THE FORGOTTEN WHITE MYSTICS
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE OF BRITISH WOMEN AND THEIR FORESTS.
Working with the spirits of the forest and using its ingredients for magic and medicine isn’t something you’d immediately associate with white British heritage. But the truth is, until the rise of scientific rationalism and organised religion in the 17th and 18th centuries, magic, witchcraft and plant-based healing were deeply woven into the lives of people across Britain - especially women.
Before the Enlightenment and the widespread persecution of so-called witches (which peaked between the 1500s and 1700s), rural women - often poor, often older - held the role of healers, midwives and spiritual guides in their communities. Their understanding of plants wasn’t “alternative”; it was everyday survival. They passed down knowledge about which roots could settle a stomach, which herbs could ease childbirth, and which flowers to leave out under the full moon.
Modern science increasingly confirms what these so-called witches knew all along. From antiseptic nettles to fever-reducing mugwort, the native plants of Britain are packed with power. We should all know them - especially in an age when we’re rediscovering nature as medicine.
Here are 5 plants you see every day that could save your life… or at least cure your cold:
MUGWORT
Known as the dream herb - mugwort eases digestion and menstruation, and is used in teas or smoked for it’s calming, mind-opening effects. Best seen JUL - SEPT on paths and field edges.
STINGING NETTLE
Packed with iron calcium and protein, nettles fight inflammation, treat hay fever and restore energy after a summer of mashing up your liver…don’t forget gloves when foraging! Best seen APR -SEPT in gardens or in woodland edges.
ELDER
Common in hedgerows elderberries are a powerful immune booster. The flowers can be brewed into tea to ease colds, sinus infections and flu symptoms. Best seen MAY - JUN for flowers. SEP - OCT for berries. In hedgerows, woodlands, often near footpaths.
DANDELION
A powerful healer rebranded as a weed. Dandelions support digestion, cleanse the liver, and act as a natural diuretic. The whole plan is medicinal - roots, leaves and flowers. Best seen MAR - OCT in parks and on pavements.
YARROW
A powerful healer rebranded as a weed. Dandelions support digestion, cleanse the liver, and act as a natural diuretic. The whole plan is medicinal - roots, leaves and flowers. Best seen MAR - OCT in parks and on pavements.