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godshaer name and History

Godshaer fern



' England's Ginkgo'

Godshær is a Anglo-Saxon term for the vegetation that covered the Earth. The medical practitioners of that time (who were steeped in "herball lore") had great respect for the plants of the planet which they used both as food and as medicines: a gift from the living God. This veneration and "humble employment of herbes" that grew from the planetary orb (or head) was believed to be the hair or 'haer' of God, which the herbal physician would cut for use by his/her patients. Every year in every country there are harvest festivals celebrating and acknowledging our dependence on the growth and ripening of the fruits of the Earth, and each year we offer them to God with thanksgiving.
Godshær is also a medicinal herb that has been used for hundreds of years (even Galen himself used it) and used even at the present time; its botanical name is Asplenium scolopendrium, also known as Hart's Tongue. (full text below, see Dedication)


Godshaer leaf I collected summer 2010

A Graceful Tale
In Devonshire children have a graceful tale about Harts-tongue fern.
It seems that the Son of Man was once in England and after much teaching and healing in the country where many had gathered to hear His new message, and when the the sun was going down, the Son of Man was tired and was in need of rest. He walked away by Himself to be alone to pray and sleep beside a stream in the shade of many trees. Around Him abounded the fresh soft fronds of the Hart's Tongue herb. And so He prayed, kneeling on the soft herb. And afterwards He lay down beside the stream and used the Hart's Tongue as His pillow. And so it was that Hart's Tongue was once the pillow for the Son of Man, when he had nowhere to lay His head. In return for this service, He gave to the Hart's Tongue two hairs from His most blessed and dear head, which the plant treasures in her ripe stem to this day, as His legacy - two auburn hairs which children find and show. So even today, you may take the stem and bend it and it will reveal the two hairs of God. From that day Hart's Tongue was also called God's Hair, or as it was spelt in the early days, God's Haer, or Christ's Hair.
- C. Marson in the preface to A. A. Hilton's `In the Garden of God' (London 1904), quoted in Roy Vickery's `Dictionary of Plant Lore' (Oxford University Press 1995) [adapted]

Guernsey's Remarkable Name for this Plant
In Guernsey it has the remarkable name of Christ's-hair. This name is explained by snapping the stipe and pulling out the solitary* black fibrovascular bundle. [Try it my good friend and you too will find this special gift of God's haer.]
* This reference to a solitary black hair is inaccurate; He left two not just one of the precious hairs from his head! (find out for yourself next time you go out into the country and walk along the bank of a stream where Godshaer grows) - ANH
- Edward Step `Wayside and Woodland Ferns' (Frederick Warne 1945)

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1. Godshaer leaf I collected and stacked in my bike bag
2. Godshaer leaf in a bucket
3. Godshaer leaf
4. Godshaer by my clinic front door, Lymington
5. Godshaer on my postbox

Asplenium scolopendrium (LINN.)

HART'S TONGUE, GODSHAER

Botanical: Scolopendrium vulgare; Asplenium scolopendrium (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Filices
Synonyms: Hind's Tongue. Godshaer. Buttonhole. Horse Tongue. God's-hair. Lingua cervina.
Part Used: Fronds.
The Hart's Tongue, a fern of common growth in England in shady copses and on moist banks and walls, is the Lingua cervina of the old apothecaries, and its name refers to the shape of its fronds.
Description: Its broad, long, undivided dark-green fronds distinguish it from all other native ferns, and render it a conspicuous object in the situations where it abounds, as it grows in masses. It receives its name of Scolopendrium because its fructification is supposed to resemble the feet of Scolopendra, a genus of Mydrapods. The sori are in twin oblique lines, on each side of the midrib, covered by what looks like a single indusium, but really is two, one arranged partially over the other. In the early stages of its growth, the folding over of the indusium can be clearly seen through a lens. The fronds are stalked and the root, tufted, short and stout. This fern is evergreen and easy of cultivation.
Medicinal Action and Uses: In common with Maidenhair, this fern was formerly considered one of the five great capillary herbs. It has been called England's Ginkgo.
The older physicians esteemed it a very valuable medicine, and Galen gave it in infusion for diarrhoea and dysentery, for which its astringent quality made it a useful remedy. In country districts, especially in Wales and the Highlands, an ointment is made of its fronds for burns and scalds and for piles, and it has been taken internally for Bright's Disease, in a decoction made of 2 oz. to a pint of water, in wineglassful doses. In homoeopathy, it is administered in combination with Golden Seal, for diabetes. It is specially recommended for removing obstructions from the liver and spleen, also for removing gravelly deposits in the bladder. Modern uses show it is helpful for memory, stroke and blood pressure.

