Marriage, dream magick, luck, and love.
Planted around the outside of the home for protection.
Used as a decoration at Yule.
When carried by men, is thought to heighten masculinity.
Also Called: Tinne, Bat’s Wings, Hulm, Hulver Bush, Holm Chaste
The fruit and probaby other parts of the plant contain saponins and are toxic, causing diarrhoea, vomiting and stupor.
However, toxicity levels are low and it is only in very large doses that problems are likely to arise.
The leaves are diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge and tonic.
They are used in the treatment of intermittent fevers, rheumatism, catarrh, pleurisy etc.
The juice of the fresh leaves has been successfully used in the treatment of jaundice.
The berries are violently emetic and purgative.
They have been used in the treatment of dropsy and as a powder they have been used as an astringent to check bleeding.
The berries are toxic, especially to children, and should not be used medicinally except under professional supervision.
The root has been used as a diuretic, though there are more effective diuretics available.