Ancient potions and cures of the Highlands and Islands

From otter skin to dung, mice hearts, toads and carrots, the Highlands and Islands have a potent history of natural remedies.

Henry and Hornel's Bringing in the Misletoe depicts a group of druids or Celtic priests in presentation of the sacred plant long revered for magical and medicinal properties. PIC Wikicommons.

With recipes, rituals and treatment dating to the Celtic era, the apothecary of the ancient north is a fascinating insight into how medicine was derived from the natural surrounds.

Here we look at what was in the traditional medicine box and, while some of the treatments were used many centuries ago, there are few sworn by until more recent times.

The examples are taken from Healing Threads by the late Mary Beith, a book considered to be the authoritative guide to the subject.

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