CELTS and HERBS
- Carried medicine bags filled with herbs, salves, potions and other items for healing.
- Known for cleanliness, they made scented soaps of elder flowers that soothed and softened the skin. Honey soap made with soft soap, honey and sweet marjoram.
- Also used steam houses made of stone with roofs made of turf and heather.
- Celts were able to have many spices and herbs known to Wales, Ireland, or Scotland. They also traded with many people on the European continent and Mediterranean area. Used aromatherapy as well.
- Beauty products – Astringent lotion made with rosemary, elder flowers and sage infused with wine vinegar for 3 weeks. They strained the liquid and added 2 tablespoons of the above mix to warm water for skin or as a hair rinse. Flower petals or herbs used as perfume. Mixture of honey and thyme chewed to sweeten breath. Makeup – eyebrows were darkened with sloe berries and cheeks and lips were colored with berry juices.
- A tonic of dandelion leaves and roots were used to cleanse the bladder.
- Lavender steeped in white wine vinegar with a pinch of rosemary was lightly dabbed on the temples for headaches.
- A poultice made of blackberry leaves was used on infected wounds.
- Betony for fevers.
- Bugle for ulcer poultices.
- Mallow root for cuts and burns.
- Celts infused willow leaves and bark to use for pain.
- Barley broth was given to the sick as a drink for nourishment.
Celts believed in 7 herbs:
Ground ivy Vervain
Eyebright Groundsel
Foxglove Elder bark
Young hawthorn
Healers believed there were 7 other herbs that couldn’t be touched by the supernatural. (Some of these are the same as above)
Vervain Eyebright
St. John’s Wort Mallow
Speedwell Yarrow – best for all around healing
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