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

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 | 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. |