Lady's Mantle: Alchemilla Vulgaris

I've decided when I get a garden I'm going to have a "woman's" plot filled with plants like these. Thanks to Evelyn for this wisdom and for hunting with me.




Named after the Virgin Mary's cloak because of its scalloped leaves. The name alchemilla ("little magical one") derives from the dew which collects on it - dew being formerly associated with magic. The dew was used as a beauty lotion by country people. Nicholas Culpeper claimed that the juice of this plant could firm up sagging breasts, while pillows stuffed with it could bring on a good sleep.
As an astringent Lady's Mantle paradoxically both promotes delayed menstrual flow (an emmenagogue) and reduces abnormally heavy or prolonged menstruation (menorrhagia) or bleeding from the uterus that is not due to menstruation (metrorrhagia). It also has a role to play in easing the changes of menopause. The same astringency can play a role in the treatment of diarrhea and as a mouthwash for sores and ulcers and as a gargle for laryngitis.

I washed the plants and made tea from them (with water that had rested after it boiled) to help with my kick-your-guts-on-the-curb cramps. Also helful: Sage.