Plants have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
They have had their roots, stems, bark, leaves, or flowers crushed, soaked, fermented, applied, eaten or drunk to find their real, or imagined, benefits.
Some were even used because they looked like a body part (lungs, liver, eyes) and they thought that meant if used they would cure that part of the body!
Because many were poisonous, no doubt early samplers became ill or died, so that the next generation learnt of their properties and avoided them where appropriate.
John Gerard, originally from Nantwich, published his ‘Herbal’ in 1597 to commit to paper his collected findings from his own studies and others to ensure the knowledge was available for the future.
Research continues, and modern pharmacy looks at the active components within the plants to identify and purify the chemicals. The chemical concentrations of the active ingredients in the plants varies with the time of year and age of the plant. Not all the ingredients are suitable, but some are in contemporary products available from pharmacists. It’s important to read the small print as many preparations have side effects that can be harmful if taken at the same time as prescribed medicines..
Linnaeus, a botanist from Sweden, classified plants in his publication ‘Systema Naturae’ around 1735 and, thereafter, each plant had two names – its genus and its species. If it had a medicinal or therapeutic effect the second name was ‘officinalis’. This derived from the building (the officina) used by monks to prepare their infusions or dried plants to heal the sick and was often attached to medicinal or herbal gardens within the monastery grounds.
Please be warned, not all plants or their extracts are safe.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
- “The decoction of the root made in water and drunke, provoketh urine …and [for] paines about the backe”.
- Extract of the valerian root has sedative effects due to acting on the Central Nervous System. It has depressive and relaxation effects. It is claimed to ease fatigue, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, pain, stress, and ulcers.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
- “Drunke in wine is good against the bitings of venomous beasts, comforts the heart, and driveth away all melancholy and sadness”.
- It acts to relieve stress.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- It “is given against all fluxes of bloud [loss of blood], especially the floures [flowers] thereof, for all infirmities of the head and brain, … for they … quicken the senses, and memorie”.
- It “is a remedie against the stuffing of the head, that commeth through coldness of the braine, if a garland be put about the head”.
- “The distilled water of the floures of Rosemarie being drunke at morning and evening first and last, taketh away the stench of the mouth and breath, and maketh it very sweet”.
- The plant contains rosmarinic acid which is an anti-inflammatory.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
- “Is singular good for the head and braine; it quicketh the senses and memory, strengthens the sinews … and being put up into the nostrils, it draweth thin flegme [phlegm] out of the head”.
- It is soothing when “the leaves are stamped and laid in a manner of a pultis [poultice] upon burnings and scaldings”.
- “The juice of Sage drunk with vinegar has been of good use against the plague at all times”.
- Nowadays we use sage as a herb to flavour food, as in sage and onion stuffing.
Primrose (Primula vulgaris, veris, viridis)
- “A conserve made with the floures of cowslips and sugar prevaileth wonderfully against the palsie [weakness], convulsions, cramps, and all the diseases of the sinews.”
- It can be used “against the paine of the joints called the gout”.
- “a pouder of the dried roots of field Primrose gathered in autumne given to drink in ale or wine purgeth by vomit very forcibly (but safely)”.
- “The roots of the Primrose stamped and strained, and the juice sniffed into the nose with a quill or such like, purgeth the brain and qualifieth the paine of the megrim” [migraine].
- “An unguent [ointment] made with the juice of cowslips and oyle of linseed cureth all scaldings or burnings with fire, water or otherwise.”
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
- When “boiled with honied water or sugar, doth scour and clense the brest, ripeneth and bringeth forth tough and clammie flegme [phlegm]”.
- Nowadays, we know it contains digitalis which is used in heart and circulation conditions. Overdosing will cause the heart to stop.
- Drying or boiling does not lessen the toxicity.
Peony (Paeonia officinalis)
- “…it is good for those that have the yellow jaundice, and pain in the kidnies and bladder, it clenseth the liver and kidnies that are stopped”.
- “It is found by sure and evident experience the fresh root tied about the necks of children, is an effectuall remedie against the falling sickness [epilepsy]; but unto those that are growne up in more years, the root thereof must be ministered inwardly”.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
- “Boiled in vinegar it is good against the paine that troubles some in making water [urine]”.
- “A decoction made of the whole plant helps the yellow jaundice” [liver failure].
- “The distilled water is effectual to drink in pestilential fevers, and to wash the sores”.
Willow tree (Salix spp.)
- “Leaves and bark be boiled in wine and drunke” for “staying the fluxes” [Stopping bleeding] **.
