The Folk-Lore Journal/Volume 5/Irish Folk-Lore

by F. W. Egan

IRISH FOLK-LORE.

MEDICAL PLANTS.

By F. W. Egan, B.A.

[Among the Irish peasantry there is a more or less fervent belief in the efficiency of plants to produce cures—in some cases to such an extent that until all plants fail a medical man will not be called in. Many of these cures appear to have been handed down from time immemorial, while some, possibly, may be of more recent introduction. Some of these cures are undoubtedly most efficient, while others, aided by imagination, may be successful. All, however, seem entitled to be included in the records of Medical Folk-lore. The following list has been drawn up by Mr. F. W. Egan.—G. H. Kinahan.]

Cures or reported cures by means of plants, used by the peasantry in various parts of Ulster, and some, at least, in the co. Dublin, so far as they have come under my observation.

Red Sorrel	Cancer	Drink decoction of dried blossoms.
Wood Sorrel	CancerDo.	Apply ointment prepared with the leaves.
Wood SorrelDo.	CancerDo. in stomach	Eat the leaves.
Plantain (broad and narrow leaf) called "cut grass" "bleeding grass," &c.	Cuts	Apply bruised leaves, while wet with the juice. Diminishes pain, stops profuse bleeding, and prevents festering.
Potatoes	Sprains	Bathe in hot water in which they have been boiled. All the "mercury" of the potato supposed to be in the water.
Broom	"Water" dropsy, jaundice	Drink decoction of leaves and plant tops.
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.
Parsley	Gravel and slight disorders of kidneys	Drink strong decoction.
Watercress	King's Evil	Bruised leaves applied as poultice, and juice taken as drink in warm milk.
Brook-lime	Gravel and urinary diseases generally	Decoction, alone or mixed with water-cress.
Yarrow	Kidney diseases	Drink decoction.
Tobacco, as sold	Cuts	Leaf bound on wound to arrest bleeding and heal.
Tansy	Flatulence, pains in joints	Bathe in decoction of leaves in water with salt.
Mountain Ash	Worms	Eat a few berries before breakfast for a few days.
Cranesbill	Hæmorrhages, in cattle	Administer decoction of whole plant, and bathe with same.
Sage (wild)	Promote perspiration	Drink decoction. This has been somewhat used for tea in parts of co. Dublin up to about 50 years ago, when tea was not so plentiful as at present, when bringing home a pound of tea from "the City" to a man's house was regarded in much the same way as bringing in a bottle of whiskey is now—a cause of rejoicing or mirth. People now in Howth remember it.
Dock	Liver obstructions	Drink decoction of root.
Garlic	Sciatica and severe rheumatism	Leaves boiled in water to make a strong bath for whole body (a barrel has been used for bathing in).
House Leek	Corns and warts	Apply the juice.
Meadow sweet	Scrofulous tendency	Drink decoction.
Marjoram (wild)	Indigestion, acidity	Drink decoction.

1. 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."