Around the time of
High-King Dyfnwal (Moelmut) ap Dunfallo, the health of
Prydein was a responsibility of the state at some level. In roughly 400 BC Dyfnwal declared that ‘medicine,
commerce and navigation were the ‘three civil arts’ each having a powerful privilege
awarded by the “Grant and creation by the Lord of the territory, authenticated
by the judicature, and distinct from the general privileges of a country and
kindred”.
A great ‘Legislator’
is thought to have existed in this ancient period, funded by the state and
charged with keeping abreast with the latest in medical developments.
Hippocrates lived at this time and as the Brythons were known to have traded
with the Phoenicians, it isn’t too much of a stretch to imagine the Druids and
Ovates seeking knowledge abroad. The Cymbric healers were much impressed with Hippocrates,
as the great man was mentioned by the Physicians of ‘Myddfai’ in later texts
but thought to have been derived from reading his works, than any corroboration
in his lifetime.
Pliny himself
remarked on the healing proficiency of Prydein’s Druids and Ovates, especially
in regard to their love of Mistletoe. Its name means ‘All-Heal’ (Omnia
Sanantem) in the old language and is still known as ‘Oll Iach’ by the Welsh to this day. Mistletoe was known to be efficacious for; general disability, brain fever, rheumatism, affection of the
heart, liver, bowels, kidneys, spine, epilepsy, insanity and paralysis. It
strengthens the sight and hearing, along with all the body senses and prevent bareness.
“Whosoever takes a
spoonful of the powder in his drink once a day, shall have un-interrupted
health, strength of body and manly vigour.”
Another plant in use
by the Brythons and remarked on by Pliny was Selago. Selago is a kind of club moss resembling Savine and Pliny
states the Druids used it for diseases to the eyes.
Samolus or Marshwort was also highly recommended for curing diseases in Cattle
and Pigs. Ancient Welsh Botanology name
several medicinal plants which come from this ancient Druidic period;
Derwen Fendigaid (Vervain)
symbol of; Alban Hefin, whilst Mistletoe was associated with Alban Arthwr.
Post-Roman Britain.
Once the Romans
departed, medicine reverted to a more Brythonic style, following the characteristics
of their ancient Brythonic ancestors.
Prydein’s Chief-Bard
in the 6th Century was Taliesin and he formulated the ‘elements of
man’;
‘Man consists of
eight parts; The first is the Earth, which is sluggish and heavy, whence
is the flesh. The second is the Stones, which are hard, and these are
the materials of the bones. The third is Water, which is wet and cold,
and is the substance of the blood. The fourth is Salt, which is briny
and sharp, whence are the passions and the faculties of feeling in the sense of
corporeal sense and perception. The fifth is the Air, or the Wind,
whence is the breath. The sixth is the Sun, which is clear and fair,
whence is the fire, or corporeal warmth and the light and the colour. The
seventh is the Holy Spirit, whence are the soul and life. The eighth is Christ,
that is the Intellect and Wisdom of man, and the light of soul
and life.”
“If the part of man that
prepondereth be of Earth, he will prove unwise, be sluggish and very heavy, and
will be a little short, thin dwarf, according as the preponderance may be,
whether great or small. If it be of the Air, the man will be light,
unsteady, garrulous and given to gossip. If of the Stones, he will be
hard of heart, understanding and judgement – a miser and a thief. If of the Sun,
he will be a man of genius, generous, active, docile and poetical. If of the Holy
Spirit, he will be Godly, amiable and compassionate, of a just and tender
judgement and fond of the arts and sciences; and this cannot otherwise than
equiponderate with Christ and divine Sonship”.
Taliesin was also
thought to have propounded the ‘Medical Triads’;
1.
There are three intractable substantial organs; the liver, the kidney and
the heart.
2.
There are three intractable membranes; The Duru Mater, the peritoneum and
the urinary bladder.
3.
There are three tedious complaints; Disease of the knee-joint, disease of
a substance of the rib, and phthisis; for when purulent matter has formed in one
of these, it is not known when it will get well”.
