Planted For Life
Words Sarah (Alpha) Munro, Photographs and illustrations Nick Sidle
Photograph – Slender St John’s Wort, Hypericum pulchrum
Plants have been used through the ages in the Highlands as a source of medicine and food. Until the introduction of replacements by drugs using chemical materials 150 years ago, all medicines were derived from natural materials. Approximately 25% of medicines today owe their active ingredients to plant materials and a further 30% approx are derived from compounds using plant chemicals. Since the 1960s, more and more people have shown a preference for medications from a natural source. However, some herbs are poisonous if used wrongly, unsuitable for people with certain ailments or don’t mix with certain drugs. The World Health Organisation believes that due to the affordability of herbal medicine we should try to conserve medicinal herbs.
The Beaton Family was a legendary family or kindred of doctors practicing in the Highlands between the 13th and 18th centuries. They were doctors to Kings, Chiefs and Lords of the Isles. Tradition has it that every monarch from David 1 (1124-1153) to James V1 (1567-1625) had a Beaton doctor. There was a highly regarded herb garden at Pennycross on Mull but there are no records of the herbs but it is said the Edinburgh herb garden founded in 1681 contains similar herbs.
The Highland physician had a high position in the hierarchy of the Clan. He was second to the bard, some had little education, others were highly educated. The Gaelic medical manuscripts outnumber the Latin ones. From medieval times, the University of Montpellier in the south of France attracted Scottish medical students until Leiden in Holland and Bologna in Italy overtook in popularity and status in the 17th century.
A branch of the Beaton family lived and practiced at Culnaskiach on Foulis. They were granted the land by the Munros of Foulis for leachcraft, surgery and general medicine. The Beatons not only used herbs, they also emphasized the value of common sense and healthy living. Diet was equally important. This family’s herbal medicines used on Foulis is unknown, although there are records of herbs used by other Beaton physicians. I have researched the fresh plants the Beatons are documented to have used and might have used within a mile’s radius of Culnaskea between the 16th – 18th centuries. We also know they collected non-native plants from the Mediterranean.
Some of the Beatons married daughters of the Munros of Foulis. David of Culnaskiach married an Isobel Munro. He was the last of the Beaton physicians of Culnaskiach. By 1705, Sir Robert Munro of Foulis was employing a surgeon at Teanord on Foulis.
Introduction
All medicines and treatments which have the potential to do good can also do harm if used in the wrong way. Herbal medicine is a very skilled discipline, a skill built up from generations of experience or through considerable professional training. Remedies should only be prepared by and used under the direction of those who have that knowledge. Please only ever consult or use preparations from someone or a source that you can confirm has that standing and the ability to make sure that the very real power of plants to aid healing is used in a way that is safe for you.
For How Long?
An international report prepared by 210 scientists from 42 countries led by The Royal Botanic gardens in Kew, London and released to coincide with a United Nations summit addressing biodiversity loss held at the end of September 2020 estimated that 40% of the world’s plants are at risk of extinction. Included in these are many which are known to be valuable in medicinal use, conventional or alternative, or for which there are very good grounds to believe that they have a real potential for use in medicines in the future.
Photograph – Walled Garden, Foulis Castle, Kiltearn, Ross and Cromarty, Highland Scotland
Betony
Scientific name: Stachys officinalis (Alt. Betonica officinalis)
Officinalis is a species name attached to several plants that were used in medicine. It refers to the ‘officina’, the place where in monasteries monks with a responsibility for medicine and treating the sick prepared plants for use, so ‘officinalis’ has the meaning ‘of the medical workshop’.
Rare to Scotland but widely cultivated in herb gardens for use in Gaelic medicine
Parts used: whole plant.
Medicinal: internally for headaches, as a nerve tonic, sinusitis, upper respiratory tract infections, poor digestion. Externally for wounds, bruises, ulcers, sore throats, gum inflammation. Leaves eaten as salad and made into tea.
Favoured by the Beatons
Photograph – Betony, Stachys officinalis
Hyssop
Scientific Name: Hyssopus officinalis
Habitat: a Mediterranean herb.
Parts used: whole plant, leaves, oil.
Medicinal: internally as a tea for bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, feverish illnesses and coughs. Externally: for cuts and bruises (flowers), wounds. Also, a bath oil for nervous exhaustion.
Favoured by the Beatons
Photograph – Hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis
Centaury
Scientific name: Centaurium erythraea
Gaelic: Ceud Bhileach (hundred leaved)
Habitat: a mainly coastal plant.
