12
IRISH FOLK-LORE.
Dandelion | Stomach, liver, and kidney disorders | Drink decoction, alone or mixed with that of other plants, as root of Tormentilla, &c. |
Tonnentil (see last) | Liver obstructions | Drink decoction of root; also as a substitute for St. John's Wort in the following case. |
Rose Noble, Yarrow, St. John's Wort, Mullein | Liver and kidneys | Decoction of mixture, with or without some other plants, as Tormentil root, Black-head, &c. |
Ragwort or Ragweed | Rheumatism, sprained joints, sciatica | Hot fomentation with decoctions of whole plant in water. Also bruised leaves in lard as ointment. |
Burdock | "Water" dropsy | Drink decoction in water. |
Foxglove | "Water"Do. and gravel |
Tincture made with gin, used in very small quantity on loaf sugar, known to be a dangerous medicine, and, though spoken of, seems little used. |
Marshmallow | Gravel | Drink decoction of roots in water. |
MarshmallowDo. | Chest and lung diseases | DrinkDo. decoctiondo. of rootsdo. in milk (use frequently). |
Mullein[1] | Diarrhœa | Drink decoction in water. |
Mullein*Do. | Boils | Apply leaf roasted between dock-leaves and moistened with spittle, which must be that of an Irishman, at least in co. Dublin. (Probably any one's spittle would do in Ulster.—F.W.E.) |
Mullein, Sage, Marjoram, Camomile | Cramps in limbs | Bathe with decoction. |
Blackberry leaves | Diarrhœa | Decoction in hot water. |
Camomile | Flatulence, colic, indigestion in general | Drink infusion of flowers. |
St. John's Wort | Gravel | Drink decoction of leaves and flowers. |
- ↑ In connection with this plant a man in the parish of Gartan, co. Donegal, stated, in reference to its likeness to fox or folksglove, "This plant" (folks-glove) "sometimes cannot send up a flower, and it is then called a mullein. Mullein is a most valuable plant that ever was, as it will cure the worst consumption."