“Herb Healing Charm” by Mael Brigde

Herb Healing Charm

delight of eye

friend of cattle

magic lies within

I pluck you

—great thanks—

sing your charm into

my ailing form

comely herb

blessed of Brigit

Goddess of Healers

do your tender work

Note: “Herb Healing Charm” – This poem corresponds to Lus (Flame/Herb), a letter in the medieval Irish script called the ogam. The first two lines are translations of the word ogams “lí súla” and “carae cethrae” which are applied to this letter (Laurie, Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom, pp. 63-64).

Image: “Herb Robert Geranium robertianum in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.” Photo by Joli - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 

“Herb Robert was once widely used to treat a range of medical conditions. The leaves were crushed to make compresses for bruises and wounds. It was taken internally for diarrhoea, peptic ulcers and bleeding, and applied externally to treat inflamed gums and herpes. The plant has also been used as a natural insect repellent and to obtain a brown dye. Although rarely encountered in contemporary herbal medicine recent research suggests (H)erb Robert may lower blood sugar levels, making it a potentially useful treatment for diabetes.” Ireland's Wildlife.