AUTUMN AND FIELD GENTIANS - TWO OF THE BRITISH ONES: HISTORY OF USES OF THE AUTUMN AND FIELD GENTIANS

autumn gentian

AUTUMN GENTIAN, GENTIANELLA AMARELLA AND FIELD GENTIAN, GENTIANELLA CAMPESTRIS    

The autumn gentian and the field gentian are both native to Europe and the British Isles. The autumn gentian was also known as Bitterroot, Felwort and Baldmony, while the field gentian was also called Bitterroot and Felwort. The autumn gentian is blue-purple in colour and has flowers that look like blue stars. The field gentian can be a variety of colours, but is usually a dull purple colour, although it can be pink or lilac or white.

field gentian

  The autumn gentian flowers between August and the end of September, producing seeds in September and October, while the field gentian flowers between June and August. These flowers were once classed as a relative of the Buck- or Bogbean, but that has recently been moved out of the Gentianaceae family.                                                                                                            

  Both these gentians have been employed for the same medicinal purposes, which is why they are together in this post.  The part used for medicine is the root and this has been used to get rid of intestinal worms, and as a digestive aid and for any problems relating to the digestive system, including to perk up the appetite.

  Perhaps above all in the past it was used as a tonic for those who were weak after a debilitating illness, as it was believed that a tonic of gentian roots would help the patient recover strength and appetite.

autumn gentian

  Some believe that the roots of plants which have not flowered that year are the most potent as regards their medicinal properties.

  In the Bach flower remedies, gentians are used to cure feelings of doubt, depression and discouragement and are said to be mood enhancers and help the patient have a positive attitude to life.

  The English herbalsit, Nicholas Culpeper, writing in the 17^th century had this to say about these native British gentians:-

field gentian

 “Government and virtues. They are under the dominion of Mars, and one of the principal herbs he is ruler of. They resist putrefactions, poison, and a more sure remedy cannot be found to prevent the pestilence than it is; it strengthens the stomach exceedingly, helps digestion, comforts the heart, and preserves it against faintings and swoonings. The powder of the dry roots helps the biting of mad dogs and venomous beasts, open obstructions of the liver, and restores an appetite for their meat to such as have lost it. The herb steeped in wine, and the wine drank, refreshes such as be overweary with traveling, and grow lame in their joints, either by cold or evil lodgings; it helps stitches, and griping pains in the sides; is an excellent remedy for such as are bruised by falls; it provokes urine and the terms exceedingly, therefore let it not be given to women with child. The same is very profitable for such as are troubled with cramps and convulsions, to drink the decoction. Also they say it breaks the stone, and helps ruptures most certainly: it is excellent in all cold diseases, and such as are troubled with tough phlegm, scabs, itch, or any fretting sores and ulcers; it is an admirable remedy to kill the worms, by taking half a dram of the powder in a morning in any convenient liquor; the same is excellently good to be taken inwardly for the king's evil. It helps agues of all sorts, and the yellow jaundice, as also the bots in cattle; when *kine are bitten on the udder by any venomous beast, do but stroke the place with the decoction of any of these, and it will instantly heal them.” (*kine=cows)

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE, EUROPEAN NATIVE: HISTORY OF HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE, LYTHRUM SALICARIA 

Purple loosestrife, is not, as the name might suggest, a relative of Yellow loosestrife. Purple loosestrife is a member of the Lythraceae family of plants, but was called by the same name as the yellow-flowered loosestrife because of its similar properties to it. It is said to be able to calm cattle and repel insects so that they stayed calm when being employed in agricultural tasks. The plants were hung on the animal or around the yokes of oxen to keep biting, irritating insects at bay.

  This plant lives in wetlands and fens and marshes as well as in lakes or on their shores. In this habitat it is similar again to yellow loosestrife but also to water figwort and Buckbean.. It can grow to around six feet high and is a striking plant, which presumably is why it found its way to North America in the 1800s. Unfortunately since then it has become invasive. It is native to Europe including the British Isles, North Africa and northern Asia.                                                                                                    

  These plants were called loosestrife with spiked flower heads by the 17^th century herbalist Nicholas Culpeper to distinguish between the two plants with the same name. However they were also called by a number of other names such as Flowering or Blooming Sally, Purple Willow Herb, Salicaire - a corruption of the Latin genus name, and Spiked loosestrife.

  The leaves of the purple loosestrife have astringent properties and were used for staunching the flow of blood, either externally when the leaves, either fresh or dried could be placed on a wound to clean it, or internally in a tisane. The name Lythrum refers to the colour of the flowers, which were thought to resemble the colour of bloody gore.

  Traditionally the plant has been used for gastro-enteritis and dysentery but was also used for problems with the liver, fevers, constipation and typhus. As an infusion it was also used as a gargle for mouth problems and sore throats.

  It has been found to have anti-bacterial effects against lysteria bacteria which can be responsible for food poisoning, so causing diarrhoea and dysentery, so at least one traditional use has been vindicated by modern research.  

 Culpeper says that the plant is better even than Eyebright for the eyes, claiming that in some instances it could actually restore the sight of a person who had become blind. Here is what he had to say about the herb, but remember that he was writing in the 17^th century.

“It …cleanses and heals all foul ulcers whatsoever, by washing them with the water, or laying on them a green leaf or two in summer, or dry leaves in winter. This water, when warmed and used as a gargle, or even drunk sometimes, cures the quinsy, or king’s evil of the throat. The said water applied warm takes away spots, marks and scabs in the skin; and a little of it drunk, quenches extraordinary thirst.”

