Roman love potions
Cowslip (Primula veris, officinalis or paigle) is a herbaceous, perennial member of the Primulaceae family, growing to about 30cm in meadows and open woodland in Europe and West Asia. The leaves, which are wrinkled, hairy and oblong, are arranged in a rosette, from which spring up to 30 long-stemmed, deep yellow flowers, all sweetly scented, and in a nodding terminal umbel.
The generic name is from the Latin primus and refers to the early flowering of members of this family. Its common name is obscure, but is thought to originate in the Anglo-Saxon cuslyppe, meaning cow-dung or cowpat; probably a reference to the abundance of the plant in fields grazed by cows.
The Romans believed Cowslip flowers possessed aphrodisiac properties and made them into love potions and crystallized them.
Gerrard states, “An unguent made with the juice of Cowslip and the oil of Linseed cureth all scaldings or burning with fire, water or otherwise’.
The plant contains flavanoids, saponin glycosides and phenolic glycosides, which make it analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, antipyretic, antispasmodic, hypnotic, sedative, a vasodilator, a platelet anticoagulant, diuretic, laxative and expectorant.
It is recommended for temporal arteritis (inflamed arteries), varicose veins, lumbago, sciatica, rheumatism, intermittent claudication (lameness in the legs due to poor blood supply), restlessness in children, sleeplessness, whooping cough, chronic bronchitis and parasthesia (chronic pins and needles). The petals inhibit histamine release and scavenge skin-ageing free radicals. Decoctions and teas are made from the root and flowers.
The flowers are included in jams and pickles, and are candied to make cake decorations.
An infusion made from the flowers was a popular treatment for wrinkles, spots and sunburn. The plant is made into a very potent country wine.
Cowslip is often mistaken for Oxslip (Primula elatior), which is a hybrid between Cowslip and Primrose (Primula vulgaris).
Finally a word of warning: some members of this family may cause dermatitis in some hypersensitive people.
Next week Watercress
