Bistort (Bistorta officinalis)
Flowers: June to July. Height: Up to 90cm (36in).
Also known as Dragon-wort and Snakeweed.
Medicinal: Rich in tannin, it was one of the strongest astringents available to medieval herbalists and used for the treatment of infectious diseases, small burns and wounds and to stop bleeding. Water distilled from its leaves and roots would be used to wash any place bitten or stung by any venomous creature. The root was ground into a powder and Culpeper’s Complete Herbal (1653) stated “when taken in drink expelleth the venom of the plague, driving it out by sweating”.
Culinary: Young leaves were used as a substitute for spinach.