- “The greene boughs with the leaves may very well be brought into chambers and set about the beds of those that be sicke of fevers, for they do mightily coole the heate of the aire, which thing is a wonderful refreshing to the sicke Patients”.
- The willow is a source of salicylic acid, and sold as Aspirin, which has anticoagulation (anti-clotting, blood thinning) properties and is anti-inflammatory.
- Globally, we consume 44,000 tons of aspirin each year.
- The leaves of the willow tree were used in teas around 400BC.
- Willow bark has been used since the mid-18th Century.
**Fluxes are abnormal outflowing of blood (spitting of blood, bleeding nose, etc.)
Comfrey. (Symphytum officinale)
- It “is excellent in curing wounds and scratches”.
- It “cureth the rotten sores of the mouth and gums”.
- The roots and leaves can be used for muscle sprain, bruises, burns, joint inflammation, backache, and gout when it is made into creams and salves.
- It has been used orally and topically. Containing rosmarinic acid, it has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Nowadays it is recognised that, if taken orally, it is carcinogenic and hepatotoxic, so should not be ingested.
Juniper Trees and their Berries. (Juniperus communis).
- “Being drunke is a remedy against the infirmitie of the chest, coughs, windiness, gripings [colic] and poisons.”.
- “Drinke, the water wherin those berries have been steeped – who live in wonderfull good health.”
- “The fruite of the Juniper Tree doth clense the liver and kidnies.”
- Kills parasitic worms too!
- However, the wood of the tree, when powdered, is fatal if ingested.
- The berries are very bitter when raw.
Tobacco. (Nicotiana tabacum).
- “A remedie for the tooth-ache, if the teeth and gums be rubbed with a linen cloth dipped in the juice, and afterward a round ball of the leaves laid unto the place”.
- “Boiled with sugar in the form of sirrup and inwardly taken driveth forth wormes”.
- “The drie leaves are used to be taken in a pipe set on fire and suckt into the stomacke and thrust forth againe at the nostrils against the pains of the head, rheumes, aches in any part of the body”.
- Good for “wounds, ulcers, stinging with nettles, bees, wasps, or venomous beasts… all burnings and scaldings … or lightning”.
- It has been smoked socially and ceremonially (to seal a peace treaty or agreement etc.).
- An infusion of tobacco in water has been used on plants to kill insects but is now banned in USA as being unsuitable because of the chemicals in it.
- Used as a tobacco smoke enema. Pumped / injected via a rectal tube, used by Native Americans and, later, Europeans.
- Now known to cause cancer as well as respiratory and circulatory disease. It caused over 5 million deaths globally in 2005.
St John’s Wort. (Hypericum perforatum).
- “Floures and seed boyled, and drunken, provoketh urine and is right good against the stone in the bladder”.
- “The leaves stamped are good to be layd upon burnings, scaldings, and all wounds; and also for rotten and filthy ulcers”.
- Anti-depressant. Nerve pain. Headache. Painful cuts and bruises. Crushing trauma to fingers and toes. Helps control stress.
- Hypericum is active chemical.
- May lead to photosensitisation [sensitive to light]. Drying and storing does not alter risk of photosensitisation.
Lady’s Bedstraw (Gallium verum, luteum, album, rubrum*, Mollugo.)
- Also called cheese-renning. “The people in Cheshire, especially about Namptwich, where the best cheese is made, do use it in their rennet, esteeming greatly of that cheese above other made without it.”
- “Used in ointments against burnings, and it stancheth bloud”.
- “Put in a glasse, with Oyle Olive, until it be white; it is good to anoint the wearied traveller”. For bathing the feet or applying to the joints.
- “The root thereof drunke in wine stirreth up bodily lust; and the flowers smelled unto worke the same effect.”
Signature Herbs (Look like the organ or body part – now recognised to be mostly ineffective and possibly dangerous) …
Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)
- “The roots are also thought to be good against the infirmities and ulcers of the lungs”.
- Supposed to treat breathing conditions, kidney and urinary tract problems. Used in cough medicines and treat Tuberculosis.
- It is poisonous and ineffective.
Self-Heal (Heal-all, Woundwort) (Prunella vulgaris).
- “The decoction … made with wine or water, doth joine together and make whole and sound all wounds, both inward and outward”.
- “Bruised with oile of Roses and Vinegar, and laied to the forepart of the head, swayeth and helpeth the paine and asking thereof”.
- Young leaves and stems may be eaten raw in salads. Flowers and leaves can be used in a cold infusion beverage.
