Lady’s Mantle (Achemilla Vulgaris) is a perennial native to Europe, North America and Northern Asia.
It may grow to be about 1 foot (30 cm) tall.
This herb has clusters of tiny green flowers.
Culinary Uses
The leaves of the Lady’s Mantle are edible, but not very tasty.
You can use the young leaves in salads and much in the same way you would use spinach.
As the leaves grow older they have an even more bitter taste.
It is not common to use Lady’s Mantle as a culinary herb.
Herbal Remedies
Lady’s Mantle tea is used by many women who suffer from heavy menstruation bleedings.
It may also help to ease those agonizing cramps during menstruation.
This definitely is a “women’s herb”.
Tea may also be used as a gargle to assist the healing process of bleeding gums and of tonsillitis.
Some have found that Lady’s Mantle tea will reduce the agonies of vomiting.
The tea can also be used externally to speed up the healing process on wounds.
Lady’s Mantle has positive effects on skin problems. The creams containing Lady’s Mantle are said to do wonders on rough skin. It is especially good as a remedy to soften the skin.
Pregnant women are advised not to drink Lady’s Mantle tea.
In Folklore
The Latin Name “Achemilla” stems from alchemy.
It was believed by many alchemists that the dew drops on the Lady’s Mantle were a vital ingredient in the production of gold.
During the Middle Ages in Europe it was said that drops of dew from the Lady’s Mantle were marvelous to treat illness in the eyes.
This would have a positive effect if the dew used as eye drops was retrieved directly from the leaves.
During the Middle Ages this herb played an important part in the lives of many women. In England they used to call it “a woman’s best friend”.
Women would drink tea made from the green leaves of the Lady’s Mantle for 10 days in a row each month. This was supposed to reduce the discomforts of menopause.
In Europe Lady’s Mantle was also recommended for young women who had recently given birth. They would cover their breasts with leaves from Lady’s Mantle believing this would retrieve the lovely firm breasts they had before pregnancy.
During the Middle Ages there was a superstition concerning women and how to maintain their youth.
If a woman wished to keep her sweet youthful appearance she had to go collect the dew drops found on the Lady’s Mantle during the month of May.
This would only work if she did it in the nude and alone.
