GOOD KING HENRY - A MEMBER OF THE GOOSEFOOT GENUS: HISTORY, HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF GOOD KING HENRY

GOOD KING HENRY, CHENOPODIUM BONUS-HENRICUS
Good King Henry is a member of the Chenopodiaceae family of goosefoots, and is related to stinking goosefoot, fat hen (Chenopodium album) quinoa and also spinach. Clearly the Latin name for the plant does not mention “King” – it is only ‘good Henry” which means that it is not named after Prince Hal, or Henry VIII or even Henri IV of France who promised every peasant a chicken or a fat hen in his pot. It is also sometimes called fat hen, but this name more properly belongs to C. album white goosefoot or lamb’s quarters. It is more likely to be called good Henry to distinguish it from Bad Henry (Böser Heinrich in German) who was a malevolent spirit described by the Brothers Grimm. It is also the name given to Mercurialis perennis, generally known as Dog's Mercury. This Good Henry is sometimes called English Mercury, to distinguish it from the French herb, Mercurialis annua or French Mercury, which is a member of the spurge family of plants but whose medicinal actions are similar to Good King Henry. The Good Henry of German folklore performed household and other domestic chores in return for a saucer of cream. Bad Henry, of course, would turn milk sour like Puck or Robin Goodfellow in English folklore.

  Until the end of the 19^th century and even in the early years of the twentieth century, Good King Henry was grown as a spring vegetable and the tender young leaves were a spinach substitute, as some people prefer its milder flavour. It was known as Lincoln asparagus as it was grown there as an alternative to asparagus with the young shoots being peeled and then steamed like asparagus can be. It was also grown as a vegetable in other part of Britain including in Suffolk. The young flower buds are regarded as a gourmet food item when they are steamed, but they are fiddly to harvest. Later in the season, in summer the older leaves are bitter so it is best to harvest this herb in spring and chop the leaves and mix them with Swiss chard or kale, sorrel and spinach for a green mixed vegetable dish. They also make a good flavouring herb for soups and stews as do dandelion and nettle leaves.

  The leaves are mildly diuretic and the seeds have gentle laxative properties making them a good remedy for children who are constipated. The leaves are rich in vitamin C and the minerals calcium and iron.

  The herb has been used traditionally to relieve indigestion and the leaves made into a poultice have been placed on chronic sores to heal them. The herb is native to Europe, including Britain, and was introduced to North America by the early settlers who used it as a pot herb.

  Gold or green dyes may be obtained from the whole plant, and at one time the roots were fed to sheep that had coughs. The seeds were used in preparing an untanned leather with a rough grainy surface, known as shagreen, so it has had many uses in the past, although it is little used these days.

  

HORSE CHESTNUT TREE - CONKER TREE: HEALTH BENEFITS AND USES OF HORSE CHESTNUT TREES

HORSE CHESTNUT TREE, AESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM

The horse chestnut tree is native to Greece and Albania, and was first introduced into Britain as an ornamental in the 17^th century. Hippocastanum is Greek for horse chestnut, so we have its English name. Its nuts are quite different to those of the true chestnut (castanea), but these nuts, generally called conkers, are welcomed by children who brave the spiky cases of these inedible nuts and treat them with loving care, and a few other substances to make them hard, so that they can beat their friends’ conkers when they play with them. You thread string through the centre of these nuts and invite an opponent to smash your conker. The winner has his/her conker in tact when the other has broken. Since 1965 the World Conker Championships have been held in Oundle in Northamptonshire in the UK. In different parts of the UK conkers are also called “obblyonkers,” “cheggies” and “cheeses.”

  These trees grow to heights of 115 feet and have a huge spread and have large white candle-like blooms. Other varieties have pink flowers. Unfortunately the trees are under attack from the leaf miner caterpillar and suffer from a disease named Horse Chestnut Bleeding Canker (Pseudomonas syringae pathovar. aesculi) and trees in Britain are being decimated by this new disease which has its origins in the Himalayas.

  Medicinally conkers are used traditionally as a decongestant, expectorant and tonic for rheumatism, neuralgia and haemorrhoids. The tree bark has been used in a decoction to reduce fever, and applied in a lotion or ointment it has been used for skin problems and externally an oil from the seeds has been used to ease the pain of rheumatism and to help with varicose veins. Extracts from the horse chestnut have been combined with bromelian an enzyme extracted from gotu kola (Indian pennywort) and pineapple to help varicose vein sufferers. Horse chestnut tones the veins and strengthens the walls of these, so promoting better blood circulation, and stopping the seepage of fluid from the veins that causes swellings in the legs.

