Thanks Stephen and Alison for the info. The information I have read states
that the child would put a stick of licorice and drink the water--it didn't
imply that it was for medicinal purposes, that it was done only on certain
days (solstice I believe) on certain sacred hills and at certain holy
wells. At times the well water was used and it sounds like it was a
rreligious tradition but also a treat. Some references seem to go back to
the early 18th century. I was curious if this was in some manner related to
an ancient ritual observance or just a geographic pecularity?
Can you tell me a bit more about the Liquorice Wells in Oxfordshire?
Gary
On Thu, 26 Apr 2001 12:18:53 +0100, stephen buckley
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>According to the 'Illustrated Book of Herbs' (1984), Liquorice has
>'expectorant, laxative and antispasmodic actions', 'of value for coughs and
>bronchitis, peptic and duodenal ulcers, and rheumatoid arthritis'; used to
>sweeten and flavour, and as a natural laxative. It was grown in England
from
>16th C, importantly in the Pontefract area. (Self-medication from the basic
>ingredients, without good knowledge of herbal remedies, is not
recommended.)
>The roots are cut up to make teas, or powdered in medicines; the extract is
>used to make the sticks. (Does history relate whether the prepared sticks
or
>the roots were put into well water?)
>
>Christine Buckley
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Alison Maloney" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 11:22 AM
>Subject: Re: Licorice and Holy Wells
>
>
>> Don't know how or why it started but the belief, certainly when the
>> practice was taking place at the "Liquorice Wells" in Wychwood Forest,
>> Oxfordshire up to the 1970s was that the water thus created was a sort of
>> internal disinfectant & could be sipped to promote good health.
>>
>> Alison M.
>>
Thanks
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