Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

Herbs and medicinal Plants in April are Yarrow, Coltsfoot, Lungwort, Violets

'The Celto-Germanic Cultural Environment(s)' were the leading Culture(s) in much of Europe for almost
a thousand Years.
Although the Druidry was destroyed by the 'Holy Church', the common people held on to ancient wisdom
and passed it on verbally and practically in the form of Folk Saying, Fairy Tales, Legends, Seasons Rituals
and … especially Herbalism and Folk Medicine.
Over the eight Celtic Annual Festivals (The Wheel Of The Year) and their rituals, I want to guide the
gentle reader and show how we can tune into the great Rhythms of Nature again today.
In addition I show numerous practical recipes for old-handed remedies and healing applications.

parsifalrain, April 12

Each Plant has its place in the Wheel of the Year - depending on the Month it has a special meaning- here
you will find the Plants in the particular signifcance in each respective Month.

In this 12-part series to be published at the Beginning of each Month, I want to introduce old Knowledge
of Herbs, Bushes and Trees assigned by our Ancestors and their Forefathers to each Month and Festivity
following mostly the Celtic Cultural Cycle's lore and tribal Knowledge in the Wheel.

please note:
Always consult a doctor before using healing remedies and read disclaimer at the end of my abstract.

1 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

Yarrow , Gordaldo, Milfoil, Sanguinary, Schafgarbe, Blutstillkraut, Wundkraut … [Achillea
millefolium], Daisy family
The Plant got its German name (Schafgarbe, Sheep-sheaf ) from the observation that sick sheep were
eating increasingly Yarrow.
These intelligent animals instinctively know the healing power of the 'Sheaf of the Sheep'.
Yarrow is also one of the oldest medicinal Plants for humans - it has been discovered that Yarrow-remains
of Flowers in a 60.000-Year-old tomb in The Iran.
Yarrow is an important female Plant (for menstrual and menopausal symptoms).
An old proverb already says 'Yarrow in the womb does good every Woman'.
In addition, the Yarrow is considered 'antihemorrhagic' and 'wound healing'.
Grated Yarrow leaves help very well in open wounds for hemostasis and healing.

properties and effect

antispasmodic, especially for stomach and intestinal cramps
hemostatic
circulation-promoting
blood purifier
anti-inflammatory
galvanic treatment
against menstrual and menopausal symptoms
for phlebitis, thrombosis and hypertension
for cold and fever

occurrence
Meadows, roadsides, sunny and dry locations

collecting tips
Flowers can be collected from May - October but only very sparingly as the Plant is often under

2 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

protection – in no case may the root be excavated.
The young leaves for a cleanse-juice can be collected from April.

ingredients
Chamazulene = main ingredient, shows similar effect as Chamomile [Matricaria discoidea]
Tannins: inulin
bitter constituents - Achillin
Vitamin C, K, Carotene

recipes for medicinal use - Yarrow infusion

Boil 1 tablespoon of dried Yarrow leaves in ½ liter of Water, simmer briefly and strain.
This infusion helps very well against stomach and bellyache, even stomach cramps.

recipes for the kitchen

The very aromatic Yarrow is used for Herbal Butter, as culinary Herb, for Herbal salt, soups, vegetable
and potato dishes.

Yarrow - carrot vegetables

500g carrots
2 tablespoons spelled flour
200ml vegetable broth
½ tsp honey
200ml of whole milk
4 tbsp. Yarrow
Strain carrots with flour, without fat - pour in the vegetable stock with stirring and simmer for 2-3
minutes.
Add the milk and honey, season, and finally sprinkle the finely picked Yarrow over it.

Flower essence - Essence of protection and safety

The flower essence of Yarrow is a wonderful, protective companion, against all possible negative
influences on us.
It makes us feel enveloped in a protective, light coat.
It really protects us from many harmful external influences.
It protects us against negative radiation as well as against attacks and energetic attacks by other people.
In times like these, when the energies are very tiring, sometimes unpredictable, the Yarrow flower essence
can be a gentle help in staying with oneself and better preserving one's personal boundaries.
The essence gives us support and security and a better sense of ourselves.
The Yarrow essence also cleanses and strengthens our aura (tip: a freshly picked Yarrow set next to the
bed, can purify your aura overnight, recharge)

3 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

 image by plantsam.com

Coltsfoot Huflattich, Breitlattich, Brustlattich, Eselslattich (Tussilago farfara) family of asters [family
Asteraceae]
The wonderful yellow blooming flowers of the Coltsfoot please us very soon in the Spring.

