Quote:
Originally Posted by moggy
It isn't lavender, it is vipers bugloss, known locally as blue borage. It looks pretty but it is a noxious weed.
|
When I read this I began to wonder about uses as I know that borage is a medicinal herb and look what I found out.
Botanic.com
Viper's Bugloss was said of old to be an expellent of poisons and venom, and to cure the bites of a viper, hence its name. Coles tells us in his Art of Simples:
'Viper's Bugloss hath its stalks all to be speckled like a snake or viper and is a most singular remedy against poyson and the sting of scorpions.'
Pagan News
[i]Vipers Bugloss[i]Could this be the one herb missing from the named 'Anglo Saxon nine' Bugloss comes from Bug (which meant terror, disgust or on occasion, insect) and Loss which came from loathe, destroy, destruction. In other words it is the destroyer of the Viper's nasty venom. It can be used as a tonic, an antiseptic and adds milk to the breasts of lactating women. It can ease pains in the loin, back and kidneys. And it is potent against adder venom!
Medicinal herbs
Diuretic, demulcent and pectoral. The leaves, especially those growing near the root, make a good cordial on infusion, which operates by perspiration and alleviates fevers, headaches and nervous complaints, relieving inflammatory pains. The infusion is made of 1 oz. of the dried leaves to a pint of boiling water, and is given in wineglassful to teacupful doses, as required.
And last of all........
Eating the leaves is said to stimulate sexual desire. ;)
But don't go rushing out to harvest it all Moggy
Use with caution, there is an unconfirmed report of toxicity. :o
There could be an entrepreneurial opening there Moggy. You'd have to suit and boot up to harvest it and look out for the bees but....well? Oh and I also read that sheep like it, some NZ farmers rotate their sheep in time with vipers bugloss flowering time. Got any sheep?