Lavender - Culpeper

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Culpeper's Complete Herbal

Culpeper (1616-1654)

Lavender

Being an inhabitant almost in every garden,

it is so well known, that it needs no description.

Time : It flowers about the end of June, and beginning

of July.

Government and virtues : Mercury owns the herb; and it

carries his effects very potently. Lavender is

of a special good use for all the griefs and pains of the head and

brain that proceed of a cold cause,

as the apoplexy, falling-sickness, the dropsy, or sluggish malady,

cramps, convulsions, palsies, and often

faintings. It strengthens the stomach, and frees the liver and spleen

from obstructions, provokes women's

courses, and expels the dead child and after-birth. The flowers of

Lavender steeped in wine, helps them

to make water that are stopped, or are troubled with the wind or

cholic, if the place be bathed therewith.

A decoction made with the flowers of Lavender, Hore-hound, Fennel and

Asparagus root, and a little

Cinnamon, is very profitably used to help the falling-sickness, and the

giddiness or turning of the brain: to

gargle the mouth with the decoction thereof is good against the

tooth-ache. Two spoonfuls of the distilled

water of the flowers taken, helps them that have lost their voice, as

also the tremblings and passions of

the heart, and faintings and swooning, not only being drank, but

applied to the temples, or nostrils to

be smelled unto; but it is not safe to use it where the body is replete

with blood and humours, because

of the hot and subtile spirits wherewith it is possessed. The chymical

oil drawn from Lavender, usually

called Oil of Spike, is of so fierce and piercing a quality, that it is

cautiously to be used, some few drops

being sufficient, to be given with other things, either for inward or

outward griefs.

Culpeper's "The Complete Herbal" is one of my favorite books.

Making lavendar oil is on my ever growing "to do" list.

Here is a recipe I've heard is excellent. I do not drink but others

may find it a nice treat.

Blueberries in Orange liqueur &

Lavender

Serving Size : 5

1 cup Orange flavoured liqueur

1 cup Water

1 cup Sugar

1- 1/2 lb Fresh blueberries

20 Fresh lavender flower heads

Prepare jars, lids and boiling water bath. Combine the liqueur, water

and sugar in a pan and cook over med-high heat, stirring frequently,

until sugar is dissolved and mixture has coem to boil. Remove from

heat.

Pick over, wash and dry blueberries, then pack them in hot dry jars,

placing 4 lavender flower heads in each jar. Leave 1/2 inch headspace.

Pour hot liquid into jars, just covering berries. Wipe rims with clean

towel and attach lids securely.

Place jars in boiling water bath, and when water returns to full boil,

process for 15 mins.

Peace!!

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