HEATHER

 

NAME : HEATHER


GAELIC NAME : FRAOCH

 

LATIN NAME : Calluna vulgaris


COMMON / FOLK NAMES : Common Heather Ling Scotch Heather Heath


MEDICINAL PART : Flowering shoots.


PLACES OF ORIGIN : Ireland Britain   Europe


HABITAT : Commonly found on poor soils and marshy grounds.


DESCRIPTION : Heather is an evergreen shrub. The prostrate, greyish, hairy stem grows up to 3 feet long and sends up branches 1 to 1.5 feet high. The dull green, sometimes gray, small, linear-lanceolate leaves grow in two overlapping rows.


FLOWER PERIOD : Branching spikes of light violet, bell-shaped flowers appear in August and September.


PROPERTIES : Antiseptic Cholagogue Diaphoretic Diuretic Expectorant
Vasoconstrictor


USES : Some people find heather useful for insomnia, and it has also been recommended for gouty and rheumatic pains, stomach-ache, coughs, and facial skin problems. Heather contains compounds that act to constrict the blood vessels, strengthen the heart, and moderately raise blood pressure. They also stimulate the flow of bile and of urine.

 

Historical Uses:  The Danes used to brew beer from the flowers of heather.


Preparation and Dosage -: Heather may be used fresh or dried.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES

heather2.jpg (87157 bytes)

GENDER : Feminine

PLANET : Venus

ELEMENT : Water

DEITY : Nechtan

POWERS : Protection Rain-making Luck

OGHAM LETTER: U ura


MAGICAL USES

Heather is carried as a guard against rape, sexual assault and other violent crimes, or just to bring good luck.

White heather is the best for this purpose.

Heather when burned with fern outside attracts rain. Heather has also long been used to conjure ghosts.

Stories and Folklore

Jack Fox and the Leprechaun

The Field of Boliauns

 

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Last Updated - August 3, 2023

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