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SPEEDWELL, FLUELLEIN, LLUELLIN, or PAUL'S
BETONY VERONICA OFFICINALIS Fluellein is a vulnerary plant, and accounted good for fluxes and haemorrhages of all sorts. A common, wild perennial plant with a creeping stem. The flowers, somewhat like Snapdragons, have an upper jaw of yellow and the lower of purple. Commonly known as Heath Speedwell. Where to find it: Woodland, pastures, heaths and moors. Flowering time: Early to midsummer. Astrology: It is a lunar herb. Medicinal virtues: The bruised leaves applied with Barley-meal to watering eyes does help them. It also helps fluxes of blood, or humours, as the lax, bloody flux, women's courses, and stay all manner of bleeding at nose or mouth. It cleanses and heals all foul or old ulcers and fretting or spreading cankers. Modern uses: Speedwell is an expectorant and will relieve bronchitis, whooping cough and catarrh. An infusion of the dried plant is taken in wineglassful doses. It was once used as a substitute for ordinary tea, but its popularity has waned over the years. |