ABSCESS

GROUNDSEL, MALLOW or MARSH MALLOW poultices were quite common for boils and abscesses (Hampshire FWI, Flück, Tongue. 1965), and a hot compress made from FENUGREEK seeds was used in the same way (Flück). The inner leaves of CABBAGE could be used, too (V G Hatfield. 1994), and in Ireland, a favourite treatment was to make a tea from BROOM tops, and bathe the place with this (Maloney). MADONNA LILY petals, macerated in alcohol,

usually brandy, were bound to abscesses, boils and ulcers (Porter), and to all sorts of other skin eruptions. A poultice of WILD SORREL leaves was used in parts of South Africa to treat an abscess (Watt & Breyer Brandwijk). Similarly, a poultice of chickweed is still prescribed by herbalists (Warren-Davis).