βηχιον

Dear pagan readers,

I’m taking a few minutes of my time to introduce you to a plant I’m currently harvesting through the Laurentides Mountains. Gaius Plinius Secundus, better known as ”Pliny The Elder”, mentioned and prescribed this wonderful plant in his gigantic work called Naturalis Historia under the name farfarum. It is surely one of the greatest encyclopedia made in the pagan era. Πεδάνιος Διοσκουρίδης, better known as Pedanius Dioscorides, also mentioned the ”Filius ante patrem” in his huge work called Περί ύλης ιατρικής(De materia medica libre). He called it βηχιον(bêchion) from βηχις meaning ”which calms cough”. It is a plant linked to the ánd(breath of life, thought, spirit).

The plant is commonly known as the Coltsfoot or Tussilago farfara. It is a plant whose blooming comes before the growth of the leaves. That’s why it was called ”Filius ante patrem”(the son before the father). This plant is used in many concoctions to heal pectoral illness such as bronchitis and also skin problems.

The flower heads are edible raw or cooked. The leaves are also edible. Very young, they can be eaten raw, especially their petiole is juicy. Soon, the leaves will become rubbery and are better cooked. The flower and leaves are good sources of vitamin C, zinc and also contains a natural antibiotic. Also the ash of burnt and dried leaves create a salt substitute. It was used as a condiment once upon a time.

It is one of the first flower that BalduR offers us each year when spring comes. Like I already asked you in a previous article: will you refuse such a beautiful gift from the beautiful shining gods?

HailaR BalþuR!

Frederik Blanchet