What’s that growing in my garden, and what can I brew with it?

So you’re sitting around the picnic table in the garden. Looking around you realize that you haven’t done your proper yardwork in a bit. But wait! You may benefit from your fortunate forgetfulness! Those “weeds” may be something else entirely. They may be medieval medicine in the raw. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Plantain

Plantain’s medicinal properties come from the phytochemicals it contains, including allantoin, aucubin, ursolic acid, flavonoids, and asperuloside. 

The decoction of leaves of plantayne drunken, stoppeth the blouddy slice and other fluxes of the belly, also it stoppeth the spiitting of bloud, the pissing of bloud, and the superfluous flowing of womens termes, and all other issue of bloud.

Seems like they favored plantain for blood ailments

The same juice of the Decoction of the leaves or rootes of Plantayne, Do cure and heale the naughtie ulcers of the mouth, the tooth ache, and the bleeding of the gummes or jawes, whan the mouth is oftentimes wasshed with the same.

Mugwort

Mugwort was used in traditional Chinese, Hindu, and European medicine for gastrointestinal and gynecological problems. During the Middle Ages, mugwort was known as the “mother of herbs.”

Mugwort pound with oyle of sweet almonds and layd to yhe stomake as a plaster sureth al the payne and grief of the same.

Pound mugwort with almond oil to make a plaster for stomach aches.

Also if one so annoynts his joints with the juice thereof mengled with oyle of roses it cureth the ache shaking and drawing together of sinewes

Make a salve of mugwort juice and rose water to soothe aching joints.

Sage 

Sage boyled in wine and dronken provoketh brine, breaketh the stone, comforeth the Harte, and swageth head ache

Mint

Mint was a popular herbal remedy in medieval Europe, used to treat a variety of ailments.

“Mynte boyled in wine and dronken, easeth women which are tomuch grieved with harde and perillous travell in childbearing.” 

Ground-ivy or Creeping Charlie

Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy) is a traditional medicinal herb, often called Creeping Charlie, Gill-over-the-ground, or Field Balm. Its aerial parts are used to treat respiratory congestion (bronchitis, colds, asthma), sinus issues, digestive disorders, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and to soothe skin irritations through tea, tinctures, and oil infusions. 

Usage Examples

Culinary: Young leaves can be added to salads or soups.
Beer: Used as a flavoring agent before hops became common (“ale ivy”). 
Tea: Fresh or dried leaves are steeped in hot water to make “gill tea,” sometimes sweetened with honey.
Tinctures/Juice: Used for concentrated doses, particularly for ear, nose, and throat issues.
Oil Infusions/Compresses: Used to treat wounds and hemorrhoids.