Born and raised on Mynedd Myddfai, the legend of The lady of the lake and Physicians of Myddfai was enteric to my upbringing. Having gained a science degree in Herbal medicine I find myself following in the footsteps of the Physicians. Committed to, and inspired by, our rich herbal heritage, I work to preserve and keep this tradition alive through research, practicing as a clinician, and run plant medicine walks, talks and workshops. www.plants-for-life.co.uk
The Physicians of Myddfai are long gone however their legacy lives on with the locals still using plant remedies following wisdom passed down through generations. In this seasonal column I aim to share with you some of our rich heritage and remembered remedies.
Summer in Myddfai
The hedges around Myddfai are bursting with medicinal herbs. The constant supply of summer sun and rain we have here means our hedgerows stay greener for longer and moisture loving plants such as meadowsweet and comfrey thrive.
It is said that on the 1st of August the Lady of the lake appeared to her sons to teach them of the healing powers of plants. If you look at the abundance of wild herbs found in Myddfai this month you will understand why. Tradition has it she appears on the 1st day of August annually. Within living memory local villagers went up to the lake on this day in hope of catching a glimpse of the fair maiden.
It is a perfect time to visit the village for wild flower lovers. Follow one of the many foot paths and you will discover Myddfai’s rich abundance of wild herbs. I recently led a guided herb walk along the Physicians Path from the village. We found so many exciting wild herbs. Drifts of comfrey in flower; once harvested and used by the Physicians of Myddfai to unite broken bones. Comfrey has now been found to increase cell division explaining its traditional use. As a Medical Herbalist I find Comfrey, used topically, greatly beneficial for muscle and bone repair.
The sweet smell of meadowsweet fills the clean mountain air as you walk along the lane out of the village. Meadowsweet traditionally was an important pain killer and one of the original sources of Aspirin. Locally it is dried in the summer and used all year as a tea for indigestion and tummy upsets.
Other herbs to be found in Myddfai this month include Yarrow, Burdock, Cleavers, Herb Robert, a selection of sorrels, Ground ivy, Wood sage… and many more.
We finished our walk with a cup of refreshing yarrow and lemon balm tea. Lemon balm is said to have been drunk daily by the Princes of South Wales to preserve youthfulness. It is a key herb in the Myddfai Magic tea blend. A perfect way to finish your walk is in the village café with a pot of Myddfai Magic.
For guided herb walks please enquire LaraBernays@hotmail.com
The Elder
The elder is familiar to all who walk through the lanes in early summer, with its creamy white flower heads and heavy sweet scent, later come the rich purple berries. Commonly known as the Medicine Chest, the rich folk law of this plant is a reminder of its importance as a remedy. Within living memory, here in Myddfai, farmers would raise their cap when passing the elder out of respect. They say ‘witches are to be found in the elder tree’, ‘bad luck will fall on he who thoughtlessly cut the shrub’, and ‘to make a cradle out of the wood is as good as giving the baby away to the fairies’.
In all my research the elder is by far the most widely used traditional home remedy in south wales today. Here in Myddfai tradition is to make elderflower and elderberry wine for ‘winter ills’, drank to resolve fevers, flus, coughs and colds and ward off the like.
Old wives tale or old and wise tale?
Prescribed by the Physicians of Myddfai, today with scientific evidence to validate its actions elder remains an important plant to Medicinal Herbalists. The flowers induce sweating explaining its use for fevers. As a lung tonic it strengthens the respiratory system acting as a decongestant. Rich in flavonoids this herb helps reduce inflammation of the bronchi easing breathing and soothing a painful chest.
Locally some say the Elderberries are stronger than the flowers for winter ills. Elderberries have been found to be high in vitamins and anthrocyanins which strengthen the immune system. Recent studies have discovered elderberries to have antiviral properties, explaining their traditional use for flu. This is of great interest in these times of flu pandemics. A lab study found elderberry 99% effective in destroying the H5N1 bird flu virus. Added to this, research is emerging that elderberry extract may significantly reduce severity and duration of swine flu.
So once again the scientific world is shedding light on what we have been doing here in Wales for centuries, another remedy we can thank our ancestors for which is natural and native.
Caution elderberries were eaten raw by the romans as an emetic between feasting, thus avoid eating many raw!
Remembered Recipes
Elderberry and elderflower are both used as foods and drinks and can be safely added into the diet.
Elderflower tea - infuse 1 tspn dried flowers in boiling water for 10 min. Drink with lemon.
Medicinal Elderflower wine the Myddfai way
1 quart elderflower blossom picked on a sunny day stripped off stems
2 lemons and 2 oranges
½ oz root ginger
3 ½ lbs sugar
1 slice toast
1oz fresh/ dry yeast
Put blossom into pan and cover with the sugar. Crush and add the ginger. Slice lemons and oranges and layer on top. Pour over 1 gallon boiling water and stir. Cool until blood heat.
Place yeast on warm toast and float the toast yeast side up on the elderflower liquid.
Cover and stand for 5 days.
When yeast has stopped bubbling (after about 4 days) remove toast. Stir for another 2 days then strain and bottle in old wine bottles. Rest screw tops on to cover but do not seal until fermentation has ended (about 6 weeks) alternatively put in demijohn with bubbler. Ready to drink the same winter. To drink as a remedy half fill a glass with the wine and top up with boiling water, take to bed and drink. Also very good as a general winter tonic!