DASG Blog

Ìoc-Lusan

Inspired by Kate’s excellent series on trees, see Beithe, Feàrna, and Caorann, for this week’s blog I decided to read up on various plants which had significance for the Gaels, either having a medical or spiritual power.

As John Mackenzie wrote in his Sar-obair nam bard Gaelach, “The belief was common among the Caledonians that for all the diseases to which mankind is liable, there grows a herb somewhere, and not so far from the locality where the particular disease prevails, the proper application of which would cure it.” Hence, it is not surprising to find that many everyday plants which grew nearby were used as medicine, including garlic, or creamh. It appears that garlic was commonly used across the Celtic-speaking countries for its universal health benefits as shown by the couplet which I found in John Cameron's Gaelic Names of Plants (Scottish and Irish)  “Is leigheas air gach tinn, Creamh ’us ìm a’ Mhaigh. Garlic and May butter, Are remedies for every illness.”  Cameron in the same book refers to a 'Feisd Chreamh' as being an important occasion of “gathering and social enjoyment to the ancient Celts,” although I have found no other mention of this. Also, supposedly if cows were to eat garlic then their milk would have a distinctive taste of onion. However, is there an appetite for an Onion Latte?

Another plant of interest to me is carran (scurvygrass) otherwise known as maraich (the mariner).  It is a small flower that grows predominantly on the coast but also on mountainous terrain. Naturally high in Vitamin C, it was used as a cure for many ailments from itchiness to scurvy and is now making a comeback as an ingredient in craft ales.

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from 'bad blood', skin problems such as boils, or problems in your kidneys then perhaps you need to start using lus nan laogh (calf plant). The roots are boiled in water to make a black and bitter tasting tea which is then drunk slowly, a little at a time. This water can also be used to dye wool black. It was a name given to various plants, as an informant from South Uist tells us that he is aware of a different lus nan laogh which is a a plant whose green leafs are boiled to form a tea which was primarily given to cows to relieve constipation but was also used to alleviate throat complaints. Furthermore, I have found a recording of an informant from Sutherland, talking about lus nan laogh as a cure for kidney troubles. Here the informant is probably talking the bog bean Menyanthes Trifoliate which was used as a cure for jaundice. Our data base refers to the plant trì-bhileach (the three-leaved plant) which is a bog bean that was infused as a tea to cure stomach complaints and treat psoriasis. Apparently the leaves could be smoked as a substitute for tobacco.

In my next blog I will discuss other herbal remedies and powers, such as the amazing healing power of the potato. If you are aware if any amazing properties relating to plants why don’t you get in touch via Facebook or Twitter.