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The
designation "sweet" refers to the vanilla-like,
new mown hay fragrance the leaves and flowers impart when
dried. This is due to the presence of Coumarin, which like
patchouli has the ability to be a fixative to other fragrances
in addition to its own aromatic contribution to perfumes and
potpourris. "Ruff" derives from the French rovelle,
meaning wheel, describing the arrangement of the leaves around
the stem. In Old French, it was known as muge-de-boys
or "musk of the woods."
In the garden, sweet woodruff makes an attractive perennial
ground cover especially for shaded areas. Indeed, sweet woodruff's
leaves will yellow and its pretty white-flowering will lessen
if exposed to too much sun. Although it will grow with abandon
through self-seeding and underground rhizomes once established,
the seed can be difficult to germinate so it's best to buy
your initial plants from a commercial grower or garden center.
If starting from seed, make sure they're fresh and they must
be stratified to germinate. The plant grows to six inches
in both height and width. It is a perennial to zone 3 and
flowers from May to June developing a bristly seed that is
dispersed by attaching itself to the fur of passing animals.
Sweet woodruff is considered a tonic, along with being anti-spasmodic
and diuretic. The herb is regarded as a mild sedative, especially
to counteract nervous tension in the very young and elderly.
It is supposed to benefit digestion and be helpful with liver
obstructions and hepatitis. For these reasons the herb was,
and still is, added to early wine in addition to sweetening
the harsh flavor of the immature libation. In Germany, Maibowle
or Maiwein (May wine) is still drunk as a spring tonic
and to mark the passage of winter, along with other May Day
celebrations, many of which date back to the time of the Druids.
The herb's association with springtime and newness has led
to its being carried in sachets to aid in the fulfillment
of fresh plans and "new starts". Woodruff is also
carried to attract wealth and to bring victory to athletes
and soldiers. When carried in a leather pouch, it will guard
against all evil. Woodruff was strewn on the floors of medieval
churches. Garlands of the leaves decorated statues, especially
those of the Blessed Virgin, on St. Barnabas's Day (June 11)
and St. Peter's Day (June 20).
Although sweet woodruff makes a pleasant addition to some
herbal tea blends and may be safely added to desserts and
some drinks - such as wine and cider - the herb can be toxic
and may cause internal bleeding if taken to excess. Avoid
the herb completely if pregnant or if taking general medication,
even aspirin. The active ingredient, Coumarin, is used to
produce anticoagulant drugs.
As a fragrant herb and a fixative, sweet woodruff makes an
perfect addition to potpourris. Its sedative qualities also
make it the ideal partner for hops in a sleep pillow. Sweet
Woodruff was tied around the calves of women in labor and
stuffed into their pillow to bring restful sleep and strengthen
the nerves.
Here's a simple recipe for an herbal sleep pillow, the moss
acting as both a cushion and to quieten the rustling of the
other herbs:
Sweet Woodruff Sleep Pillow
· 1 part dried sweet woodruff
· 2 parts dried hops
· 4 parts dried forest moss.
Just
stuff the mixture into a pillow.
Some May wine is simply the fresh leaves and flowers of sweet
woodruff added to white wine. Other recipes can be more complex,
such as the following:
May Wine
·
1 gallon dry white wine
· 1 handful of fresh sweet woodruff leaves and flowers,
chopped
· 1 cup of sugar
· 6oz. of brandy
· 1 bottle of champagne, chilled
· 1 whole orange, quartered
· 12 fresh strawberries
· Several sprigs of fresh woodruff with flowers for
garnish.
Mix the wine, the chopped sweet woodruff, the brandy and the
fruit in a large bowl and allow it to sit for at least 12
hours. Strain and remove the woodruff. Add the sugar and stir
until dissolved. Pour in the chilled champagne and stir. Serve
with the fresh woodruff as a garnish.
For those who would like a lower alcohol content, omit the
brandy and substitute ginger ale for the champagne.
Sweet woodruff, especially in combination with other herbs,
can alleviate even the most severe headache, including migraine.
Try the following tea next time your head is pounding. The
herbs may be fresh or dried; the ration remains the same.
Herbal
Headache Tea Blend
· 2 parts sweet woodruff
· 1 part lavender flowers
· 1 part thyme
· 2 parts cowslip flowers
Pour
one cup of boiling water over two teaspoons of the herbal
tea blend. Let the tea steep covered for 5-10 minutes then
strain and pour. Sweeten with honey if desired.
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