Parts used: whole plant.
Medicinal: internally as a tea for dyspepsia, jaundice, bladder problems, anorexia, poor appetite, fevers. Externally: for wounds.
Photograph – European Centaury, Centaurium erythraea
Wood Avens
Scientific name: Geum urbanum
Habitat: common in woods and hedgerows.
Parts used: bruised or powdered roots for an infusion.
Medicinal: internally for diarrhoea, sore throat, fevers, catarrh and indigestion.
Photograph – Wood Avens, Geum urbanum
Scurvy Grass
Scientific name: Cochlearia officinalis
Gaelic: A Maraich (sailor)
Habitat: common on salt marshes, dunes and cliffs.
Parts used: leaves, flowers.
Medicinal: high in Vitamin C it was used internally for Vitamin C deficiency. In the past it was taken on long sea voyages to prevent scurvy. It was also a good blood purifier and helped people with gout, arthritis, sore gums and constipation.
Photograph – Common Scurvygrass, Cochlearia officinalis
Greater Celandine
Scientific name: Cheliodonium majus
Habitat: common to woods.
Parts used: whole plant, sap.
Medicinal: internally for inflammation of the gall bladder, jaundice, spasmodic cough, bronchitis, boils. Externally: for eye inflammation, cataracts, bruises, sprains, warts, ringworm.
Photograph – Greater Celandine, Cheliodonium majus
Foxglove
Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea
Gaelic: Lus-nam-ban-sith (fairy woman’s plant)
Parts used: leaves and roots.
Medicinal: internally for heart complaints, painful joints, skin diseases. Has the potential to be extremely poisonous unless administered medically by a professional Doctor
Photograph – Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea
St John’s Wort
Scientific name: Hypericum pulchrum
Gaelic: Achlasan Chaluimchille (armpit package of Columba)
Habitat: common to meadows, banks and woodlands. Parts used: whole plant in pills, oils, creams, fresh. One of the longest used Highland cures. It was said St Columba (521 – 597) placed the herb under a sick person’s armpit.
Medicinal: internally for: anxiety, depression, sciatica. Externally for: burns, bruises, injuries, nerve damage and cramp.
Photograph – Slender St John’s Wort, Hypericum pulchrum
Bogbean
Scientific name: Menyanthes trifoliata
Gaelic: Milsean monaidh (sweet plant of the hill)
Habitat: found in ponds, lochs and slow flowing rivers
Parts used: leaves for tea.
Medicinal: internally for: dry cough, fever, migraine, gout arthritis, rheumatism, muscle weakness, heartburn. Externally for: wounds, skin rashes and eczema.
Photograph – Bogbean, Menyanthes trifoliata
Tormentil
Gaelic: Barr braonan-nan-con (dog’s briar bud)
Habitat: common on moors and grasslands
Parts used: a decoction or infusion of the root.
Medicinal: internally as a tea for: diarrhoea, fevers, sore throats and stomach problems. Externally: an alcoholic preparation is used to stop cuts bleeding and as a mouthwash. In the Western isles the root was chewed to help dry lips.
Photograph – Tormentil, Potentilla erecta
Fennel
Scientific name: Foeniculum vulgare
Habitat: a Mediterranean herb found in gardens of the British Isles.
Parts used: leaves, stems, roots, seeds and oil.
Medicinal: internally as a tea for wind, colic, indigestion, and as a mouthwash for sore throats and gum disease.
Favoured by the Beatons
Photograph – Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare
Silverweed
Scientific name: Potentilla anserina
Gaelic: An seachdamh aran (the seventh bread)
Habitat: found in all coastal districts, on waste ground, in meadows and sand dunes.
Parts used: the root, the leaves.
Medicinal: internally as a tea mouthwash for: ulcers and gum infections; as a gargle for sore throats.
Culinary: boiled or roast the roots were eaten or ground to make a porridge. It was an important part of the early Highland diet during times of starvation.
Photograph – Silverweed, Potentilla anserina
Heather
Scientific name: Calluna vulgaris
Gaelic: Fraoch
Habitat: found on moors, woodlands, heaths, scrub land
Parts used: heather tops
Medicinal: as tea or infusion internally for TB, coughs, upper respiratory tract infections, sore throats, nerves, high blood pressure, high fevers, pneumonia, dysentery. Externally for boils, nettle rash, wounds, skin problems.