Culpepper tells us:
'It is a good remedy for the liver, both to strengthen it when weak and ease it when afflicted.... It is commended for hardness and stoppings of the spleen and liver, and the heat of the stomach. The distilled water is very good against the passion of the heart, to stay hiccough, to help the falling of the palate and to stay bleeding of the gums by gargling with it.'
A Modern Herbal by Mrs M Grieve
Also known as Scolopendrium vulgare and Phyllitis scolopendrium.
This is a hardy perennial.
Cultivation. Plant during April in shade in a humus-rich preferably limy soil.
The best position for indoor plants in a shady window. Pot in 4-6 inch pots containing well-drained compost of equal parts (by volume) loam, leaf-mould or peat, and coarse sand. Water freely during the growing season, at other times just sufficiently to keep the soul moist. Shade is essential for all species.
Description from The Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper (1820 edition):
Hart's-Tongue. This has divers leaves arising from the root, every one severally, which fold themselves in their first springing and spreading: when they are full grown, are about a foot long, smooth and green above but hard and with little sap in them, and streaked on the back, athwart on both sides of the middle rib, with small and somewhat long and brownish marks; the bottoms of the leaves are a little bowed on each side of the middle rib, somewhat small at the end. The root is of many black threads, folded or interlaced together.
It is green all the winter; but new leaves spring every year.
Jupiter claims dominion over this herb, therefore it is a singular remedy for the liver, both to strengthen it when weak, and ease it when afflicted, you shall do well to keep it in a syrup all the year; For though authors say it is green all the year, I scarcely believe it [Culpeper is wrong here, and obviously had never seen the plant in winter - it does indeed stay green all year. ANH]. Hart's Tongue is much commended against the liver, and against the heat of the liver and stomach, and against lasks, and the bloody-flux. The distilled water thereof is also very good against the passions of the heart, and to stay the hiccough, to help the falling of the palate, and to stay the bleeding of the gums, being gargled in the mouth. Dioscorides saith, it is good against the stinging or biting of serpents. As for the use of it, my direction at the latter end will be sufficient, and enough for those that are studious in physic, to whet their brains upon for one year or two.

The Green Knight

In Sir Gawain, the Green Knight is so called because his skin is in fact green. The meaning of his greenness has puzzled scholars since the discovery of the poem, ranging from views that he is some version of the Green Man, a vegetation being in medieval art, to a recollection of a figure from Celtic mythology, to a Christian symbol, to the Devil himself. J. R. R. Tolkien called him the "most difficult character" to interpret in the introduction to his edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. His major role in Arthurian literature includes being a judge and tester of knights, and as such the other characters see him as friendly but terrifying and somewhat mysterious.


The Old Stables - Modern Clinic of Herbal Medicine
[Godshaer and the Old Stables in Christchurch are uniquely bonded by our long-time patients and customers due to the fact that we were there for over 15 years. Godshaer Clinic moved in 2008 to Lymington, close to the New Forest Hospital.]
The Old Stables is where pilgrims used to water, feed and stable their horses, before going across to the Priory Church to pray and perhaps take a splinter from the Miraculous Beam. Miracles, especially healings linked to eye problems, were not unknown at the Priory (over 900 years old). The healing water of Tutton's Well, a natural spring, in Stanpit, a mile from the Christchurch Priory, was also used for sight ailments since Roman times, and was probably the water "of uncommon purity" used in the Priory for both its healings and in the sacred Cup. Hence, Christchurch acquired a reputation as a centre of learning, healing and caring, where miracles often occurred; an ancient centre where one's inner perceptions, visions and enlightenment (seeing the Light of the Self) could be experienced and maintained.
It appears that early last century the Christchurch Health Officer lived at Coachman's Cottage near the Old Stables. He refused to buy a carriage preferring to visit his patients on horseback. He kept his horse in the Old Stables.
At Godshær Herbalist Clinic, housed in the Old Stables, we are continuing the good tradition of working with the natural healing energies both in the human being and in the plants (the hair) of the Earth Being. We are dedicated to the service of the Christchurch community with the natural medicine and healing which is both safe and effective.
You are invited to visit Godshaer or make an appointment with our herbalist.
Godshaer and the Old Stables in Christchurch are uniquely bonded by our long-time patients and customers due to the fact that we were there for over 15 years. Godshaer Clinic moved in 2008 to Lymington, close to the New Forest Hospital.
The Godshaer herb can be seen growing ouside the clinic, originally collected at the Wey Spring, where the spring water was first drawn for our organic tinctures.

