| CROWFOOT RANUNCULUS AURICOMUS I don'tremember that l ever saw anything yellower. Virgins in ancient times used to make a powder of them to furrow bride-beds. This furious biting herb has many names including Frog's-foot, Goidknobs, Gold-cups and Butter-flowers. These days it is also known as Goldilocks. It is a member of the Buttercup family, growing to about 16 inches (40 cm). Where to find it: Unless you turn your head into a hedge, you cannot but see them as you walk. They are found in woods, on wood edges and hedgebanks. Flowering time: From mid spring to early summer. Astrology: A fiery and hot-spirited herb of Mars. Medicinal virtues: In no way is this herb fit to be given internally. An ointment of the leaves or flowers, however, will draw a blister. It may also be applied to the nape of the neck to draw back rheum from the eyes. The bruised herb mixed with mustard will draw a blister too, as perfectly as cantharides and with far less danger to the vessels of urine which cantharides naturally delights to wrong. The herb was once applied to a pestilential rising that was fallen down and it saved life even beyond hope, so it were good to keep an ointment and plaster of it, ifjust for that. Modern uses: As pointed out, this herb is poisonous and modern herbalists do not use plants with toxic properties. Other members of the Buttercup family are also poisonous. The common Field Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) is poisonous, but the juice of the leaves has been used as an application to remove warts. A homoeopathic tincture made from the fresh plant, according to specific pharmaceutical techniques, is also used as a remedy for irritating skin conditions such as eczema, and rheumatic complaints. |
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