieter Podlech (1987)

Speedwell

Regarded as obsolete by herbalists today, Speedwell (veronica officinalis) was a popular healing herb in the middle ages in Europe, known as ‘herba Veronica majoris’.

It was formerly taken internally for nervous exhaustion and stomach upsets, as well as for bronchial, arthritic, rheumatic and skin complaints, and was used externally for minor injuries. The name ‘speed well’ is testament to its reputation as a healer!

An infusion is now suggested for digestive problems, diarrhoea, coughs and colds or as a gargle for mouth and throat infections.

A bitter, astringent herb with weak diuretic and expectorant effects.

Flowers June to August.




PLEASE NOTE: These notes on the history and use of herbs have been compiled for general interest and are not intended as medical advice, for which you should consult a professional herbalist.

BIBLIOGRAPY:
‘Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe’ Dieter Podlech (1987)
'A Modern Herbal' Mrs M. Grieve FRHS ed. Mrs C. F. Leyel (1973)
'The Herb Society's Complete Medicinal Herbal' Penelope Ody MNIMH (1993)
'RHS Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses' Deni Brown (2002)

Elder

The Elder (Sambucus niger) has been referred to as ‘the medicine chest of the people’ and revered down the ages for its healing abilities. Superstitions around placating the Elder Mother, such as asking her permission before cutting a branch, and against removing Elder trees may very well stem from this usefulness. The Latin name is from the Greek ‘sambuke’ meaning ‘musical pipe’, as the shoots were traditionally hollowed out to be used in this fashion.

There is so much folk-lore surrounding the elder that it would be difficult to even summarise it here, but here is a late 17th century example. Elder leaves were gathered on the last day of April and affixed to doors and windows. This is very interesting as elder leaves are insecticidal .. so buried in the folk belief that the plant would deter ‘evil spirits’ is a practical measure to prevent insects and the bacteria they carry entering the home.

This insecticidal property can be utilised by gardeners: a decoction of young leaves sprinkled over delicate plants and flower buds is supposed to keep off aphids and caterpillars. An infusion of the leaves can also be used as an insect-repellent by dabbing it about the person to prevent being bitten by midges and the like.

All parts of the elder have medicinal properties, though the flowers are favoured nowadays. The flowers and fruits are used internally for colds, catarrh, flu and fever and the bark for constipation and arthritis. Externally, the leaves or bark will help minor burns and chilblains, while the flowers treat inflamed skin, mouth ulcers and minor injuries.

The are many ways in which elder can be used in the domestic setting: a small muslin bag of elderflowers in the bath is suggested for irritability of the skin and nerves and the ointment (traditionally made from equal parts of elderflowers and lard) is an old remedy for chapped hands and chilblains. Elderflower tea is considered ‘spring medicine’ and is taken every morning before breakfast for some weeks as a blood purifier. It also effective if taken at the onset of flu, especially if combined with yarrow and peppermint.

A bitter, pungent, cooling herb which lowers fever, reduces inflammation, soothes irritation and has diuretic and anti-catarrhal effects. The leaves are insecticidal, antiseptic and healing.


Flowers June to July

Pick the leaves in the summer and use fresh. Strip the bark in late winter (before new leaves appear) and dry for decoctions. Collect fully open flowerheads and dry whole, then strip the flowers.



CAUTION: The leaves and berries are harmful if eaten.

PLEASE NOTE: These notes on the history and use of herbs have been compiled for general interest and are not intended as medical advice, for which you should consult a professional herbalist.

BIBLIOGRAPY:
‘Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe’ Dieter Podlech (1987)
'A Modern Herbal' Mrs M. Grieve FRHS ed. Mrs C. F. Leyel (1973)
'The Herb Society's Complete Medicinal Herbal' Penelope Ody MNIMH (1993)
'RHS Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses' Deni Brown (2002)

Weeds and Wildflowers

I always intended Earth and Tree to be a repository of information and resources, a kind of 'bringing together of interesting stuff' relating to a more natural and earth-centred way of life. To this end, I spent some time (more than I anticipated!) yesterday organising all the blog links on the side column into categories so that we can find things more easily.. if your site has fallen off, please let me know as it won't be intentional! Some of the wonderful blogs could have been listed under several categories but I just went with what felt right at the time .. hope you will find it useful?