4 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

Like little, funny suns, they shine and bring Spring into our Hearts.
The Latin name already suggests, in which the main feature of Coltsfoot lies.
'Tussim ago' means as much as expell the cough.
And so the Coltsfoot is probably really one of the most effective Plants against an annoying cough that
lasts after the Winter into the Spring.

properties and effect

mucolytic
expectorant
cough-relieving
anti-inflammatory
astringent

medicinal applications
for dry bronchitis
particularly effective in irritating cough
bronchial asthma
pneumoconiosis (silicosis)
laryngitis
phlebitis
for wounds and blemished skin

occurrence
On the banks of streams and rivers, on roadsides, fields and screes, gravel and clay pits

collecting tips
From March to April the Coltsfoot flowers are collected, even before they are fully flowered.
From May, the leaves of Coltsfoot will be collected.

ingredients
Mucilage - protecting the affected mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive organs
Bitter substances - have a toning effect - improve the general condition and increase the appetite
tannins
inulin
minerals

recipes for medicinal use

cough - take equal parts of Coltsfoot flowers and leaves, Lungwort, Plantain [genus Plantago] leaves and
Cowslip flowers

cough syrup
Fill Coltsfoot flowers about 4 centimeters into a sealable glass.
Cover with honey so that all parts of the Plant are over.
The next Day add 4cm of Coltsfoot flowers and pour over honey again.
Repeat until the glass is full.

5 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

If you want to refine the honey a bit, you can topple with a layer of Violet and Cowslip (page 14)
[Primula veris] flowers.
The jar is capped and allowed to stand in a sunny place for about 2 weeks.
Then squeeze the honey through a cloth and store in a dark container.

recipes for the Herbal cuisine

The yellow flowers can be used in Spring as a decoration for salads.
A Spring punch made of them also tastes very refreshing.

Coltsfoot eggshell
Bring a handful of washed Coltsfoot and flowers to a boil in slightly salted water
Then cut into thin strips and whisk with 4 eggs.
Season with real salt, nutmeg, curry and pepper and cook in a pan for a short time.
Decorate the egg dish with some fresh Coltsfoot flowers.

Coltsfoot potato salad

Make the potato salad the way you like it most.
Finally, but mix in finely chopped Coltsfoot leaves, Ground Ivy [Glechoma hederacea] leaves and Garlic
Mustard [Alliaria officinalis / petiolata] leaves.

Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) Lungenkraut, Schlotterhose, Echtes Lungenkraut, Geflecktes

Lungenkraut, Blauer Himmelschlüssel, Mauer-Habichtskraut, Wald-Habichtskraut, Hansel und Gretel
[family Boraginaceae]

The Lungwort has been a fascination for me when I was a small child.
I did not know any other Plant that blooms in two different colors.

6 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

In addition, this beautiful violet and the lovely pink have been very appealing to me.
Often I was around in the Woods to pluck bouquets of Lungwort, which we called 'Hansel and Gretel'
and from Cowslips [Primula veris, Primula officinalis].
At the time I did not know anything about the wonderful healing properties of this Plant.
Today I know that I have to collect the Lungwort in any case for my Spring cough tea, because the
Lungwort works, as the name already suggests, very well against cough and lung disease.

properties and effect

expectorant
strengthening the pulmonary tissue
lung tonic
abirritative
tonic

medicinal applications
sough, especially with severe mucus formation or stuck cough
bronchitis
hoarseness
laryngitis

occurrence
Especially in sparse deciduous forests, but also at the edge of the forest and in meadows.
The soil is mostly moist and deep, so the Lungwort is very common in shady, water-bearing valleys and
streams.

collecting tips
The flowers and leaves are collected in April.
The Plant can be cut just above the ground, tied into bundles; you can hang the Lungwort upside down in
a not too sunny place and let it dry.

ingredients
silica
tannins
mucilage

recipes for medicinal use

cough
Dried flowers and leaves can be used as an effective cough tea.

