Healing Herbs of the Ancient Celts

Healing Herbs of the Ancient Celts
Plants Used for Medicine by The Ancient Celts

I've always been a believer in the healing power of plants used for medicine

and was pleasantly surprised when I found out that the Celts, like most

ancient tribes, had their own ancient medicinal remedies. Unlike the popular

image often bestowed upon the Celts as a primitive, unruly people, they

were actually quite an advanced and industrious society, being traders in

copper and tin and some of the first peoples to meld the two precious metals into bronze, a craft in which they became masters, and very wealthy ones.

They were also a very holistic and spiritual people and I think the concept

held of them by the majority today is an inaccurate and unfair one. This is

due in large to Hollywood's often portraying them as a wild eyed bunch of

bloodthirsty warrior types who rush into battle waving their primitive

weapons with no idea of an actual battle plan or even an understanding of why or what they are fighting for. Their enemies in these films are often portrayed as more civilized and intelligent; however modern knowledge of the Celts has shown that they were far from uncultivated.

The Celtics were a rural people by choice, preferring to live close to nature

because of their love of the land and their view of themselves as being the

caretakers of Mother Earth.

The Druids were the spiritual guardians of the Celts and made sure that

each Celtic citizen led a healthy holistic lifestyle. Exercise and proper diet

were important as was a healthy spirituality, reflected in the many festivals

of the Celts. The Celtics practiced animism, a religious belief that all

things contained a spirit: the water, trees, rocks, the land itself, and for

this reason showed extra care towards nature, lest they grieve a spirit.

Trees in particular held a special place in Celtic religion, and they developed

their alphabet around different trees. The Druids were also the shamans of the Celtics, the ancient "witchdoctors" and they used trees for medicine.

In this article some of the herbs used for medicine by the

Celts. All are found in Ireland, and are also found throughout the rest of

Europe in varying quantities and regions, especially of course in Britain and

Wales. This page is for information purposes only. I am not a qualified physician or herbalist, and any herbal treatments should be conducted under the supervision of a qualified and licensed herbalist or naturopath.

Bilberry – (Fraochán)

It’s easy to imagine the ancient Celts wondering through the forests or along the riverbanks and bogs of the south midlands of Ireland where Bilberry is abundant, gathering baskets of them to take back to their villages, munching handfuls of them as they delighted in their work. Places like Glenbarrow and the SlieveBloomMountains are excellent areas to experience this type of transportation back in time, where one can walk along nature trails and experience a glimpse of what life may have been like back then.

Among the natural remedies used by the Celts, Bilberry was probably one of the most beneficial and easiest to administer, as you merely have to chomp on a handful.

Otherwise known as Huckleberries or Whortleberries, Bilberries contain powerful antioxidants, protecting the venial and arterial walls from being populated by dangerous fats, and protecting veins from other damage. They are also believed to strengthen the blood brain barrier, a membrane that separates the brain from the blood flowing around it. This prevents harmful substances thought to accelerate aging from reaching the brain and therefore helps to prevent debilitating diseases like Alzheimers. They are also very strong anti-cancer agents and contain anthocyanidins, a class of flavonoid, organic compounds widely distributed in higher plants; some are pigments and others have physiologic properties. These anthocyanins also protect our immune systems and have anti-histamine properties as well. Bilberries are also good for the skin, helping it to maintain its elasticity and tone. During the war, pilots ate bilberry jam before night missions to aid night vision.

It’s easy to use Bilberry to implement Bilberries into your diet by simply eating a about a cup every day in a fruit salad, with your breakfast cereal, in a jam on toast, or as a delicious desert. If you don't have or can't get Bilberries in your area, don't worry, Blueberries make a great substitute and have similar properties and health giving benefits.

The Celts revered Bilberry so much that they celebrated their ripening with the Festival of Lugnasa which took place on the Sunday closest to the first day of August, and the harvesting of the berries was part of the celebrations. In some parts of Ireland they still celebrate this festival as Fraochán Sunday.

Burdock

Considered an invasive weed by many gardeners, Burdock was held in high esteem by the Celts who used it as a medicine and a food, its roots being cooked as a vegetable or eaten raw. Unlike the gardeners of today, the Celts considered nothing as a weed and understood that every plant had its values and served a purpose.

Burdock has been found to be an excellent detoxifying herb due to its ability to stimulate the body to eliminate toxins. It triggers all of the excretory systems, lungs, liver, kidneys, the sweat glands and the lymphatic and urinary systems to expunge toxins and excess fluids and so unblocking and detoxifying them.

The Druid shaman may have given Burdock root to pubescent teenagers suffering from acne, as it has been shown that Burdock improves this condition as well as eczema and psoriasis and also helps to regulate the hormonal system due to its containing plant sterols, which also have powerful cholesterol-lowering properties.

Burdock would also have been given to the elderly who suffered from arthritis, sciatica or gout. It is highly alkaline and anti-inflammatory and is used by herbalists today to treat these conditions. You can see why it would have been one of the major plants used for medicine by the Celts.

Burdock grows just about anywhere due to its resilience, but prefers soil with high clay content. I have seen it growing near the South Lagoon at Sandymount Strand in the Clontarf Road area of Dublin. It's quite easy to use Burdock as a detoxifier, simply by making a tea of the roots, which are best harvested in July when they are at their peak medicinal value.

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