Masterwort

Peucedanum ostruthium / Imperatoria ostruthium

Family
Apiaceae

Tribus
Selineae

Genus
Peucedanum

Related genera
Aethusa, Angelica

Species
Peucedanum ostruthium,

Lore
Masterwort, German Meisterwurz, is a traditional healing herb native to the alps, which became popular in medieval Germany. It possesses a strong odor and has been used to ward off hexes. In Tyrol it is traditionally used in yule incense. E.g. in some regions the home is fumigated with the smoke of burnt Masterwort when the Rauhnächte approach. The root is traditionally harvested on St. John's and placed in the roof of the barn to protect the cattle. It is believed to calm the cattle and has also been used together with garlic for protection purpose and removing hexes.It is also traditionally worn as an amulet. A twig of the plant is hung around the neck to heal blurred sight. In a protection spell against the pest, the so-called 'Pestspruch', it is also mentioned, along with Burnet. Masterwort placed on open and infectious wounds is said to promote healing and it is even believed to drive bullets and arrowheads out of the flesh. Three pipes smoked with Masterwort dispel headache and toothache. Wear an uneven number of its roots (7 or 9) around the neck to heal diseases of the eyes. One spell against phtisis requires Masterwort root to be dug up on the Good Friday or on a new moon falling on a Friday. Take seven pieces of the so harvested root. Then must also be dug up as many pieces from the coffin of a pregnant woman, and together they must be hung around the neck to cure the person. The plant is otherwise dug during the waxing moon and must either be worn on the back in order to cure coughing and catarrh and then thrown into a river, or it is bound on the thumb and toe to fight epilepsy (possession).

Also called Magistrantia.

Sources

Wikipedia English, Wikipedia German
Christian Rätsch, Enzyklopädie der psychoaktiven Pflanzen

Fotos © Teufelskunst