GodshAEr - ABC of Medicine

Godshær - Advanced Botanical Centre of Medicine, long established in Christchurch and Bournemouth, moved to the centre of Christchurch in 1993 in sight of the 900 year old Priory Church and has become the largest and busiest herbalist shop-clinic in the south of England. The Old Stables, in a conservation area, has been transformed to serve Herbalism and Complementary Medicine. A large dispensary has been purpose-built to prepare and extract flowers and fruits, roots and rhizomes, leaves, seeds, barks and oils for patients' personal prescriptions. Under the direction of Alan Hopking, who is a member of the oldest professional organisation of herbal practitioners in the world, the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, the medicinal herbs are carefully and respectfully extracted and prepared. The tinctures made according the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia uses the pure spring water from the Wey Spring, collected by Alan himself (helped at times by Mez his son)! [Tutton's Well water can't be used as it was capped in 1940. It is hoped it will be reopened. Latest news: Tutton's Well has been reopened in 2002 and is also used in Alan's tinctures.] Consulting Mr Hopking will require an hour for your first visit. The medicine will be 'tailor made' for you. Normally, after two weeks he will see you again (for half an hour). The medicine will probably be adjusted according to the changes that have occurred. Follow-ups will then be arranged depending on the nature of the problem. Telephone, with no obligation, for more information, or come to our Free Advice Clinic. See below. Consultation options, click here.

Since 2008 Godshaer Herbalist has been in Lymington, said to be the most desirable town to live in in England (BBC 2009). Godshaer is near the New Forest Hospital, and opposite the ancient Lymington Marsh Beds along the Lymington River (see photos). From the Clinic window you can often see birds of prey, and in spring the cuckoo can be clearly heard.

Common to All
Herbal medicine is common to all races and peoples, Asian, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Indian, African, American, Australian and European. A Chinese herbal written 2500 BC listed 365 herbs. Papyri from Egypt dated 1440 BC reveal a knowledge of 700 plant medicines. The ancient Greek physicians, Hippocrates, Galen, Dioscorides, had detailed knowledge of medicinal herbs. Right up to the present day the herbalist has played a key role in prevention and cure of illness. Some 60% of modern drugs have a herbal origin, for instance aspirin from willow bark, quinine from cinchona bark, digoxin from foxglove, reserpine from rauwolfia, ephedrine to raise blood pressure from ephedra stems, and used for asthma, and so on, the list is endless. Want to find out more about Drugs from Plants? Click here.

For those weary of ill health
For those weary of ill health and alarmed by the reported side-effects of many modern drugs, a consultation can be the turning point which will lead to a regeneration of well-being. Here can be found a sympathetic and skilled practitioner, willing to give the patient time, care and natural remedies, which offer a gentle yet effective way back to health.
You are welcome to visit our little shop of non-prescription tonics, ointments, creams, liniments, lotions, cough syrups, mixtures, formulas, washes, oils, and teas. There are also books for sale, a range of vitamins and minerals. Hop along to the herb king!
Godshaer long established in Christchurch moved in 2008 to Lymington, close to the New Forest Hospital.

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Read the following dedication as found inside the Clinic:


DEDICATION

GODSHÆR is an Anglo-Saxon word for the vegetation growing upon the world. It was believed to be the hair or ‘haer’ of the Great Goddess, the living Earth, which was known to contain magical powers. In those days the medical practitioners, who were steeped in ‘herball lore’, would cut the ‘haer’ at the right time to extract the elixir of the Goddess for their patients’ healing. This links the ancient folk tradition shared by the Green man and the Great goddess representing in human form the archetype of nature and health and inspiration; they can be seen in sacred sculptures down the ages, and in churches and cathedrals. They depict the human head formed out of a leafy mask with hair of leaves and herbs (Godshær). There is an interesting example in our Christchurch Priory, itself a centre of pilgrimage famed for its Miraculous Beam with its reputation of healing and caring.
To select the ‘haer’ correctly, our herbalist ancestors had to hear the call to go into the countryside (then called “greenmans”), look up into the eyes of God and take counsel from the Green Man who “knows and utters the secrets of nature” (hence the vine issuing from his mouth). In this way wise medical doctors down the centuries who listened to the Green Man and to the Great Goddess have provided us with an excellent green pharmacy. Modern herbalists of all cultures continue this tradition encouraged by the World Health Organisation.
Even today, in every country there are annual harvest festivals celebrating and acknowledging our dependence on the growth and ripening of the fruits of the Earth, and each year we offer them to God with thanksgiving.
Godshær Herbalist was founded under the triangle ‘eyes’ of the Bull, the Twins and the Virgin.
Godshær is also the name of a medicinal plant (Asplenium scolopendrium), common, and native to England. It can be seen in shady copses, in woods and by the side of streams. Its fronds are long, undivided, tapering to a point, with a heart-shaped base. It is green all the winter; new leaves spring every year. Jupiter claims dominion over this fern, making it a singular remedy for the healthy liver. Godshær is also one of the five great capillary herbs. Physicians down the ages have esteemed Godshær a very valuable medicine for removing obstruction, healing, soothing and strengthening the higher and lower organs, through its vitalising action on the spleen.
Using medicinal plants is natural and safe under the trained practitioner, who listens............
...The tradition continues...

