Woad (Isatis tinctoria)

Effect:

Hemostatic, immune-boosting

Areas of application:

Ulcers, inflammation of the skin, as a hemostatic agent for injuries, meningitis, mumps, hepatitis

Plant parts used:

Leaves

Collection time:

Spring

To find:

Garden plant

Ingredients:

Essential oil, Indican dyes

Other:

Woad was long used in Europe to make blue dye until true indigo was introduced from the tropics. Later, synthetic dyes took over its function.

Hildegard von Bingen: Anyone who is plagued by paralysis, no matter how severe it is, should boil woad strongly in water and then strain it through a cloth. Then add vulture fat and twice the amount of deer tallow to the water and boil it at the same time and make an ointment out of it. With this often anointed the paralysis will disappear.