Masterwort

Rhizoma Imperatoriae contusum

Historical tradition – not medical advice, and no health or healing claims. more

Historical botanical drawing: Masterwort — Masterwort

Tradition (Hildegard's writings)

In Hildegard's tradition, masterwort was associated with strengthening the body's defences, with the airways and with elimination.

Ingredients

Cut masterwort root and wine.

Preparation

Masterwort wine: crush 2 tsp of cut masterwort in a mortar, leave it to infuse overnight in half a cup of wine and add a further half cup of wine in the morning. Set it up fresh each evening.

Note

Caution: because of the wine content, do not use with inflammation of the stomach or intestinal mucosa or with gallstones.

Botanical background

Masterwort contains essential and fatty oils, aromatic bitter compounds, coumarins, bioflavonoids and tannins, credited with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and with strengthening the body's defences. Like spignel, it counts as a versatile plant.

Sources & references

Strehlow, Wighard: Die Hildegard-Naturapotheke. Heilmittel und Rezepte von A bis Z. Knaur Verlag 2014. S. 189.
Strehlow, Wighard: Der Hildegard-Kompass. Die wichtigsten Heilmittel und Anwendungen. Knaur Verlag 2014. S. 86.
Hildegard von Bingen: Heilsame Schöpfung. Die natürliche Wirkkraft der Dinge (Physica). Hrsg. von der Abtei St. Hildegard, Eibingen. Beuroner Kunstverlag 2012 (4. Auflage 2024). Cap. 1-167 (Meisterwurz).
Heepen, Günther H.: Das Heilwissen der Hildegard von Bingen. Gräfe und Unzer Verlag 2015. S. 89.
Breindl, Ellen: Das große Gesundheitsbuch der Hl. Hildegard von Bingen. Bassermann Verlag 2004. S. 244.

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More preparations using Masterwort

Masterwort Wine

Historical tradition. The above describes how this preparation was recorded and used in the tradition of Hildegard of Bingen. This is cultural-historical information, not medical advice and not a health or healing claim, and it is no substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. If you have health complaints, please consult your doctor or pharmacy.

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