- Contains flavonoids, tannins, and Rosmarinic acid having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Sold as pills, liquid extractions, as well as balms and ointments.
Additional plants and herbs
Potatoes. (Sisarum peruvium also known as Solanum tuberosum and Battata tuberosa)
- “Being tosted in the embers they lose much of their windinesse, especially being eaten sopped in wine.”
- “These roots may serve as a ground or foundation whereon the cunning confectioner or sugar-baker may worke and frame many comfortable delicate conserves, and restorative sweete meates.”
- They might be “rosted in the ashes and infuse them and sop them in wine.” Others “give them the greater grace in eating doe boyle them with prunes and so eat them.” Others “dress them with Oyle, vinegar, and salt, every man to his own taste and liking”. They “comfort, nourish, and strengthen the body.”
- Used as food, also fermented to brew alcoholic beverages (Vodka, Poitin (Poteen), Aquavit), fodder for livestock, potato starch used as a thickener in soup and sauces. It is now also used for biodegradable packaging.
- It is now the fourth largest food crop grown globally after rice, wheat and maize, but is has only been eaten regularly since the late 1800’s.
- The green leaves and stems, and green potatoes, contain solanine which is poisonous.
Cucumber. (Cucumis sativus).
- Helps the chest and lungs that are inflamed.
- “Outwardly applied instead of a clenser, it maketh the skin smooth and faire”.
- The Romans used this to treat scorpion bites and to treat bad eyesight.
Burre Docke (Burdock). (Bardana major, Arctium lappa).
- “The juice of the leaves given to drinke with hony, procureth urine, and taketh away the paines of the bladder; and that the same drunke with old wine doth wonderfully helpe against the biting of serpents”.
- “The root stamped and strained with a good draught of Ale is a most approved medicine for a windie or cold stomacke”.
- “The decoction of the root … together with the seed, [is good] against the tooth-ache, if it be holden a while in the mouth”.
- Using the “seed or leaf upon the crown of the head or by applying it to the soles of the feet … you may draw the womb up or down … or apply it to the navel … is likewise a good way to stay the child in it”.
- Young roots, leaves and stems are used in Far East culinary dishes.
- Dandelion and Burdock is a soft drink having its origins in the Mediaeval Period as ‘hedgerow mead’.
- The prickly burrs of the plant are noted for easily sticking onto clothes, feathers and fur, and is thought to have led to the invention of Velcro ® the hook and loop fastener, by George de Mestral in 1955.
Signature Herbs (Look like the organ or body part but now recognised to be mostly ineffective and possibly dangerous) …
Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)
- “It preserves sight; it is given most firstly beaten into pouder”.
- “Stamped and laid upon the eyes, or the juice thereof mixed with distilled water, taketh away the darknesse and dimnesse of the eyes, and cleareth the sight”.
- Its stems, leaves and flowers are used in teas, and dietary supplements in very dilute solutions may treat hay fever and seasonal allergies.
Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria)
- “Our countrie women do call it Lungwoort, and do use it against the cough”.
- Roots used as a poultice to treat colds and headaches.
- Chewing the roots was supposed to ease toothache. (American Natives).
Liverwort (a) (Gramen parnassia) (b) (Hepatica alba, H. terrestris) (c) (Hepaticum trifolium)
- “singular good against the inflammation of the liver”.
- ‘Noble Liverwort’ “to be good against the weakenesse of the liver”.
- Stops vomiting and diarrhoea.
Sources of information
John Gerard. The Herbal or General History of Plants. The Complete 1633 Edition as Revised and Enlarged by Thomas Johnson. Calla Editions Mineola, New York. ‘copyright 2015’ ISBN -13: 978-1-60660-080-1 ISBN-10: 1-60660-080-X
British Poisonous Plants. Bulletin 161. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. HMSO 1968.2nd Edition. SBN 11 240461 8
A choice Manuall, or, Rare secrets in physick and chyrurgery: collected, and practised by the Right Honourable, the Countesse of Kent, late deceased. Whereto are added several experiments of the virtues of Gascon pouder (1664) 15th Edition. ProQuest Early English Books Online Editions. Early History of Medicine, Health & Disease.
RHS. On-line resources for plant identification.
Homeopathy for the family. (Booklet) ISBN 0-946982-04-X Wigmore Publications Ltd.
Materia Medica Notes. By James A Whitla. Pubs E&S Livingstone, Edinburgh 1913.
Culpepper’s Complete Herbal. Nicholas Culpepper. ISBN 978-1-84837-361-7 AD001077 UK 2018 edition Arcturus Holdings Ltd.