A Mother’s Cupboard: 8 Plant Remedies from a Magical Childhood is a submission from Nina, Creative Lead at Old Green, a journal-style piece, packed with magical memories and the healing power of plants.
Endless miles of blue-grey skies hanging low, kissing the tiptops of evergreens and apple trees and wellington boots pulled over bare knees; this was a childhood of nature being a part of everyday life, a source of joy and inspiration, a sanctuary and a playground.
I was incredibly blessed to be brought up by a family in which we always felt allied with nature; we were a part of it but could also draw strength from it when needed. My mother is a kitchen witch – always whipping up wondrous potions from nature’s delights – quietly soothing our pain and boosting our confidence.
Incorporating plant remedies into the everyday is one way to heal our relationship with nature, enhance our wellbeing, and work with the power of plants to support all life. Taken straight from my magical mother’s book of wisdom, here are eight plants to get you started.
Plant Remedies
Banana Skins (for warts)
I was a very warty child. Springing up in between fingers and even on the inside of my nose – somehow warts followed me everywhere. The only thing, and I mean the only thing, that worked on them – was banana skins. Every night, my patient Ma would cut fresh (but not green!) banana skins into rectangles and tape them (fleshy side down) onto my warts. (You could also scrape some of the pith from the banana peel and tape that to the wart instead). The residue of the banana pith transfers to the pores of the wart and turns black. It may take a few nights to a few weeks, but eventually the wart will turn black and die. This is said to work because the banana’s dampness softens the wart, allowing the handy enzymes inside the banana to get to work at the core.
Dock Leaves (for stings)
I remember so many country walks were stomped in flowery dresses and wellington boots – bare knees speckled with mud. My sisters and I would of course fall over, or swipe uncovered skin against the unforgiving crowd of nettles flanking the path. The cure? Nature seems to be having a good giggle with stinging nettles – wherever you find a nettle, you will always find a dock-leaf – the very antidote to those painful stings. My Ma would pluck them from the ground, spit on them to encourage the moisture (and neutralise the pH) before crushing in her hands and rubbing against our scorched skin. There are differing theories on why this works; some think the dock leaf contains natural antihistamines, others believe that when the sap from the leaf evaporates it has a cooling effect on the sting; some think perhaps it is just placebo.
Whatever the reason – the dock leaf is a sure-fire way to comfort those burning nettle stings!
Oakmoss (for luck)
This one was actually introduced to our family by one of my sisters. When you learn about oakmoss, you begin to spot it everywhere; the luck is never-ending! Oakmoss is the green spongy lichen that mainly grows on the mighty oak tree but can also be found on conifers and deciduous trees too. Don’t pluck it directly from the tree – instead keep your eyes earthward and you will notice that it is often lying on the grass in inviting clusters. Pop it in your pocket, put it on the windowsill, collect it in a jar – whatever you do, this enchanted lichen is said to bring you luck. It’ll certainly put a smile on your face foraging for it in the woods!
Ginger (for nausea)
Whenever we felt queasy, our Ma would pour us mugs of steaming ginger tea. Ginger has been used for thousands of years as a remedy for nausea, due to its anti-inflammatory properties and support of blood-pressure-regulating hormones.
Peppermint (for digestion)
Similarly, cups of peppermint tea were brewed whenever we needed to settle our tummies. Peppermint tea is also anti-inflammatory, and contains properties that ease muscle spasms in your gut – helping to aid digestion and soothe any bodily stress.
Lavender (for rest)
My Ma loves lavender. Growing up we had cushions stuffed with lavender to freshen up our chests of draws, bundles growing in the garden – eye-masks containing crushed lavender to place on our heavy eyes to aid sleep. Whenever she would change our bedsheets, pulling back the fresh linen, she would drop a few spots of lavender oil on our pillows. Lavender always helped us feel calmer – so having a few sprigs in your cupboard or a bottle of infused oil could help when you need a little helpful hand to relax.
Hops (for sleep)
I didn’t even know this one – it’s wonderful what you can learn from your family when you ask these questions. When scribbling this all down, one of my sisters told me that when she was a child (and having real trouble sleeping), our Ma bought her a tincture prepared from hops. I hadn’t heard of this – but studies show that hops have sedating qualities that can help insomnia, anxiety and stress.
Cinnamon (for love)
My all-time favourite – cinnamon! This earthy spice is wrapped up in childhood nostalgia and memories of home. Baked into crumbles and stirred into pies: the taste of cinnamon feels like a warm hug from my Ma. Even the smell immediately makes me feel more peaceful and inspired. Cinnamon is very grounding, helping you to recentre, and is also associated with love (used by magick folk for love spells!). Whenever we were feeling under the weather, my Ma would make ‘cinnamon toast’ (to make, lather toast with vegan buttery spread and shake over lashings of sugar and cinnamon – I promise, it’s delicious!). This somehow would make everything feel better. Before bed, or after a long day, she would heat hot mylk (I use plant mylk now) and stir through cinnamon for a mugful of joy. Cinnamon is said to transmute negative energy into positive energy – so swirling it through your everyday may add a touch of cheerful magic to your life.
These are just sprinkles of my Ma’s wondrous wisdom – perhaps the beginner’s list to your own cupboard of plant remedies. I hope they may help inspire you in some way, or ignite that spark of curiosity and your own love of plants!
A special thank you to Nina for sharing her Mother’s plant remedies. Photography by Annie Spratt.