Speaking of bringing together interesting stuff...

Its a good time of year for Backyard Herbalism with all the weeds and wildflowers in abundance, including the dandelion .. if you're wondering what you can do with them, check out Greenwoman's post on making a Dandelion Salve and Yolanda's post on making a Soup with the buds.



And if you liked yesterday's post on the Cowslip, you should also see the Wiggly Wigglers post on Cowpats and Cowslips which has more interesting information for you.

Cowslip

The use of Cowslip (primula veris), known as ‘herba paralysis’ and ‘palsywort’, for spasm, cramps, paralysis and rheumatic pain was once widespread, and dates back to at least the medieval period. Also called ‘Key Flower’, an association with keys from a link with the pagan goddess Freya was later christianised, giving the names ‘Our Lady’s Keys’, and 'Herb Peter'.

The young leaves were formerly eaten in salad and mixed with other herbs to stuff meat, while its ‘somewhat narcotic juices’ were utilised in Cowslip wine.

A home-made infusion is useful for coughs and bronchitis and the flower tea soothes headaches (only the yellow part of the flower is used, all green parts are carefully discarded). Indeed, Cowslip is a rich source of salicylates (aspirin-like compounds) and has the reputation of being second only to Betony for relieving head pain. Cowslip is also used internally in modern herbalism for asthma, arthritis, restlessness and insomnia and applied externally to treat sunburn.

A sedative, expectorant herb which relaxes spasms and reduces inflammation.

Flowers April – May
NB: No longer collected from the wild as has now become rare.



CAUTION: Skin irritant and allergen; Do not use in pregnancy, if sensitive to aspirin or taking anti-coagulant medicine such as Warfarin

PLEASE NOTE: These notes on the history and use of herbs have been compiled for general interest and are not intended as medical advice, for which you should consult a professional herbalist.

BIBLIOGRAPY:
‘Herbs and Healing Plants of Britain and Europe’ Dieter Podlech (1987)
'A Modern Herbal' Mrs M. Grieve FRHS ed. Mrs C. F. Leyel (1973)
'The Herb Society's Complete Medicinal Herbal' Penelope Ody MNIMH (1993)
'RHS Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses' Deni Brown (2002)

Wildflowers

Here in London we had a lovely warm day .. and I visited a local nature reserve, the WaterWorks in Leyton, East London. It was so peaceful there, and it was great to be amid nature in all her glory. Today I saw a heron, red admiral butterflies and lots of enormous bumble bees!

There are little hides to watch the birds on the old water filter beds and a nice place to have a picnic. Also, they are having a wildlife open day this weekend .. if anyone is interested and in the area, these are the contact details:

The Waterworks nature reserve, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, London E10 7NU (020-8988 7566). Open daily, 9am-9pm. Entrance free. Nearest tube Walthamstow; nearest railway station, Clapton. Buses 48, 55 and 56 stop outside.

I didn't gather anything, of course, but some of these plants are valuable medicinally and have interesting uses .. and as they are growing wild within 2 miles of home, I like to 'learn' them by watching them grow, seeing what wildlife they attract and looking them up when I get home.


From top:
white deadnettle, red deadnettle, cowslip, speedwell, hawthorn

Backyard Herbalism

The wonderful Greenwoman has started a series of posts which explore the use of all the wonderful weeds around us under the tag backyard herbalism.

I am itching to join in the fun, though it can be difficult in a 'gritty' urban environment..

When I was out and about this week I saw beautiful great clumps of gorgeous dandelions in full flower on my way up the high road. But I couldn’t pick them .. they were all along the verge by a small green space maintained by the local council and if they hadn’t been sprayed with chemicals by the gardeners then they will definitely have been sprayed by passing dogs (and humans, I’m sad to say). When I got home, though, I looked out some dandelion wisdom from a fab old book of country cures I picked up recently in a charity shop.. this book always has something to make me chuckle, but I'm sure there is innate wisdom in a lot of the practical, cheap and common-sense advice it contains.

For example, the simple statement that 'for many ailments and conditions, all that is really needed is for the body to be well and truly flushed out ... one of the most effective plants for this is the Dandelion, which can be found in most gardens growing as a weed'.