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Asplenium scolopendrium
Common Names: Godshaer, Christ's-hair, God's-hair, Hart's-tongue, Hind's Tongue, Buttonhole, Horse Tongue, Lingua cervina.

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Our herbal tonic medicines are carefully prepared on a personal and individual basis for your healing by medical herbalist Alan Hopking MA MNIMH MRCHM FINEH. Only whole herbs are used in our herbal medicines. Nothing else is added. If you have symptoms which you consider might be helped with herbal medicine please contact herbal practitioner Alan Hopking for a friendly confidential professional consultation. Telphone using our freephone 0500 90 96 97.
Once you have received your herbal prescription you can contact Alan Hopking at any time for more free advice (preferably by email). When you have completed your bottle of herbal medicine and if you want a repeat prescription you are requested to phone or email so that your progress can be assessed and adjustments made if necessary so that there is no break in your treatment. To order or re-order, click here.

UK Government Dept - MHRA

General advice to consumers on the use of herbal remedies from the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

From the website of the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (www.mhra.gov.uk) Department of Health, UK

• Remember that herbal remedies are medicines. As with any other medicine they are likely to have an effect on the body and should be used with care.
• Herbal remedies may sometimes interact with other medicines. This makes it particularly important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking a herbal remedy with other medicines such as prescribed medicines (those provided through your doctor or dentist).
• Treat with caution any suggestion that a herbal remedy is '100% safe' or is 'safe because it is natural'. Many plants, trees, fungi and algae can be poisonous to humans. It is worth remembering that many pharmaceuticals have been developed or derived from these sources because of the powerful compounds they contain. Any medicine, including herbal remedies, which have an effect on the body should be used with care.
• Treat with caution any herbalist or other person who supplies herbal remedies if they are unwilling or unable to provide written information, in English, listing the ingredients of the herbal remedy they are providing.
• If you are due to have a surgical operation you should always remember to tell your doctor about any herbal remedy that you are taking.
• Anyone who has previously experienced any liver complaint, or any other serious health complaint is advised not to take any herbal remedy without speaking to their doctor first.

PRECAUTIONS:

Pregnant/Breast-feeding mothers
Few conventional medicines have been established as safe to take during pregnancy and it is generally recognised that no medicine should be taken unless the benefit to the mother outweighs any possible risk to the foetus. This rule should also be applied to herbal medicinal products. However, herbal products are often promoted to the public as being “natural” and completely “safe” alternatives to conventional medicines. Some herbal ingredients that specifically should be avoided or used with caution during pregnancy. As with conventional medicines, no herbal products should be taken during pregnancy unless the benefit outweighs the potential risk.

Volatile Oils

Many herbs are traditionally reputed to be abortifacient and for some this reputation can be attributed to their volatile oil component.(6) A number of volatile oils are irritant to the genito-urinary tract if ingested and may induce uterine contractions. Herbs that contain irritant volatile oils include ground ivy, juniper, parsley, pennyroyal, sage, tansy and yarrow. Some of these oils contain the terpenoid constituent, thujone, which is known to be abortifacient. Pennyroyal oil also contains the hepatotoxic terpenoid constituent, pulegone. A case of liver failure in a woman who ingested pennyroyal oil as an abortifacient has been documented.

Uteroactivity

A stimulant or spasmolytic action on uterine muscle has been documented for some herbal ingredients including blue cohosh, burdock, fenugreek, golden seal, hawthorn, jamaica dogwood, motherwort, nettle, raspberry, and vervain. Herbal Teas Increased awareness of the harmful effects associated with excessive tea and coffee consumption has prompted many individuals to switch to herbal teas. Whilst some herbal teas may offer pleasant alternatives to tea and coffee, some contain pharmacologically active herbal ingredients, which may have unpredictable effects depending on the quantity of tea consumed and strength of the brew. Some herbal teas contain laxative herbal ingredients such as senna, frangula, and cascara. In general stimulant laxative preparations are not recommended during pregnancy and the use of unstandardised laxative preparations is particularly unsuitable. A case of hepatotoxicity in a newborn baby has been documented in which the mother consumed a herbal tea during pregnancy as an expectorant. Following analysis the herbal tea was reported to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are known to be hepatotoxic.

