Breverton's Complete Herbal by Breverton Terry

Author:Breverton, Terry [Breverton, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Quercus
Published: 2013-11-04T23:00:00+00:00

Natural Contraceptive

In his De Materia Medica, Dioscorides lists juniper berries, when crushed and put on the penis or vagina before intercourse, as a contraceptive. Native North Americans used juniper berries as a female contraceptive, and in Somerset it was used for abortions and called bastard killer.

LADY’S MANTLE

ALCHEMILLA VULGARIS

Family Rosaceae, Rose

OTHER NAMES: Common lady’s mantle, Our Lady’s mantle, common alchemil, leontopodium, lion’s foot, piedde-lion, bear’s foot, nine hooks, woman’s best friend, mantell fair (Welsh).

DESCRIPTION: It has rounded, lobed leaves resembling cloaks with yellow-green flowers growing through clumps of soft foliage. (It is similar to Alchemilla mollis, but with more potent healing properties). The finely toothed leaves have given it the name of nine hooks.

PROPERTIES AND USES: Nicholas Culpeper: “Lady’s Mantle is very proper for inflamed wounds and to stay bleeding, vomiting, fluxes of all sorts, bruises by falls and ruptures. It is also good for some disorders in women’s breasts, causing them to grow les and hard, being both outwardly and inwardly applied…a bath…will sometimes prevent miscarriages. It is one of the most singular wound herbs and therefore highly prized and praised by the Germans, used in all wounds inward and outward, to drink a decoction thereof and wash the wounds therewith, or dip tents therein and put them into the wounds which wonderfully dries up all humidity of the sores and abates all inflammations thereof. It quickly heals green wounds, not suffering any corruption to remain behind and cures old sores, though fistulous and hollow.” “Green wounds” indicate that they are infected, often with a greenish tinge. It was also used to help control excessive menstrual bleeding or diarrhea. A noted “wound herb,” cuts, scrapes and burns can be treated with skin washes of lady’s mantle to prevent infection. It contains salicylic acid, and has sedative properties that help to alleviate cramps and painful menstruation. Its tannic properties produce a bright green dye for wool.

HISTORY: Jewel-like drops of moisture form on the lobed leaves on humid days, caused by water being forced out of tiny pores, and these were collected by herbalists to cure infertility. The name Alchemilla comes from the Arabic “alkemelych,” alchemist, as early chemists believed that its dewdrops also had magical powers that could really help them in their quest for the philosopher’s stone capable of turning base metals like lead to precious gold. In Sweden a tradition held that if placed under the pillow at night, the herb would promote a good night’s sleep.

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