大象传媒

Herbs would have been very important when treating people. The herb gardens in the monasteries contained many different plants, some of them used for healing, and others for food. Most of the herbs would be given as INFUSIONS, which means you pour boiling water over the leaves, let it steep (or mash, or mask, in Scots) and then drink the liquid. Wounds were treated with poultices of the fresh herb.

Some of the herbs which the Leech would have used were:-

Mint This is good for the digestion and used for upset stomachs.

Dandelion This is used for liver problems such as jaundice. The juice or milk of the plant is used for curing warts.

Nettle If you are feeling under the weather nettle is a good Spring tonic. It is also used for rheumatism.

Garlic If you have a bad cold or flu garlic may help. It is also used for treating intestinal worms and allergies such as hayfever.

Daisy Daisy is used for treating wounds and bruises. It can also help with aches and pains after hard work like gardening.

Feverfew This herb is used for headaches and migraines.

Yarrow This herb is used for treating wounds and bruises. It can also be useful if you have varicose veins. It can be mixed with mint if you have a cold.

Parsley This is a mild laxative. It is also good if you have problems with colic or wind!

Deadly Nightshade Monks had to be careful with this herb. The berries look like cherries but are deadly poisonous. In the correct quantities it can be used to make people sleepy. It is also used for eye problems.

In a separate corner of the garden there would surely be some St. John聮s Wort. (聭Wort聮 is the old name for 聭herb聮.) That wort was very highly respected because it had been used, the legend says, by St. Columba himself. The saint gave it to a young shepherd boy who had become frightened at staying all by himself out on the hills at night with his flock of sheep. After the saint gave him the herb, the boy had no more fears. We still use St. John聮s Wort to help in curing all nervous diseases.