Alkanet
March 18th, 2007 by admin
The name alkanet generally refers to Alkanna tinctoria or Dyer’s Bugloss (though it may be used for Anchusa officinalis or Common Bugloss).
It is a member of the Borage family Boraginaceae.
Alkanna tinctoria is also known as orchanet, dyer’s bugloss, Spanish bugloss or bugloss of Languedoc. Its name comes from the Spanish word alcana, from Arabic al-hena, after henna, (Lawsonia inermis).
Alkanet is grown in the south of France and on the shores of the Levant. It has a dark red root of blackish appearance externally but inside showing a blue-red meat, surrounding a whitish core. Its root yields a fine red colouring matter which has been used as a cloth dye and to tint tinctures, oils, wines, varnishes, etc. It was often used to improve the appearance of poor grades of port and similar wines, and to give the appearance of age to port wine corks. It is commonly used today as a food colouring.
It was listed in the 1918 U.S. Dispensatory.
venus
protection
AKAs
Enchusa
Orchanct
Spanish Bugloss
Medicinal Parts : flowers ,roots, seeds
‘It is an herb under the dominion
of Venus, and indeed one of her darlings,
though somewhat hard to come by.
It helps old ulcers,
hot inflammations,
burnings by common fire
and St. Anthony’s fire.
For these uses the best way
is to make it
into an ointment if made a vinegar
of it, as made a vinegar of roses,
it helps the morphy and leprosy ….
it helps the yellow jaundice,
spleen, and gravel in the kidneys.
Dioscorides saith,
it helps such as are bitten
by venomous beasts,
whether it be taken
inwardly or applied to the wound, nay,
he saith further, if any that hath newly
eaten it do but spit into the mouth
of a serpent, the serpent instantly dies….
It kills worms.
Its decoction made
in wine and drank,
strengthens the back, and easeth
the pains thereof.
It helps bruises and falls.
a remedy to drive out
the smallpox and measles
as any is;
an ointment made of it
is excellent for green wounds,
pricks or thrusts.’
Herb to the privities,
it draws forth the dead child.
Besides the common name,
it is called Orchanct and Spanish Bugloss,
and by the apothecaries, Enchusa.
It has a great and thick root
of a reddish color, long,
narrow hairy leaves, and small
blue or reddish-purple flowers.
Where to find
It grows in weedy places
along the verges
of roads and on waste land.
It likes a dry sandy soil.
It is cultivated commercially
for the red dye extracted
from the roots.
Flowering time
It flowers from mid to late summer,
but the root is in its prime,
as are Carrots and Parsnips,
before the herb runs up to stalk.
Astrology
It is under the dominion of Venus,
and is indeed one of her darlings.
Medicinal Virtues
It helps old ulcers,
hot inflamations, burnings
by common fire and St Anthony’s fire,
by antipathy to Mars.
For these uses your best way
is to make it into an ointment.
If you make a vinegar of it,
as you make Vinegar of Roses,
it helps the morphy and leprosy.
It helps the yellow jaundice,
spleen and gravel in the kidneys.
Modern Uses
Red dye is used
to color-ointments.
The flowers, roots and seeds
have expectorant properties.
It is used by some as a blood purifier.
But it is not in general
use and not recommended
for internal use domestically.
Posted in A Herbs |
