herbal medicine
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MEDICINAL CABBAGE by Veronica Smith
Apart from being one of the oldest known vegetables of Europe, Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) is also a medicinal plant! It was regarded as the “medicine of the poor” in days gone by, used by the Greeks and Romans and rediscovered… Continue reading
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EVENING PRIMROSE, THE LUNAR FLOWER OF SUMMER SOLSTICE
By Veronica Smith Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) is not part of our traditional European plant lore because it was introduced from North America during colonial times. That said, I believe that this lady deserves a place in our modern Shamanic… Continue reading
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ALEXANDERS: ARCHAEOLOGY AND HERBAL HISTORY by Veronica Smith
In 2003, I wrote a piece for the Irish Garden Plant Society (newsletter No: 87) entitled “Alexanders and Archaeology?” It was prompted by articles published in “Archaeology Ireland” (issue nos: 53 & 54) in which experts argued that viable plant… Continue reading
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BRAMBLE-BERRY PLANT LORE By Veronica Smith
Every Celtic festival has at least one Sacred Plant linked to it. For Autumn Equinox, the Druids chose the BRAMBLE, with its Black Berries. In Shamanic traditions, Bramble is associated with Brigantia, Brighid, the Sidhe, various Harvest Goddesses and the… Continue reading
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AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS DIGESTION IN PLAY! By Veronica Smith
Adages exist as memory aids, to help us remember useful information, such as: “an apple a day keeps the doctor away!” Not only is the Apple Fruit a delicious food, storing well over the winter months at a time when… Continue reading
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HOW TO COOK LETTUCE by Veronica Smith
At this time of year, you can have a glut of lettuce in the veggie patch. There is only so much salad you can eat and raw lettuce does not freeze well. However, COOKED Lettuce does freeze and it tastes… Continue reading
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ELECAMPANE – A FORGOTTEN MID-SUMMER HERB
By Veronica Smith Like so many other useful and once-popular herbs, Elecampane has been ignored by the modern media and commercialism, being relegated to a “back of herbaceous border” garden curiosity. It is only when you delve in to its… Continue reading
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ST JOHN’S WORT: MID-SUMMER MADNESS OR MIRACULOUS MEDICINE? by Veronica Smith
Growing on the edge of our woods is an inconspicuous little plant, only 3 foot high (1 meter) at the most. You only really notice it when the small, lemon-scented yellow flowers appear in summer. Its botanical name is HYPERICUM… Continue reading
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RESPECTING ONE’S ELDERS by Veronica Smith
In ancient Ireland, the Elder (Sambucus nigra) was part of a trio of Sacred Trees revered by the Celts as Herbal Healers. Hawthorn was “Father”, working with the heart and circulatory system; Elder was “Mother”, working with the respiratory system… Continue reading
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CURRANT AFFAIRS! By Veronica Smith
What do Black, Red and White Currants, Gooseberries, Jostaberries and Worcesterberries have in common? For a start, they all belong to the same botanical family Grossulariaceae, of the genus RIBES. All of them are deciduous, producing edible fruit and provide… Continue reading
