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| Silverweed |
During a recent walk, my fiancee Jules, pointed out this remarkable little plant to me (pictured). It was Silverweed. Not only did the Romans use Silverweed as an early form of ‘insole,’ but I was astonished to discover how it played such an integral role in the lives of our early ancestors. There is a well-worn phrase, ‘history is all around us’, often it’s under our feet! Silverweed not only has an incredible amount of uses, but opens a window on our ancient past.
We found this Silverweed, or Silver Cinquefoil, growing on a trackway along Churchdown Hill, near where we live. Down the centuries, Silverweed has had various names. This creeping, trailing plant can be found on sandy or gravely soils, rough grassland, roadside verges and even sand dunes. The leaves are silvery covered with silky white hairs, particularly on the underside. These hairs are also present on the stem and the stolons, which give the leaves the silvery appearance from which the plant gets its name. It is also known as goosegrass, not only because geese enjoy it, but the shape of the leaves are similar to the bird's footmarks. In Sweden, the flower is called gåsört (goose-wort).
Between June and August, its little yellow, saucer-like flowers appear, which remain all year-round. Its Latin name ‘potentilla’ means ‘little powerful one,’ and it certainly is! Sweetened with a spoonful of honey, Silverweed can be used as a gargle for sore throats, mouth ulcers and gum infections. It is also an excellent remedy for cramps in the stomach and abdomen. On the continent, a tablespoonful of the herb, boiled in a cup of milk, has been recommended as an effective remedy in tetanus, or lockjaw. Silverweed’s dried and powdered leaves have also been successfully administered in ague. In ancient times a distilled water of the herb was used as a cosmetic for removing freckles, spots and pimples and even treating sunburn. The physicians of Myddfai in Carmarthenshire in Wales, recommended it with other herbs for women who could not have children.
“This is a plant under Venus, and deserves to be much more known in medicine than it is. It is of the nature of tansy. The leaves are mildly astringent: dried, and given in powder, they will frequently effect a cure in agues and intermittents (fevers); the usual dose is a mat-spoonful of the powder every three or four hours betwixt the fits”.
(Nicholas Culpepper: 17th Century)
Now for the history. Up until the end of the nineteenth century, the roots of ‘Wild Tansy’ (its earlier name), were eaten in times of famine, especially in the Scottish highlands and islands, and they were cultivated. It was said a man could sustain himself on a square of ground his own length, growing Silverweed. Its Gaelic names include brisgean, briosglan or brislean, meaning brittle. It is also known as an seachdamh aran - one of the seven breads of the Gael, which refers to its great importance in the diet of people in the highlands and islands of Scotland, before potatoes became common. The roots can be baked, boiled, roasted, dried and ground into a rough flour for bread or porridge and have even been seen eaten raw. On St. Kilda, they were eaten with melted giben (fowl fat).
“The root of it, which they call Moors in Yorkshire, about Settle, are eaten by the Boys in Winter, for they taste sweet, and are as pleasant as parsnips. Hogs dig them up and eat them greedily”.
Some of Silverweed’s other names are ‘Travellers Ease’ and ‘Traveler’s Joy’ . These names probably came about, because it was said that on long marches, Roman soldiers would pluck its leaves and place them in their shoes to prevent sore feet. Silverweed flourishes even when trampled, and was said to keep the feet of long-distance messengers cool and dry.
Learning about the uses of this little plant was fascinating. But, I was later amazed to discover in the area where it was growing, was a Neolithic Hill Fort, near some ‘Roman Steps’ skirting the great Roman arterial road called Ermin Street!