  A decoction of the leaves is said to be useful for whooping cough and for coughs and colds, and has antioxidant properties. Japanese scientists believe that extracts from the nuts can be used along with extracts from witch hazel, rosemary and sage to help prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging of the skin.

  The horse chestnut has astringent qualities and anti-inflammatory properties, so is not just a good toy for children in the autumn.

HEMP AGRIMONY - NO RELATION TO HEMP, OR AGRIMONY: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF HEMP AGRIMONY

HEMP AGRIMONY, EUPATORIUM CANNABINUM 

Hemp agrimony despite its name is not related to either agrimony or cannabis, or the Hemp tree (Vitex Agnus Castus or the Chaste berry tree) but is distinguished by being the only member of the Eupatorium genus which is native to Europe. It is also native to parts of Asia and North Africa, but has naturalized after introduction, to North America. The Latin name Eupatorium, refers to the King of Pontus, Mithradates Eupator who was a reputed alchemist who dabbled some believed in the dark arts. It is believed that the name cannabinum came from the shape of the leaves of this plant. In Culpeper’s day it was called Water Agrimony or Bastard Agrimony or hemp and it has been used medicinally for millennia.

  Hemp agrimony likes to grow in watery places, damp grasslands, marshes and wet woodlands. I’ve always liked the plant because it attracts butterflies and it is an attractive plant with pink-red flowers or sometimes white ones. The flower heads look large, but in fact they are made up of clusters of florets with pappus (hairs) growing on them. They grow to around 5 feet (1.5 metres) tall and can be 4 feet (1.2 metres) wide. They flower between July and September and it is best to harvest the leaves before the flowers open and dry them for later use. The leaves are said to be very effective if made into an infusion or tisane at the onset of flu as they contain vitamin C. This tisane used to be used to combat scurvy. The Physicians of Myddfai believed that hemp agrimony could stop you getting drunk and had this to say:-

“If you would not be drunk, drink in the morning as much as will fill an egg-shell of the juice of the hemp agrimony.”

In the Middle Ages it was believed that people should be bled regularly to make them healthy, and there were certain days when bleeding should not take place and after the bleeding you should eat and drink certain things. Here is another use the physicians of Myddfai made of hemp agrimony:

 “Month of April. Bleed. Take a gentle emetic, eat fresh meat, use warm drink. Eat two mouthfuls of hart's tongue twice a day. Avoid the roots of vegetables, as they will occasion an obstruction. Drink hemp agrimony.” (Hart’s tongue is a type of fern.)

  Writing much later in the 17^th century, Nicholas Culpeper had this to say about the virtues of hemp agrimony:

 “It is a plant of Jupiter, as well as the other agrimony; only this belongs to the celestial sign Cancer. It healeth and dryeth, cutteth and cleanseth, thick and tough tumours of the breast; and for this I hold it inferior to but few herbs that grow. It helps the cachexia, or evil disposition of the body; also the dropsy and yellow jaundice. It opens obstructions of the liver, mollifies the hardness of the spleen; being applied outwardly, it breaks imposthumes; taken inwardly, it is an excellent remedy for the third-day ague; it provokes urine and the terms; it kills worms, and cleanseth the body of sharp humours, which are the cause of itch, scabs... The smoke of the herb, being burnt, drives away flies, wasps....; It strengthens the lungs exceedingly. Country people give it to their cattle when they are troubled with the cough, or brokenwinded.”

  Country people believed that if they put hemp agrimony leaves on bread, they would prevent it from turning mouldy, and it is said that the juice from the leaves and stems can be rubbed on pets and domestic animals to repel insects, including mosquitoes (this would smell better than the juice of Herb Robert).

   Marie Corelli had clearly researched the use of the herb for this passage in her book, “The Treasure of Heaven” (although she didn’t get the colour quite right!) which is quoted below.

“..Cos they'se gittin' too wise for Nature's own cure. Nobody thinks o' tryin' agrimony, water agrimony--some calls it water hemp an' bastard agrimony--'tis a thing that flowers in this month an' the next, a brown-yellow blossom on a purple stalk, an' ye find it in cold places, in ponds an' ditches an' by runnin' waters. Make a drink of it, an' it'll mend any cancer, if 'taint too far gone. An' a cancer that's outside an' not in, 'ull clean away beautiful wi' the 'elp o' red clover.”

  Dioscorides writing in the first century AD praised the herb for use externally and internally as it works to clean and heal old stubborn wounds and ulcers. There is some debate as to which agrimony he is writing about but Parkinson was convinced he meant hemp agrimony as he wrote,

“…all the apothecaries of our land …do use the first kind of agrimony as the most assured eupatorium of Dioscorides. However, in former times, both we and they beyond the seas did usually take the Eupatorium cannabinum, which they called Eupatorium vulgare, for the true kind.”

