By (author) Fiona Forde
A fascinating exploration of the history and practice of Irish folk herbalism
During the 1930s, the Irish Folklore Commission conducted interviews with over fifty-thousand children from primary schools in Ireland. Known as The School’s Collection, the interviews offer fascinating insight into local tradition, folklore, and culture, including the use of plant medicine in Ireland during the period.
For the first time, Fiona Forde has compiled the herbal references from this collection into a comprehensive reference guide that presents a fascinating window into the practice of Irish herbal medicine.
Including herbs such as Irish Moss, Sorrell, Barberry and more, Irish Folk Medicine chronicles each of the plants mentioned in the interviews, offering pertinent insight into what herbs were used, how they were used, and why they were used.
Many of the herbs discussed are commonly utilised today, but the interviews reveal their incredible lesser-known uses, that would have been well known and understood by these local communities in Ireland. Each chapter explores how the plant was used in Irish folk medicine, alongside a modern contemporary analysis, and exciting recipes and formulas.
Irish Folk Medicine is testament to the importance of herbalism in the community. Through the eyes of children, it reveals that anyone can utilise local plants, and how vital it is to nurture and protect traditional, ancestral wisdom.
This book will be of interest to any student or practitioner of plant medicine looking to deepen their practice and understanding of herbalism, as well as anyone interested in Irish folk history.
By (author) Fiona Forde
Fiona Forde lives in Connemara, Galway, Ireland. She is a registered herbalist, ayurvedic nutritionist and writer.
Fiona is the founder of kitchen-herbalist.com and connemara-apothecary.com
Add your own review for this title.
“At last, a book that examines the traditional herbal remedies of our past using modern day herbal medicine science! Those plants that our ancestors used for every day complaints and as tonics; have regularly been left aside in favour of modern, pharmaceutical medicine. People have thought that their grandparents did not know what they were doing. As we can see from this book, with the old folk way of using plants juxta-positioned with modern scientific knowledge, our great grandparents were right. They may not have had the science we have today, but they knew which plants helped which ailment. A fascinating read that should put anyone's mind to rest that herbal remedies are old fashioned and ineffective, quite the opposite: We can see clearly that herbal medicine has always been potent.”
Terri Conroy, Danu’s Irish Garden and author of The Herbal Spiral of
the Celtic Year
“This is a really engaging book that brings traditional knowledge to life in a meaningful way. I was especially delighted to see such genuine appreciation for the National Folklore Schools Collection, the Photographic Collection and for the value of local knowledge. The author weaves in modern ways of working with knowledge from the past very naturally, without losing its integrity. It feels both grounded in tradition and relevant to today, which makes it a very satisfying read.”
Rosari Kingston, herbalist and author of Ireland’s Hidden Medicine
“A heartwarming book containing real-life accounts of a time when it was commonplace for humans to know and respect the healing virtues of herbs. We are given fascinating insights into the medical practices of our ancestors, living in community with the plants around them and relying on herbs as medicine for both people and animals. By cataloguing the ancient use of twenty-eight native plants, Fiona demonstrates how much of contemporary herbal medicine still reflects age-old wisdom. She also reveals many herbal powers that are largely unrecognised today and perhaps awaiting rediscovery. Wonderful that this material is being brought to public awareness.”
Carole Guyett, herbalist and author of A Herbalist’s Guide to
Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond
