Wood Sage,
Teucrium scorodonia

This herb was used in folk medicine for depression. You put a large hanful of the leaves into a pint glass and pour on cold water to cover. Leave it to stand overnight and drink it early in the morning. Pur on more cold water over the same herbs and repeat for another 2 days. There will be noticeable results within 4 days!

Pick the leaves in early spring and use in teas. They are pleasant to taste and cleansing. You can use the crushed leaves as poultices and in ointments for wounds and sores. In May when the flowers open pick them on a sunny day and thread them onto a line of string, they are best dried in a warm airing cupboard. You will know when they are ready because they will be scrunchy when they are ready to go into brown paper bags or dark jars. Also for making a snuff - put the large heads onto a sheet of clean glass and leave overnight. In the morning lift up the flower head and tap it gently.

As you might have guessed elderflowers are also good for colds and flu, use as a tea(infusion).

A recipe for elderflower champagne

Take 4 large heads of elderflowers,750g of sugar, the juice of 2 lemons and 30ml of white wine vinegar and stir into 5 litres of water. Add the lemon skins in quarters, put a clean cloth over it and leave overnight.

The next day strain and put into strong screw-topped bottles. If you want to be sure of it fizzing you can prime each bottle with a half-teaspoon of sugar but I have known many to explode so be careful where it's stored!

It will be ready to drink in 5 days.

Red Clover contains glycosides, oestrogenic precursors and coumarins(which thin the blood), it is excellent for all sorts of skin conditions and as a deep cleanser of the blood.

It is especially good for tumourous swellings, where there is heat and/or inflammation. It is often used as a lymphatic cleanser for both humans and animals.

Drunk as a tea on a daily basis it is helpful for anxiety, stress and tension. It can be used both internally and externally and thankfully it is abundant too.

Coltsfoot leaves are soft and downy and grow in all sorts of waste places and amongst thick green grass. When you pick it be carefull not to pull up the whole plant as the leaf stems are very tough when they get big. It is quite a long time drying as the stems are fleshy but after about 6 weeks thay may be ready to store. It resembles the fluffy leaves of Raspberry or Mullein when it is crushed up so label it well. Coltsfoot is used primarily as an expectorant and gives a soothing consistency to cough preparations. There are very high levels of Zinc contained within the leaves which contribute to a remarkable anti-inflammatory effect in emphysema, whooping cough, asthma and chronic or acute bronchitis.

This plant is one of the finest we have available and can turn it's hand to a myriad of restorative processes. It is worth mentioning though that the quality of the plant is crucial to the success gained by it's use, so protect it where you see it thriving please and encourage others to do the same AND grow some in the garden!

It has neuro-endocrine normalising functions which aid in all manner of immune responses. Not only does it influence the body's defences but it also has direct anti-microbial properties(Herpes simplex or zoster for example).

Scientific research has shown that extracts of Hypericum are at least as efficiacious as anti-depressants of the class known as SSRI's(Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) without the unwanted side effects. It has also however made enough headlines due to indirect evidencee on Safety of Medicines in London to issue reccommendations to both practitioners and herbalists in March 2000. If in doubt consult your herbalist.

It is used for depression, insomnia, cramp, cholic, gallstones, diverticulitis, nervous bladder, bedwetting, neuralgia. Topically for burns as an infused oil.

To make a good St. John's Wort oil prepare handfuls of just the flowers by rubbing them and put them into good quality olive oil or sunflower oil with the lid of the jar tightly on and filled to the top. Leave it in the sunniest windowsill for 28 days and shake it now and again, you have made a most wonderfully soothing oil for all your aches and pains...also you can store it in the cupboard like it is and strain it the following year.

It is customary to warn people taking Hypericum not to sunbathe or to use it topically before going out in the sun, however no human cases of photosensitisation have been recorded(though some adverse effects have been reported from Over The Counter preparations)

Gypsywort - Lycopus europaeus (Bugleweed)
The plant is not only useful in combination with a number of other remedies for tachycardia and palpitations, but is specific for thyroiditis inculding auto-immune disease. With the latter the underlying immune dysfunction must be treated for the herb to have an effect.
It is a herb to take for hypoglaycaemia, or to reduce rapid heart beat in the case of thyrotoxicosis. Combine with Valerian for thyrotoxicosis. Use it also for Coughs with Elecampagne.

Plantain - Plantago major
The leaves are a broad oval or elliptical with 3-9 veins. The texture is smooth yet somehow coarse and tenacious. It is ubiquitous on town
This plant is one of the best field first aid plants we have, it is cooling to insect bites and stings, nettle stings, wounds and any bleeding or sores.
Use the fresh herb as an infusion or make the leaves into an ointment

Bramble leaves
Rubus fructicosus
The whole plant had once a considerable popular reputation both as a medicine and as a charm for various disorders. The flowers and fruit were from very ancient times used to remedy venomous bites.
The bark of the root contains tannin and have long been esteemed to be a valuable astringent and tonic capable of curing dysentry and diarrhoea. The root is even more astringent. Prepare it by peeling the bark off in it's tough flexible bands, dry it in the sun. Make a decoction using 100g to 500ml water for diarrhoea, taking 50ml every two hours. The leaves also should be taken for this upset, a good handful infused in a litre of boiling water, cooled and a cup of it taken every two hours.
Recipe for Blackberry Cordial - Take a 2 litre jug of Ripe Blackberries and press out the juice, add a kilo of sugar and a sprinkle of nutmeg and cloves. Boil all together for 15 minutes, when it is cold add 50ml of Brandy, put a tight lid on the bottle and keep in a cool dark place. Use for colds, 5ml at a time every hour if neccessary.