Bugle was once highly valued for its first aid properties, hinted at in the colloquial names of sicklewort (I imagine a scythe wound could be quite catastrophic) and Carpenter’s weed. Consound was once a term commonly used to describe wound-healers, and Bugle sits in the middle between Comfrey (Greater Consound) and Self-heal (Lesser Consound). Bugle also works to mildly lower heart rate, which would further slow bleeding. It was also highly valued as a treatment for the ‘spitting of blood’ – the emerging symptoms of tuberculosis.

As for its analgesic properties, they may only be considered mild by today’s standards, but would certainly have been a safe option for the elderly or children. Bugle’s astringent quality is also different to other herbs in that it tends not to cause constipation. For this reason it was also used for internal ulcers, as well as external ones.

With more reliable methods of repairing and healing both external and internal wounds, it’s not surprising this herbal treatment has almost completely fallen out of use. However Bugle’s dualistic properties of stopping bleeding without ‘congesting the blood’ makes it ideal for old wounds and bruising too, an ointment of Bugle and daisies is good for taking the pain out of post-operative or otherwise just-healed wounds.

Witten by Jenny Carden-Porrett