killerplants.com | Herbal Folklore | Herbal Folklore Archives Most Recent | Free Newsletter Signup

Killer Savings Offer:

What is flea-wort?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

December 8, 2003

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Gardens Alive! -$20 off—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Knock-Out Gnats™, Sting Free™ Insect Bite Protector—>Click here.

Flea Control Nematodes, Liquid Ant Killer, Deer Fly Defense Patch—>Click here.

Yellow Jacket and Wasp Trap, Moth-Away™, Cupboard Moth Trap™—>Click here.

In Chapter 181, Of the Historie of Plants (The Herbal), Gerard wrote, "Psyllium, or the common Flea-wort hath many round and tender branches, set full of long and narrow leaves somewhat hairy. The top of the stalkes are garnished with sundrie round chaffie knops, beset with small yellow floures: which being ripe containe many little shining seeds, in proportion, colour,
advertisement

A Flea Pulls a Small Cart Along an Outstretched Finger
Photographic Print by Nicole Duplaix
Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

and bignesse like unto fleas."

Gerard was adamant that the name flea-wort was "not because it killeth fleas, but because the seeds are like fleas....the seed doth resemble a flea so much, that it is hard to discerne the one from the other."

In the Middle Ages, flea-wort was used as a topical plaster. Gerard recommended "The seed stamped, and boyled in water to the forme of a plaister, and applied, taketh away all swelling of the joynts, especially if you boyle the same with vinegar and oyle of Roses, and apply it as aforesaid...unto any burning heate...or any hot and violent impostume (abscess), asswageth the same...."

The outer coat of the seed of flea-wort (Plantago psyllium Linnaeus)
advertisement

Fleawort One of 3000 Species
Buy Giclee Print at AllPosters.com

is high in mucilage, a soluble or hydrophilic dietary fiber. In water mucilage becomes gelatinous. The fiber is best known for its use in modern day bulk laxatives, those mixed with fruit juice or water.

Gerard described constipation rather uniquely when he wrote this prescription, "boyled in water or infused, and the decoction...drunke, purgeth downwards adust (burned, scorched) and cholericke (ill-tempered, angry) humours...." But he offered this warning not to overdose, "Too much Flea-wort seed taken inwardly is very hurtful to mans nature...bringing a maladie, than taking away the griefe...."

Rolv Hjelmstad has posted a great close-up shot of flea-wort or loppekjempe (in Norwegian) in his Bildegalleri Medisinplanter (photo gallery of medicinal plants). To view the photograph, click on the link:

Click here to view the photograph

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

Knock-Out Gnats™

Gardens Alive!®

Stops fungus gnats that attack your houseplants and greenhouse plants

Only from Gardens Alive! This strain of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt/H-14) provides very effective fungus gnat control for houseplant growers and home greenhouses.

Populations of fungus gnats (often called "fruit flies") usually peak during winter and spring. The tiny adult insects lay their eggs in peat moss, humus-rich organic soil and potting media.

The larvae then feed on plant roots, including those of young seedlings. Infested plants wilt, roots rot and the plants may eventually die.

With Knock-Out Gnats, however, the larvae ingest the larvicide and die! Use as a soil drench, 2-8 tsp. per gallon of water. Make three weekly applications to control successive generations. You can monitor effectiveness of Knock-Out Gnats with sticky traps. Click here - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive! [All Insect Pest Control]

Sting Free™ Insect Bite Protector

Gardens Alive!®

Repels mosquitoes, ticks and black flies, without DEET

Only from Gardens Alive! The garden workers at the Gardens Alive! test farm are sold on this product! Outdoors throughout the gardening year, they were the perfect group to test a repellent for some of most common annoying -- and hazardous -- biting bugs on the continent. Of course, it had to be strong enough to work well but gentle enough for frequent, even everyday, use. This is it! Mosquitoes, ticks and black flies hate it. So they stay away.

Sting Free™:

Is an all-natural, DEET-free repellent. While DEET is the most powerful insect repellent currently available, it is a strong chemical that some people prefer to avoid.
Is effective for 3 hours. In a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Sting Free™ outperformed all other natural formulations tested to protect against mosquito bites-and it was the only product to come close to lasting as long as a DEET product does.
Can be used every day. Because it's derived from plant oils and extracts, you'll feel confident using all-natural String Free™ every day if you need it.

The bonus with Sting Free™ is peace of mind: Sting Free™ provides protection without the worry. It's an all-natural, DEET-free bug repellent that works! Its soothing, moisturizing formula has a pleasant, mild fragrance that humans love but the bugs despise.

4 oz spray bottle Click here - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive! [All Insect Pest Control]

Flea Control Nematodes

Gardens Alive!®

Exclusively from Gardens Alive!, Flea Control Nematodes help control fleas from the outdoors.

If you’re constantly battling fleas that are brought into the home by pets, Gardens Alive! can help. Exclusively from Gardens Alive!, Flea Control Nematodes help control fleas in the outdoor areas your pets frequent most—so they’re less likely to become infested with fleas and bring them inside.