Photograph – Heather, Calluna vulgaris
Dandelion
Scientific name: Taraxacum officinale
Gaelic: Am bearnan Brighde (notched plant of Bridget)
Habitat: common weed found in woods, fields, scrub land, gardens
Parts used: leaves and root
Medicinal: internally in an infusion of the leaves for stomach aches, as a tonic, as a diuretic. Raw leaves were eaten for ulcers.
Photograph – Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
Oxeye Daisey
Scientific name: Leucanthemum vulgare
Shetland: Muckle kokkeluri
Habitat: grassy fields
Parts used: whole plant especially the flowers
Medicinal: internally as a tea for whooping cough, asthma, coughs, catarrh. Externally for wounds, bruises, ulcers, skin diseases.
Photograph – Oxeye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare
Viper’s Bugloss
Scientific name: Echium vulgare
Habitat: sunny open ground
Parts used: leaves, flowering stems, seeds
Medicinal: considered once to be a remedy for snake bites and as a tonic after bloodletting which the early Beatons were famous for. Internally in an infusion once taken for headaches, chest conditions and fevers. Externally the oil from the crushed seeds is in demand for skin care and burns.
Favoured by the Beatons
Photograph – Viper’s Bugloss, Echium vulgare
Garden Parsley
Scientific name: Petroselinum crispum
Habitat: gardens
Parts used: leaves and seeds
Medicinal: internally fresh leaves can be eaten for a tonic effect (natural vitamin and mineral supplement). The seeds can be used for the treatment of gout and arthritis.
Warning: in large quantities parsley is toxic.
Photograph – Garden Parsley, Petroselinum crispum
Wild Bistort
Scientific name: Bistorta officinalis (Alt Persicaria bistorta)
Habitat: moist grassland, boggy areas
Parts used: rhizomes
Medicinal: internally : the powdered root was used for diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, bowel problems, nosebleeds, diabetes, fever, wounds, jaundice, measles, stings, bites, sores, ulcers, sore throats, gum infections and worms.
The plant may have been once introduced to Scotland.
Favoured by the Beatons
Photograph – Wild Bistort, Bistorta officinalis
Elder
Scientific name: Sambucus nigra
Gaelic: Droman
Habitat: waste ground, woods, hillsides
Parts used: bark, root, berries, leaves and flowers
Photograph – Elder, Sambucus nigra, flowers
Medicinal: the bark and root treated epilepsy, asthma and croup. The leaves were made into ointment for sprains, chilblains, wounds, inflamed eyes, headaches, blocked nose. The flowers were used for wounds, chilblains and burns, scarlet fever, measles and other diseases that caused rashes. Also, pleurisy, colds, sore throat, flu, headache. The berries treated constipation, colic, diarrhoea, epilepsy and piles.
Photograph – Elder, Sambucus nigra, berries
Cowslip
Scientific name: Primula veris
Gaelic: Brog na Cubhaig (cuckoo’s shoe)
Habitat: grassland but rare in Scotland
Parts used: roots and flowers
Medicinal: internally an infusion for bronchitis, dry coughs, whooping cough, arthritis, insomnia and headaches.
Photograph – Cowslip, Primula veris
Rowan
Scientific name: Sorbus aucuparia
Gaelic: Caorunn, coille (wood enchantress/wood ash)
Habitat: woods and hillsides, beside old houses and cairns to once ward off the evil eye.
Parts used: bark and berries
Medicinal: internally a syrup of rowan berries and sugar was drunk for whooping cough. Externally the bark was made into a poultice for adder bites.
Photograph – Rowan – Sorbus aucuparia
Primrose
Scientific name: Primula vulgaris
Gaelic: Sobriach, sobrag (delight, pleasure, joy)
Habitat: banks, woods, grasslands
Parts used: roots, leaves, flowers
Medicinal: internally in an infusion for bronchitis, as a sedative, for headaches, rheumatism, gout. Externally it was used for wounds.
Photograph – Primrose, Primula vulgaris
Scots Pine
Scientific name: Pinus sylvestris
Gaelic name: Giubhas, giuthas (juicy tree)
Parts used: pine resin, pine needles, bark
Medicinal: internally: an infusion of bark was used for fevers. Externally an infusion of pine needles could treat skin blemishes and wounds, ointments made up of resin and beeswax treated boils and sores.