  The leaves and root of purple loosestrife may be eaten cooked, and the flowers produce an edible red dye which was once used to colour sweets.

YELLOW OR COMMON LOOSESTRIFE - GOOD TO STOP BLEEDING: HISTORY OF USES AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF YELLOW LOOSESTRIFE

YELLOW LOOSESTRIFE, LYSIMACHUS VULGARIS 

Yellow loosestrife is a close relative of creeping Jenny or Moneywort. It was formerly in the primrose or Primulaceae family of plants, but has recently been moved to the Myrsinaceae family making it a relative of cyclamens and Ardisia japonica or Marlberry.

  It lives in wetlands and beside lakes and streams, and was introduced to North America relatively recently in the 20^th century, but it is already considered invasive along some lakeshores.

  It has long been considered an excellent wound healing plant as it has astringent properties which staunch the flow of blood from wounds, or internal haemorrhages, nosebleeds and so on.                    

  Nichols Culpeper, the English herbalist writing his Herbal in the 17^th century had this to say about Yellow loosestrife:-

“Government and virtues. This herb is good for all manner of bleeding at the mouth, nose, or wounds, and all fluxes of the belly, and the bloody-flux, given either to drink or taken by *clysters; it stays also the abundance of women's courses; it is a singular good wound-herb for green wounds, to stay the bleeding, and quickly close together the lips of the wound, if the herb be bruised, and the juice only applied. It is often used in gargles for sore mouths, as also for the secret parts. The smoak hereof being bruised, drives away flies and gnats, which in the night time molest people inhabiting near marshes, and in the fenny countries.” (*enemas)

  It was believed that as well as getting rid of “flies and gnats” snakes would also flee from it if it was burnt near them.

  The name “loosestrife” was given to this herb because it seemed to have a calming effect on animals- whether wild or domesticated. This might have been due to its ability to repel troublesome insects, and it was hung around yokes of oxen and other animals so that they would not get testy because of bites from bugs. Of course, if they weren’t bitten, they would be calm.

  The Chinese employ the flavonoids glycosides extracted from this plant in the treatment of high blood pressure, and its flavonoids content means that it has antioxidant properties as it contains quercetin, kaempferol, hyperin, astragalin, isorhamnetin, myriscetin and syringetin among others, It also contains the benzoquinones embelin and rapanone.                                                                         

  The plant is normally around two or three feet tall but it can grow to five feet, with a yellow dye being produced from the flowers which has served to lighten blonde hair. A brown dye is obtained from its rhizomes.

  Pliny says that the plant’s healing properties were first known to King Lysimachus and he gave his knowledge to his subjects. Dioscorides, writing in the first century AD says that the yellow loosestrife’s freshly expressed juice could be used for gastrointestinal problems to great effect and it has been used for thousands of years to stop diarrhoea and dysentery.

  This plant was known to John Gerard, the 16^th century English herbalist as the Yellow Pimpernel, and it has also been called the Yellow Willow Herb, Herb Willow, Willow-wort and the Wood Pimpernel.

LADY'S SMOCKS, CUCKOO-FLOWERS:SUPERSTITIONS, HEALTH BENEFITS AND HISTORY OF CUCKOO FLOWERS

LADY’S SMOCK, CUCKOO FLOWERS, CARDAMINE PRATENSIS

These flowers are a welcome sight as they herald the class of the first cuckoo in Britain where they are natives. They are indigenous to Europe, North America and parts of Asia.

They are also called Meadow cress (the leaves and flowers to some extent taste like cress and watercress), May Flower, Pigeon’s Eye and a number of other names- I used to call them Milkmaids, although this is also the name of another British native flower.

  Like scurvy-grass, they are rich in vitamin C and minerals and were used against scurvy in the past. The tender young leaves and shoots may be eaten in salads or cooked like spinach and you can add the buds and flowers to your salad too. The leaves and flowers taste very much like cress, although they are perhaps more bitter and pungent.                                                                                                    

  These plants have not had a good press in some parts of the world, and in most of Europe it would seem that ill-fate will be visited on anyone who picks them. In Germany it was believed that if you picked them your house would be struck by lightning. In France they were thought to be the favourite flower of the adder (a snake) and that if you picked them to include in a May garland, you would be bitten by an adder before the following May Day. In Britain they were not picked or included in May Day garlands because they were considered to be generally unlucky.

  In Ireland it was believed that an animal or person born on May Day had the Evil Eye and to avert it the baby’s eyes had to be washed with the juice of these cuckoo flowers.

  They get a mention in Shakespeare’s plays too, as he would have been familiar with them. This is from Love’s Labour’s Lost Act V scene ii:-

   “And Lady’s-smocks all silver-white

    And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue

    Do paint the meadows with delight.”

  Lady’s smocks are members of the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family of plants so are related to the savoy cabbage, red cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, turnips, swede, horseradish, kohlrabi, field penny-cress, mustard and spring greens, so it is no wonder that they were useful antiscorbutics. 

 Apart from this use the English herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper, writing in the 17^th century, has this to say of their efficacy:-

“Government and virtues. They are under the dominion of the Moon, and very little inferior to Water Cresses in all their operations; they are excellently good for the scurvy, they provoke urine, and break the stone, and excellently warm a cold and weak stomach, restoring lost appetite, and help digestion.”

  The plant is best used fresh as it loses its potency on drying, and one ounce of herb – leaves and flowers to a cup of boiling water is said to be helpful for skin problems, rheumatism, as a stimulant and diuretic and for the uses Culpeper mentions. You should leave the mixture to steep for 18 minutes and then strain. Add honey to taste.