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(this is from a chapter from a book about herbs from Greet Büchner. It is in Dutch, so I make here a translation for the not Dutch speaking pelps, see for discusion below)
"In a time were distances were indicated in hours to walk instead of kms, it was of vital importance to be able to cross the distance without feet that were going numb. Of course witches did know all kinds of herbs to work against tiredness.
Mugwort (artemisia vulgaris) is in Dutch called "bijvoet" which reminds to that. Mugwort was the most common used herb for this goal. Before people started to walk, they did put a leave of mugwort in the shoe. When not having shoes, they carried the mugwort somewhere else on the body because: mugwort makes a person tireless when carrying with it. Wormwood (artemisia absinthium), a herb that is related to mugwort, was a kind of the same but in nature mugwort was easier to find so the use of mugwort was better known by the common folk.
Witches were more picky than the common folk, there were stories about witches making garters from wormwood when travelling to the sabbath.Verbena was also known to carry as garter to make people tireless. It was even used for horses, but in combination with mugwort and it were not the leaves that were being used but the roots. According to old writings that was much better. St Johns Wort (hypericum perforatum) was used for the same also, but the plant had to be gathered before sunset.
Plantain (plantago major) is still known as a good herb for little wounds. Just a clean leave on a wound and everything heals fast. In olden days were the leaves also used to put in the shoe, and it even prevented blistering.
A mix of sage (salvia officinalis) and fern seed in the shoe seem to work too. It was the fern seed that worked best.
A little branch of juniper carried on the hat keeps up the courage when walking all day long and garlic roasted on a piece of bread or garlic soup was highly appreciated by mountain walkers and climbers. It was not mentioned if it was useful against witches"
Magic herbs, the magic world of herbs. Greet Buchner, herbs against tiredness.
And for discussion: what herbs do you know for the same goal? Folk remedies in your village/country for this? Magic Rhymes'? Other superstitions?
"In a time were distances were indicated in hours to walk instead of kms, it was of vital importance to be able to cross the distance without feet that were going numb. Of course witches did know all kinds of herbs to work against tiredness.
Mugwort (artemisia vulgaris) is in Dutch called "bijvoet" which reminds to that. Mugwort was the most common used herb for this goal. Before people started to walk, they did put a leave of mugwort in the shoe. When not having shoes, they carried the mugwort somewhere else on the body because: mugwort makes a person tireless when carrying with it. Wormwood (artemisia absinthium), a herb that is related to mugwort, was a kind of the same but in nature mugwort was easier to find so the use of mugwort was better known by the common folk.
Witches were more picky than the common folk, there were stories about witches making garters from wormwood when travelling to the sabbath.Verbena was also known to carry as garter to make people tireless. It was even used for horses, but in combination with mugwort and it were not the leaves that were being used but the roots. According to old writings that was much better. St Johns Wort (hypericum perforatum) was used for the same also, but the plant had to be gathered before sunset.
Plantain (plantago major) is still known as a good herb for little wounds. Just a clean leave on a wound and everything heals fast. In olden days were the leaves also used to put in the shoe, and it even prevented blistering.
A mix of sage (salvia officinalis) and fern seed in the shoe seem to work too. It was the fern seed that worked best.
A little branch of juniper carried on the hat keeps up the courage when walking all day long and garlic roasted on a piece of bread or garlic soup was highly appreciated by mountain walkers and climbers. It was not mentioned if it was useful against witches"
Magic herbs, the magic world of herbs. Greet Buchner, herbs against tiredness.
And for discussion: what herbs do you know for the same goal? Folk remedies in your village/country for this? Magic Rhymes'? Other superstitions?