What a wonderful name for a herb!
Here is my lovage sprouting this spring.
Folk names for this plant are -
Bo’ Hog Root
Gout Weed
Italian Parsley
Lavose
Love Root
Lubestico
Sea Parsley
Smellage
Lovage has an ancient history, the ancient Greeks chewed the leaves for digestion and gas. Both the Greeks and the Romans used the herb as a medicine, and in the Middle Ages it was used as a cure-all for almost everything! It was introduced into Britain by the Romans and taken to the USA by early English colonists and was often found in their gardens.
As both a medicinal and culinary herb, all parts of this plant are edible. Lovage root can be candied, and the seeds can be chewed on to enhance wakefulness and stay alert.
Magical uses -
Planet: Sun, Venus, Moon
Ruler: Pan, Astarte
Element: Water, Fire
Astrological Sign: Taurus
Parts Used: All
Powers: Love, purification, psychic cleansing
Lovage is one of the most trusty herbs for drawing self-love, as well as romance into your life. Not only will it bring you love, but regular bathing with this herb is said to enhance your beauty, physically, and allow your inner beauty to shine more brightly.
Add seven rose buds to a Lovage bath, to become more attractive to the opposite sex.
The dried root can be added to herbal amulets to attract love, and it can be steeped in wine to be served to a prospective lover.
In Central Europe, women wore Lovage around their necks when meeting lovers, and the herb was often put in love potions as a guarantee of everlasting devotion.
Plant Lovage in front of and around your home to help ward off all sorts of unwanted intruders, ranging from door-to-door salespeople to evil spirits, to epidemics, to vermin.
The leaves can be placed in the shoes to relieve weary feet.
Lovage dug up at night on Good Friday reputedly helps ward off either witches (!!) or the influence of the Devil.
Lovage tea, served hot or iced.
To make, steep 1 teaspoon of finely chopped lovage leaves or shredded roots in a cup of boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain and enjoy.
Lovage & Potato Soup
Ingredients
1 onion, chopped.
2 tablespoons butter
1kg potatoes, cleaned and cubed
750ml GF chicken stock (or GF vegetable stock)
500ml milk
4-5 good handfuls of chopped lovage
salt and pepper to season
Method
1. In a large pan, melt the butter and sauté the chopped onion followed by the potato and mix well.
2. Add the stock and milk to the pan and bring to a simmer until the potatoes are tender. Add in the lovage and puree the soup with a hand blender. You may want to thin the soup out at this stage by adding in more stock depending on your preference.
3. Returning the pan to the heat, add salt and pepper to season and serve and garnish with some chopped lovage leaves.
Sources –
A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Plants & Herbs by Rachel Patterson
Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunninham
Komentar