Photograph – Scots Pine, Pinus sylvestris
Ivy
Scientific name: Hedera helix
Gaelic: Eideann
Habitat: climbs over walls, banks, up trees
Parts used: leaves, flowers, berries
Medicinal: internally it treated many complaints including coughs, nervous headaches, bruises, TB, gout, sore mouths and throat, kidney problems. The leaves and twigs would be boiled in butter for sunburn and burns. An infusion of ivy leaves was also used as an eye lotion and when soaked in vinegar was used for corns.
Photograph – Ivy, Hedera helix
Common Comfrey
Scientific name: Symphytum officinale
Gaelic: Meacan Dubh (dark plant)
Habitat: damp woods, waste ground
Parts used: leaves and roots
Medicinal: internally, a tea made from the leaves and roots was said to relieve stomach ulcers but it shouldn’t be used in tea today as it can cause liver damage and tumours. Externally, the roots were grated and the mucilaginous mass was made into a type of Plaster of Paris for broken bones. Comfrey in the form of a poultice was used for rough skin, aching joints, burns and sores but never on broken skin.
Photograph – Common Comfrey, Symphytum officinale
Wild Thyme
Scientific name: Thymus polytrichus
Gaelic: Lus an Righ (Kings’s Plant)
Habitat: a creeping plant of calcareous grassland as well as rocky ground throughout Scotland.
Parts used: whole plant flowers, leaves, thymol
Medicinal: internally as a tea for dry coughs, bronchitis, bronchial catarrh, asthma, laryngitis, indigestion, gastritis, diarrhoea. Externally as a tea for a gargle for sore throat, gum disease, arthritis, rheumatism and fungal infections.
Photograph – Wild Thyme, Thymus polytrichus
Valerian
Scientific name: Valeriana officinalis
Habitat: marshes, beside burns, damp grassland
Parts used: roots and leaves
Medicinal: internally as a tea. Traditionally Valerian was used as a sedative to ease pain, nervous unrest, migraine, neuralgia and insomnia. The Romans in the South of Scotland used it to cure croup, epilepsy and plague.
Photograph – Valerian, Valeriana officinalis
Selfheal
Scientific name: Prunella vulgaris
Gaelic name: Slan Lus (healing plant)
Habitat: short grass of grassland, roadsides and garden lawns
Medicinal: internally: the dried plant was boiled in milk and strained then butter was added to treat chest complaints. It was drunk in broth to treat internal bleeding. It was also said to heal the liver, kidneys and spleen. Externally it was used in an infusion to treat sore throats and made a gargle for mouth ulcers.
Photograph – Selfheal, Prunella vulgaris
Daisey
Scientific name: Bellis perennis
Habitat: grows in many soils
Parts used: leaves and flowers
Medicinal: internally in a tea for coughs and colds. It was a treatment for scurvy. Externally it was made into an ointment for minor wounds, varicose veins and into an infusion for sore eyes.
Photograph – Daisey, Bellis perennis
Borage
Scientific name: Borago officinalis
Habitat: found in the South of Scotland on roadside verges and on disturbed ground ie near burrows.
Parts used: leaves, flowers seeds, oil
Medicinal: internally in an infusion for fevers, bronchial infections, mouth and throat infections. Externally in an infusion for an eyewash and useful in a poultice.
Subject to legal restrictions.
Favoured by the Beatons
Photograph – Borage, Borago officinalis
Field Poppy (and poppy family)
Scientific name: Papaver rhoeas
Gaelic: Fothros (corn rose), Paipean ruadh (red pap)
Habitat: arable ground, loose earth
Parts used: flowers
Medicinal: The juice from poppy flowers was added to children’s food to soothe and make them sleep. In South Uist, the juice was made into a liquid for teething problems.
Photograph – Field Poppy, Papaver rhoeas
Text ©Sarah Munro, Photographs ©Nick Sidle, all rights reserved
Bibliography
Medicinal Plants in Folk Tradition by David Allen and Gabrielle Hatfield Pub. Timber Press, Cambridge
A Garden of Herbs by Agnes Walker Pub. by Argyll Publishing, Argyll
The Scots Herbal by Tessa Darwin Pub. by Birlinn Ltd., Edinburgh
The RHS Encyclopedia of Herb and their Uses by Deni Bown Pub. BCA, London
‘Flora Celtica’ by William Milliken and Sam Bridgewater, Published by Birlinn Books, Edinburgh
Thanks to Duncan Ross, Poyntzfield Herb Nursery, Black Isle, Ross-shire