The Battle of Shrewsbury

In the absence of modern medicinal practices the wounded soldier would have turned to natural remedies to speed their recovery.

In 1403 Sphagnum Moss (otherwise known as Bog-moss) would have grown on damp ground near the Battlefield. Today,  it is still found in the area, although drainage of damp ground for farming has destroyed many of its former habitats. Following the battle it would have proved extremely valuable as a wound dressing for two reasons. It is twice as absorbent as cotton and it has a natural built-in antiseptic. During World War I it was commonly used as a wound dressing but its use in battle has a much longer history. A Gaelic Chronicle of 1014 describes how the wounded in the battle of Clontarf 'stuffed their wounds with moss. Another account tells of how the Highlanders after the Battle of Flodden Field (1513) stanched their bleeding wounds by filling them with bog moss and soft grass. The most likely candidate for this purpose is Bog-moss.

Another common wound dressing that is enjoying something of a revival is honey. The Egyptians used honey and myrrh for the treatment of wounds; Aristotle (384-322 BC) referred to pale honey as being "good as a salve for sore eyes and wounds"; and Dioscorides (c.50 AD) stated that a pale yellow honey from Attica was the best, being "good for all rotten and hollow ulcers".  Today honey is increasingly being used medicinally particularly in the treatment of open wounds and sores.

Garlic has long been used for a wide range of medicinal uses. After the battle of Shrewsbury the juice from the bulbs and leaves could have been used as an antiseptic. Wild Garlic (Ramsons) shown here has similar properties but is a little less potent. It grows in abundance in several old woodlands in Shropshire, often forming carpets of large, green, garlic smelling leaves.  The showy white flowers you see here are best seen in late spring.

Other plants that have been used in the treatment of wounds include Comfrey, St John's-wort, Primrose, Daisy, Self-heal, Lady’s Mantle, Plantain, Yarrow and Hedge Woundwort.

To help ease the pain the wounded may have chewed the bark of Willow or made tea from Meadowsweet. Both contain salicin a natural form of aspirin. Knowledge of which plants to use is likely to have been more widespread at the time of the Battle as people used plants far more in their day to day lives and could not rely on the local chemist. Several books have been written on the subject of herbal remedies with one of the earliest being Turner's Herbal written in 1562. The relatively new science of Ethnobotany aims to gather local knowledge regarding the use of plants in the hope of discovering 'modern' medicinal drugs.