Foxglove folklore digitalis purpurea

Foxglove was used for working magic, for protection, and communicating with fairies, elves, and woodland spirits. It had many names; lion's mouth, fairy caps, folk's glove, and witches thimbles. In France, it is known as gant de notre dame, or our lady's glove.

I thought it interesting that while Foxglove (digitalis purpurea) is very poisonous to humans if misused, it is been used as a heart medicine and also for cleansing the kidneys. Dr. Withering, who is credited with discovering its usefulness in ailments of the heart, is said to have had his attention attracted to it by noticing the effects of foxglove tea prepared by a local wise woman. Van Gogh took it as a treatment for his epilepsy and art historians believe that the yellow haze that this would cause in the sight of patients for this type of treatment may be responsible for the appearance of many of his yellow dominated paintings. Back in 1554, Culpepper said that "foxglove was one of the best remedies for a scabby head."

In Roman mythology, when Minerva sprang from Jupiter's thigh, his wife Juno visited Flora, the Goddess of fields, crops, & flowers. Juno was distraught, saying "If my husband can bring forth a child without need of me, why can I not bring forth a child without need of him?" Flora whispered, "If I reveal to you another way, you must never tell your husband." Flora placed a foxglove blossom on her thumb & touched Juno's stomach, then her breasts, & instantly Juno conceived. She went from Flora's garden to the shoreline and gave birth to Mars, who was fatherless just as Minerva had been motherless.

In Scandinavia, they say that foxes were saved by the fairies from extinction when the fairies gave them the secret of how to ring the foxglove bells to warn other foxes of approaching hunters. The foxes were also known to put on these flower gloves so that they so that they would tread more softly among the chicken roosts to capture an unsuspecting hen or rooster.

In Wales, foxglove was called Goblin's Gloves and was said to attract the hobgoblins who wore the long bells on their fingers as gloves that imparted magical properties. This folklore from my Welsh heritage is a favorite of mine and I have written a story to share with you, see foxglove tales.


About Foxglove Folklore
Foxglove was used for working magic, for protection, and communicating with fairies, elves, and woodland spirits. It had many names; lion's mouth, fairy caps, folk's glove, and witches thimbles. In France, it is known as gant de notre dame, or our lady's glove. I thought it interesting that while Foxglove (digitalis purpurea) is very poisonous to humans if misused, it is been used as a heart medicine and also for cleansing the kidneys. Dr. Withering, who is credited with discovering its usefulness in ailments of the heart, is said to have had his attention attracted to it by noticing the effects of foxglove tea prepared by a local wise woman. Van Gogh took it as a treatment for his epilepsy and art historians believe that the yellow haze that this would cause in the sight of patients for this type of treatment may be responsible for the appearance of many of his yellow dominated paintings. Back in 1554, Culpepper said that "foxglove was one of the best remedies for a scabby head." In Roman mythology, when Minerva sprang from Jupiter's thigh, his wife Juno visited Flora, the Goddess of fields, crops, & flowers. Juno was distraught, saying "If my husband can bring forth a child without need of me, why can I not bring forth a child without need of him?" Flora whispered, "If I reveal to you another way, you must never tell your husband." Flora placed a foxglove blossom on her thumb & touched Juno's stomach, then her breasts, & instantly Juno conceived. She went from Flora's garden to the shoreline and gave birth to Mars, who was fatherless just as Minerva had been motherless. In Scandinavia, they say that foxes were saved by the fairies from extinction when the fairies gave them the secret of how to ring the foxglove bells to warn other foxes of approaching hunters. The foxes were also known to put on these flower gloves so that they so that they would tread more softly among the chicken roosts to capture an unsuspecting hen or rooster. In Wales, foxglove was called Goblin's Gloves and was said to attract the hobgoblins who wore the long bells on their fingers as gloves that imparted magical properties. This folklore from my Welsh heritage is a favorite of mine and I have written a story to share with you, see foxglove tales. Return to Environmental Storytelling Read about Watershed Tales in the salmon tent See Soil Reclamation Read Allison's story "Goblin's Gloves"
Allison Cox • (206) 463-3844 • 25714 Wax Orchard Rd • Vashon, WA • 98070 • Email Allison
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