An Alarming Taste
Bitterness is the hallmark of many poisonous plants. It is the warning flavour that signals something unsavoury is about to happen.
Cuttencruyt
Dit heel cruydeken is van eene seer vuylen reuck, selfs den bedorven ende verrotten gesauten Visch, ende het stinckende Peekel oft Vischsop, met sijnen moeyelijcken jae afgrijselijcken stank verre te boven gaende…
Deadly Nightshade aka Belladonna
Thinking about the relation of women to poisons, no other plant represents this link more than deadly nightshade or belladonna…
Miss Efficient
Bitter melon is known as Miss Efficient in Nigeria for its certainty as an abortifacient. In Cameroon the seeds are used as a pessary. In Nigeria a decoction of the leaves and salt is taken as a ‘morning-after’ remedy after …
Tansy, Feverfew and Mullein. Receptaria: Hildegard von Bingen
Tansy emmenagogue A woman who is in pain from obstructed menses should take TANSY (Tanacetum vulgare) and equal weight FEVERFEW (Tanacetum parthanium), a bit more MULLEIN (Verbascum) than either of the others. She should cook these in water FROM A FREELY FLOWING STREAM which is tempered by the SUN AND AIR.
Receptaria: Tansy & gin
Very much recognised as an emmenagogue….. A strong decoction or infusion of the herb is in common use…
L’erba delle donne
This book contains eleven studies on the history of women in the defense of health, demonstrating how, even if the ruling class has historically used academic medicine, huge masses, underpowered and over-exploited…
Accabadora
In 2009, Sardinian writer Michela Murgia, -an extremely original writer and often politically provocative figure, with a sustained commitment to women’s issues and to the traditions of her birthplace, Sardinia-, wrote her widely acclaimed book Accabadora.