Taliesin Ben Beirdd.
Ancient Herbal
Medicines & Remedies:
Autumn
Crocus – Used for pain relief.
Bee Pollen – Widely used for energy and healing.
Bee Stings – Bee-sting therapy is truly ancient and used
for pain relief but especially arthritis.
Bindweed – Purgative.
Birch bark
tar – Chew to relieve tooth ache and used
as a disinfectant.
Burdock – Used to combat a Hangover, Headaches and
Joint Pain.
Charcoal – Used for Sickness and to relieve Poisoning
(still is).
Chickweed – Coughs.
Cornflower – Fever.
Dandelion - Caise (Brigid’s Bloom) – Fevers and
Jaundice and a liver tonic (Used at Imbolc).
Ergot - (A purple/black blight on Rye & Wheat).
Causes hallucinations and eventually gangrene, also used to cause abortion.
Fennel – promotes mother’s milk, hunters consumed it
to promote sight and night-vision.
Fraoch - (Whortleberry/Bilberries) – general health
(celebrated at the festival of Lughnas).
Henbane – Poisonous but used in small doses by the
Uati for hallucinations.
Laurel - (Bay) – stomach cramps and period pains/
also used for divination.
Lavender – aids sleep, lowers tension, headaches and
migraines – also a good antiseptic ointment.
Maeg - (Chamomile) – sedative and anti-inflammatory,
also used to ward off evil spirits.
Marsh
Marigold – (Thought to be sacred. Uati used
for spells?).
Milk of the
Poppy – Morphine/Laudanum (Papaver to
Romans) Used for pain relief and by Druids to alter mental state.
Nettle - (Neaan) Stops bleeding and known as
‘Devil’s Claws’. They were thought to be the abode of fairies (Gwyllion) and a
sting from the plant was either protection from spells or a painful introduction
to the little monsters!
Rowan – (Mountain Ash). The sap was given to new-born
infants to ward off evil spirits.
Sage – Smudging or burning for ceremonies and to
ward off malevolent spirits from the sick
Saille (Willow) – (root) Rheumatism (bark) pain
relief (The source of Aspirin) ‘Willow-water’ (a steep) was also used to
promote rooting in crops as Willow branches are self-rooting.
Thyme – gets rid of mucus after a cold, clears the
chest.
Toadflax – ulcers (usually prescribed alongside a diet
of soft-boiled eggs, leeks, curds and porridge).
Vervain – (‘Tears of Isis’ and considered holy) –
staunching bleeding from wounds.
Viscum - (Comfrey) – broken bones, wound repair and
internal bleeding.
Walnuts - to improve brain function.
Wild Garlic – reduces tension, good for colds and a
general tonic for the blood.
For Sties
to the eye; Take leek and garlic of both equal quantities, pound them well
together and mix with wine, before applying as a poultice. (Don’t try this at
home!!)
MEDICINAL ANIMAL DROPPINGS.
Since the
start of civilization animal droppings have been used to cure just about
anything. Ancient Egyptians used it for skin ailments. It is also used to treat
and cure headaches, cure the blind, rid people of intestinal parasites,
jaundice, epilepsy and many other ailments and purposes. Animal dung is still a
widely used and widespread treatment today.
Some
enduring Celtic remedies have formed the basis of modern therapeutics, such as Aspirin
from Willow and heart medicine from the Foxglove (Digitalis). The giving of a
thyroid gland from a sheep born on St Brigit's Day to a child with cretinism,
may strangely be compatible with modern-day scientific discoveries in that
field.
Ancient
healing links;
And
an excellent article by the Oxford Homeopathy Organisation; http://www.oxford-homeopathy.org.uk/PDF/the-origins-of-medicine.pdf
Please
follow the link below to access the oldest ‘Herbal Healing’ manuscript ever
found; ‘Bald’s Leechdom’ but I warn you, it makes difficult reading.
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