This month I am going to talk about the many healers of vernacular medicine who still practise in our communities. Most people call this folk medicine, but this term does not give it the recognition, or respect, it deserves because these cures sustained our communities for many centuries and still […]
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is just ready for harvesting now, and it may be found on roadside verges and in stony ground. These kind of conditions are excellent for developing the therapeutic properties of yarrow thus making it a very worthwhile remedy. Some authors contend that yarrow may be a herb […]
Honeysuckle /woodbine (Lonicera periclymenum) is spreading its glorious perfume among the hedgerows at present, and it is a really beautiful scent on a summer evening. Even though its early growth is soft and supple, it becomes hard with age and is very strong. In the ‘Táin Bó Cúailnge’, Cúchulainn tells […]
The herb Plantago major (greater plantain) or weed to most people, is a familiar sight in gardens presently. The leaves may be quite large, and it is just ready to harvest. A versatile plant, it has been used as medicine and food since ancient times and has many benefits. It […]
Even though we are now entering a more positive time in our efforts to quell the storm Covid unleashed on our society and way of life; it is also time to look at those who may be more at risk from the virus and who need to be ultra-vigilant in […]
As the amazing spectacle of the blackthorn covered in white blossom fades, we are honoured with the pink and white blossom of hawthorn adorning the hedgerows during May. This bush is rich in folklore and a lone hawthorn tree is associated with the ‘sí’. These bushes are also to be […]