  Hemp Agrimony can be used in bath water to ease aching muscles and joints and a compress of the leaves is said to relieve headaches. The ancient Greeks used the infusion as eye wash for inflammation of the eyes and with chamomile, the leaves are good in a tisane to aid digestion. The Anglo-Saxons used it to heal wounds and would put the bruised leaves on cuts as well as washing wounds with the infusion.

  Hemp agrimony has been found to boost the immune system and make it less susceptible to colds and flu. The roots have mild diuretic qualities and are a laxative, as well as a tonic for the blood. It is believed to have antibacterial properties and is good for sore throats and mouth ulcers.

  The infusion or tisane is made with one ounce of the dried leaves and flowers (of a handful of fresh) to 250 ml of boiling water. Let the herb steep for 15 minutes before straining and then either drink it or leave it to cool and use externally.

  There is little research into this herb, but it seems that it is safe, although perhaps should not be used during pregnancy unless used under the supervision and direction of a doctor.

HERB ROBERT - ANCIENT MEDICINAL HERB: HISTORY AND HEALTH BENEFITS OF HERB ROBERT

HERB ROBERT, GERANIUM ROBERTIANUM 

This herb has been used in medicine for centuries, although in the 20^th century, particularly in Portugal it was hailed as a folk cancer remedy when the powdered leaves were taken with a raw, fresh egg yolk. Of course this has not been proven to work. Dioscorides described it and it was known to the old herbalists, who used it mainly for blood problems, as the stalks and leaves turn bright red in autumn, a sign to these old herbalists that it was good for the blood.

  This plant is known by around a hundred names some of which refer to other plants more often, such as bloodwort (red dock), and red robin (not ragged robin) and cranesbill, which is native to the US and poisonous. However Stinking Bob is a name given to this herb which is unique to it, and refers to the smell given off by its bruised leaves. It is also called the Fox Geranium, some say because of its “foxy” smell after rain. It is native to hedgerows and woodland in Europe the British isles included, and to temperate Asia as it grows as far east as Japan and in the Himalayan regions.

  No one really knows how it became Herb Robert, although there are several contenders for being its namesake, including Robert Duke of Normandy, who died in 1134, St Robert of Molesme, a French monk who died in 1110, and Robin Goodfellow or Puck, the mischievous elf who has a role in Shakespeare’s play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The Latin name Robertianum might be a corruption of ruber meaning red, rather than referring to any specific Robert, Robin or Rupert, names that seemed to have been linked to this plant.

  The leaves of Herb Robert are the main part of the plant used for medicinal purposes and an infusion of these has been drunk and used as a wash for the skin, and for inflammation of the eyes. A poultice of the leaves has been used to relieve hardened breasts, to increase lactation in nursing mothers, to relieve irritated skin and the pain of rheumatism and reduce bruising, as well as being applied to herpes sores and ulcers. The infusion can also be used for the same external purposes.

  Internally the tisane or infusion was thought to stop bleeding, and to be a good gargle for sore throats and oral problems such as toothache and mouth ulcers. In Quebec it is called the quinsy herb because of these uses.

  Nicholas Culpeper, the English herbalist who wrote in the 17^th century has this to say about Herb Robert: 

  “It is under the dominion of Venus. Herb Robert is commended not only against the stone, but to stay blood, where or howsoever flowing; it speedily heals all green wounds, and is effectual in old ulcers in the privy parts, or elsewhere. You may persuade yourself this is true, and also conceive a good reason for it, do but consider it is an herb of Venus, for all it hath a man's name.”

    The freshly crushed leaves may be useful to repel mosquitoes- if you don’t mind their “foxy” smell. It is said that deer and rabbits, give this plant a wide berth too.

  Some clinical trials have shown that the plant can lower blood sugar levels thus supporting its traditional use for diabetes sufferers.

  The whole plant including the roots can be used to produce a brown dye, and is also used in the infusion, although it would seem that an infusion of the leaves works very well alone. The tisane is mildly diuretic and has astringent qualities. The plant has been used in Asia for the treatment of malaria, jaundice and kidney infections.

 The Physicians of Myddfai recommended herb Robert to be used for pneumonia along with other herbs as in this ancient remedy:-

  “Let (the patient) take, for three successive days, of the following herbs; hemlock, agrimony, herb Robert, and asarabacca, then let him undergo a three day's course of aperients.”

Clearly this is not to be recommended for use!

 I grew up with this little plant all around but no one ever used it for medicinal purposes to my knowledge.