Anyone use Rose Noble ?

[Toddy]

Mine's setting seed, and the roots of the ones I weeded out are huge and starchy. The French call it Herbe de Siege ('scuse my French, school was a long time ago). We used to have an old Irishman as a neighbour and he talked about the RoseNoble. He said his parents pulled great bunches of it every Summer, and it was hung up to dry and then laid past in a drawer for when it was needed. He said it was boiled up for a couple of hours and then strained, and anyone who wasn't well, from pretty much anything, was given it to drink. He said they believed that it cured them of any hurt or ache, helped the feeble, restored health, etc.,

I knew it as Figwort, and I hadn't seen it grow around here, but I got hold of some seeds and it took forever to get them going. He died just before mine grew enough to show him and refresh his memories. I regretted that, still do. He loved my garden and the herbs I grow.
Now, it's like the foxgloves, lady's mantle, St.John's Wort and the Evening Primroses, and self seeds itself and I end up weeding it out.

I wondered, do any of you use it ?

M

 

[Broch]

I'm a little confused (not difficult these days )

I've never heard of common figwort (Scrophularia nodosa) being called Rose Noble (which I thought was a shrub rose). Figwort, as you know, was used for many ailments but I've not used it.

It contains: iridoids (aucubin, harpagoside, acetyl harpagide), flavonoids, cardioactive glycosides, phenolic acids, & saponins

It was/is used for: detoxification of the body, treatment for eczema and psoriasis, speeds healing of wounds, burns, haemorrhoids, ulcers, treatments for swellings and tumours, mildly diuretic

However, it is also now considered toxic (probably the glycosides).

 

[Toddy]

Apparently it's pretty much it's common name at least in Northern Ireland and much of around here.
Like foxglove for Digitalis purpurea, people just use what they're used to.
Why on earth was it ever called figwort though ?
It's a very pretty flower, mine are deep pink, an almost pitcher shape to them. The seed stalks are interesting too.
They kind of grow in the same situations in my garden as the foxgloves, though I'm inclined to think of Rose Noble as more a damp woodland understory because that's where I've found it in the wild.
Usually folks look for it like meadowsweet, along burn sides, wet edges of fields, in ditches and the like.

 

[Billy-o]

Why on earth was it ever called figwort though ?

According to Brittanica, figs is ye olde worlde name for haemorhoids; for which figwort was once considered a treatment.

 

[Toddy]

Y'know ?
Piles must really have been an issue. Lesser celandine is also called Pilewort...something to do with the way the wee tubers hang, apparently.

 

[Broch]

Y'know ?
Piles must really have been an issue. Lesser celandine is also called Pilewort...something to do with the way the wee tubers hang, apparently.

LOL! I just had a quick search in my database - there are 17 plants listed as used to treat piles including figwort and celandine

 

[punkrockcaveman]

Does that mean the reason they named figs figs is because they resemble....

 

[Billy-o]

I doubt that alll piles teatments work the same, but it is apparently a fact that actors use Anusol for its astringent effects. Tightens the skin, reduces puffiness under the eyes after a night out. You can kind of tell though, I think.

 

[Toddy]

See the things I have learned since I joined this forum.......

 

[oldtimer]

At first I thought that you were referring to Ross Noble, the entertainer. After reading Billy-o's post, I wonder if he had the same thought!

 

[Billy-o]

This all also sheds possible new light on the phrase 'I couldn't give a fig'. Maybe a little less on the phrase 'You'll figure it out' but you never know. And as for us all liking a figgy pudding, well ....