Breast-feeding mothers

A drug substance taken by a breast-feeding mother presents a hazard if it is transferred to the breast milk in pharmacologically or toxicologically significant amounts. Limited information is available regarding the safety of conventional medicines taken during breast-feeding. Much less information exists for herbal ingredients, and generally the use of herbal remedies is not recommended during lactation.

Paediatric Use

Herbal remedies have traditionally been used to treat both adults and children. Herbal remedies may offer a milder alternative to some conventional medicines, although the suitability of a herbal remedy needs to be considered with respect to quality, safety and efficacy. Herbal remedies should be used with caution in children and medical advice should be sought if in doubt. Chamomile is a popular remedy used to treat teething pains in babies. However, chamomile is known to contain allergenic sesquiterpene lactones and should therefore be used with caution. The administration of herbal teas to children needs to be considered carefully and professional advice may be needed.

Perioperative use

The need for patients to discontinue herbal medicinal products prior to surgery has recently been proposed. The authors considered eight commonly used herbal medicinal products (echinacea, ephedra, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, kava, St John’s Wort, valerian). On the evidence available they concluded that the potential existed for direct pharmacological effects, pharmacodynamic interactions and pharmacokinetic interactions. The need for physicians to have a clear understanding of the herbal medicinal products being used by patients and to take a detailed history was highlighted. The American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) has advised patients to tell their doctor if they are taking herbal products before surgery and has reported that a number of anaesthesiologists have reported significant changes in heart rate or blood pressure in some patients who have been taking herbal medicinal products including St John’s Wort, ginkgo and ginseng. MCA is currently investigating a serious adverse reaction associated with the use of ginkgo prior to surgery. In this case, the patient who was undergoing hip replacement experienced uncontrolled bleeding thought to be related to the use of ginkgo.

From the website of the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (www.mhra.gov.uk) Department of Health, UK

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Alan N Hopking MA MNIMH MRCHM
HERBACTIVE ABC
Advanced Botanical Centre of Medicine
5 Station Road
New Milton
Hampshire
BH25 6HN
UK

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+44 (0) 1425 839280
Freephone UK 0500 909697

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alanhopking@herbactive.co.uk
for general information: info@herbactive.co.uk

Road and Rail

HERBACTIVE Clinic and Shop is near the New Milton Train Station
Take the train from London Waterloo to Bournemouth, Poole or Weymouth and get off at New Milton; turn left at Station Road; 2 mins walk to Herbactive.
Buses from Bournemouth or Lymington take Wilts and Dorset X1 or X2 to Whitefield Road, New Milton (2-3 minutes walk over the rail bridge).
Buses from Winchester and Salisbury take Wilts and Dorset X3 to Bournemouth Hospital then take X1 or X2 to Whitefield Road, New Milton (2-3 minutes walk over the rail bridge).
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Disclaimer and pledge

As a professional herbal practitioner I am in practice in conformity with the laws of England and the 1968 Medicines Act. The UK legislative provisions for herbal medicine are to be found in the Medicines Act 1968, Section 12, paragraphs 1 & 2, and Section 56, paragraphs 1 & 2.

Section 12:1 specifies exemption for herbal medicines from licensing provided that they are supplied subsequent to private personal consultation. Section 12:2 exempts herbal medicines provided that they are produced according to standard traditional, non-industrial methods. It also specifies that no written claims may be made for the use of the remedy.

Therefore at Godshaer Herbalist no claims about any medical condition regarding the herbal medicines prescribed by Alan Hopking are made. Indeed, be it a doctor, surgeon or herbal practitioner, the successful outcome of our treatments cannot with any certainty be predicted, let alone guaranteed. Further, following UK and EU law, the information on this web site attach no medical claims and no claims concerning the medicinal herbs mentioned relating to any medical conditions listed. All the herbal prescriptions are unlicensed and made by Alan N. Hopking at the address of Godshaer Herbalist for patients of Alan N. Hopking.

I pledge that, I shall do all I can, using my knowledge of herbal medicines and natural treatment, to help you regain your deserved health.
Alan Hopking MA MNIMH MRCHM FINEH

All our herbal medicines are made from the raw herb at our dedicated clinic and dispensary at Godshaer Botanicals. We collect the fresh herbs, or import the dry herb. They are organic if at all possible. We only use whole herbs. We are against the use of standardized extracts, or the concentration of herbs by adding more of the active constituent. We recommend you do not use such products in any form (dry, in capsules or as tincture extracts). To use our herbal tonics you should follow the prescribed dose. Any side effects or problems should be reported to us.