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ORCHID ORCHIS They provoke veneers, strengthen the genital parts and help conception. There are many varieties of orchids, but it is the tuberous roots only that are used and a description of them will be sufficient. Where to find it: Meadows. Flowering time: Mid spring to late summer. Astrology: They are hot and moist and under the dominion of Venus. Medicinal virtues: The roots, bruised and applied to the place, heal the king's-evil. They also kill worms in children. Applied outwardly as a cataplasm, they dissolve hard tumours and swellings. A preparation is made from the roots and known as salep. The new root is separated from its brown skin by dipping it in hot water and rubbing it with a coarse linen cloth. They are placed in a moderate oven on a tin plate for five or six minutes, in which time they will lose their milky whiteness and acquire a transparency like horn. They are then dried and hardened in the air for several days. Such a salep contains a great deal of nourishment and will support the system during famine, or those who travel long distances without food. Modern uses: Because Orchids are protected species, they are now rarely available for medicinal purposes. Salep has been produced in Turkey for centuries. The dried root is powdered and made into a nourishing drink and was very popular before coffee was in vogue. Potions made from the fresh tubers were administered by witches for their aphrodisiac properties. |