These beneficial nematodes control fleas by killing them in the larval and pupal stages in the soil where they live, breaking the lifecycle so your pets are less likely to become infested. Follow the simple extracting and dilution instructions—then apply the nematodes to your lawn with a handheld sprayer, hose end sprayer or watering can. They’re nontoxic and can be used around children and pets. You can spray them in your flower and vegetable gardens, too. Five million nematodes cover 300 sq. ft. Nematodes must be applied when soil temperatures are 55-85°. Click here - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive! [All Insect Pest Control]

Stop the flea cycle! Insect Growth Regulator - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive!

Liquid Ant Killer & Bait Holders

Gardens Alive!®

A neat, tidy, convenient way to stop ant invasions in your house

We filled our Ant Bait Holders with Liquid Ant Killer and within one minute saw the ants gobbling it up. These traps are:

Easy to use. Just put a few drops on ant trails, in cracks and crevices or in the convenient bait holder.

Effective against all sugar-loving ants. Red ants, sugar ants, pharaoh ants and other sugar-feeding household ants eat the bait with borax and carry it back to their colony.
Fast working. In 7-10 days the ant colony should be destroyed.

Place the unobtrusive bait holders (2 1/4" diameter) wherever you see ants congregating. Small openings around the base let ants in but keep out curious fingers and paws. Two-piece design makes holders easy to clean and refill; clear plastic top lets you see when tray is empty. Click here - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive! [All Insect Pest Control]

Deer Fly Defense Patch

Gardens Alive!®

Protects you from deer fly bites

It's hard to believe that such a simple device could be so much more effective than anything else we tried. At our research farm, we seldom have had any trouble with mosquitoes, however, deer flies drove us crazy until we found these simple patches.

Now you can enjoy yard work, fishing and backpacking without suffering the ice-pick bites of these voracious pests.

Best of all, unlike repellents, patches do not lose their effectiveness-regardless of how long you are outside. Stick one on the back of your hat and the patch, not your neck, will attract the flies and catch them in the sticky adhesive. Each patch gives you several days of peaceful outdoor experience. Click here - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive! [All Insect Pest Control]

Yellow Jacket and Wasp Trap

Gardens Alive!®

Wasps are attracted by the food lure and drown in the liquid. Kills without chemicals.

Place a little food in the base of the trap and set the trap near porches, pools and patios when wasps and yellow jackets become a nuisance. Quickly attracted by the lure, they fly into the entry tunnels, from which they cannot escape, and they drown in the liquid. When the bait is used up, empty and refill.

Made of high density plastic, the trap can be reused for years. Because yellow jackets and wasps are, for the gardener, beneficial insects, we recommend putting the trap out only late in the summer when their activity is most aggressive. Use in backyards, around pools, decks and outdoor eating facilities. (Bait recipe included). Click here - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive! [All Insect Pest Control]

Moth-Away™

Gardens Alive!®

Protects woolens for up to 4 months with no odor!

Herbal moth repellent protects clothes and wool blankets from moth damage. Clothes do not absorb unpleasant odor, as they do with mothballs, and are always ready to wear. Sachets look like tea bags, have a fresh herbal scent and stay effective for 3-4 months after opening. Use two sachets per cubic foot in drawers, wardrobes, linen closets and storage chests. Not for use in open-air storage areas. Click here - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive! [All Insect Pest Control]

Cupboard Moth Trap™

Gardens Alive!®

Our easy-to-use traps stop Indian meal moths from ruining food in your pantry

Signature Product Has this ever happened to you? You open a box of cereal and find the contents clinging to the sides of the box in a mass of fine webs...or perhaps you've seen small, brownish moths flitting around a cupboard...or tiny cocoons and larvae in your dry pasta. Chances are, Indian meal moths (a.k.a. "pantry moths" or "flour moths") are at work in your pantry. Stop them with Cupboard Moth Trap!

It effectively traps Indian meal moths. In extensive tests we found that these innovative traps caught more Indian meal moths than other traps. The little brown moths attack flour, grains, seeds, cereal, chocolate, cake mixes, rice, nuts, dried fruit, dog food, birdseed-even tea, herbs and spices. Their larvae hatch in stored food.
It works wherever food is stored. Place the cardboard traps in cabinets and pantries with food; they’re non-toxic and free of pesticides.
It uses both sight and scent to lure moths The traps attract moths with powerful pheromones, as well as a patented black-and-white printed pattern, then catch them on the large sticky surface.

If your house is overrun by Mediterranean flour moths, almond moths or tobacco moths, the traps also catch these food-attacking moths.

Lures last for 12 weeks, after which you can replace the lure or hang a fresh trap. Trap measures 8-1/2" x 5-1/8". Click here - $20 FREE off your first order at Gardens Alive!
[All Insect Pest Control]