Lungwort powder
From dried flowers and leaves you can make a fine powder by crushing the Plant parts in a mortar.
This powder works very well as a remedy for fresh wounds.

7 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

The Violet (Viola odorata) Common Violet, English Violet, Garden Violet, Blue Violet, Sweet Violet,
Duftveilchen, Märzveilchen, Echtes Veilchen, Wohlriechendes Veilchen [Violaceae family]

'Come dear May and make

the Trees turn green again
And let for us, at the creek
bloom the little Violets'

The Violet is probably one of the Plants which is particularly common in the literature.
The Violet has always had a special fascination for me.
This wonderful violet blooming flower looks so modest and yet so beautiful.
She likes to hide in the Forest, if you find her, you will be happy about it.
In addition, the small Violet smells especially good, it is therefore used for the production of perfumes.
The Violet is a symbol of virginity, humility, modesty, decency, paradise, Spring and hope, faithfulness
and Love.

properties and effect

The effect of the Violet is secretion-promoting (excitosecretory), fostering expectoration, diuretic - and it
stimulates the production of mucus in the digestive tract

medicinal applications
forms of respiratory disease
cough, whooping cough,
shortness of breath
headaches
bloating

occurrence

8 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

On shady, humus rich, dry and nutrient-rich soils.
In Forests and Forest edges.
In the shady garden

collecting tips
Collect the Violet flowers without stems at the flowering time in March / April and dry.

ingredients
mucilage
Orris root oil
Violin
flavonoids

recipes for medicinal use

according to Hildegard von Bingen
Violet oil
250 ml of native, virgin Olive oil extra and 2 heaped tablespoons of Violet petals and leaves are slowly
heated.
As soon as bubbles form, (immediately) remove from the fire and let rest overnight.
Filter off the next Day and fill in small vials.
This oil helps with bruises, kidney pain, 'Bible cyst' (Gideons disease or Ganglion) and benign tumor
formations

9 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

Application: rub several times a Day the affected area with Violet oil

Violet elixir
1 liter of good red wine is boiled with 15g Violet flower and root, 10g Galangal root (Aromatic Ginger
[Alpinia Officinarum]) and 20g licorice root [radix Glycyrrhiza glabra].
Remove from heat and leave overnight.
The next Day bring everything to a boil again, then strain and fill in bottles.
According to Hildegard von Bingen, this elixir helps with melancholy, disinclination to work, sadness and,
as a consequence lung complaints.
Application: Take 2-3 swigs daily now and then.

recipes for the kitchen

The flowers of the fragrance Violet can be used to flavor sugar, honey, cakes, liqueurs; candied Violet
flowers as a confectionery.

Violet syrup
A handful of fresh Violet flowers are placed in a glass jar and poured with 1/4 l of hot water.
This mixing is left to stand for 24 hours.
Afterwards, the recovered liquid is strained and heated again.
Again a handful of fresh flowers is added and allowed to stand again for 24 hours.
After straining, this mixture is added with the same amount of honey.

Disclaimer
This information is supplied without liability, limit or warranty.
Please note - this healing recipes may be subject to change and are without guarantee – always contact a
Medical doctor before the application !
and
The information in this article has been carefully reviewed by me.
However, I decline any liability for any damage or consequences arising from the use or misuse of the
information I have provided.
I do not give any medical advice.
If you have serious health problems, you should refrain from self-medication and seek the advice of a
Medical doctor or alternative practitioner.

Some Wild Plants are protected regionally, consult the nature conservation authorities.
Collect only individual Plants, so that the stock remains !
Remember – you can only harvest something which belongs to you !
all images from Wikipedia, Wikimedia or self-made unless otherwise stated

10 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

 deutsche Version hier
https://yadi.sk/i/6lMPhT2g3URYQa

previous
Plants in the Wheel of the Year – March

next
Plants in the Wheel of the Year – May

next in The Wheel

Walpurgis - Beltane - Baaltane

related
Spring Therapy with Weeds

11 Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April