The healers, usually women, learned the secrets of herbs, flowers, trees and plants that had the power to heal. Many of the people's remedies applied were effective because of the medicinal qualities and beneficial substances contained in the plants.

In the Middle Ages some knew the secrets powers of plants and herbs and believed they had healing properties:

Buttercups worn in a bag around the neck cured insanity.

An amulet of senna, mint, and rue worn as a bracelet-prevented evil, as did primrose and convolvus picked on May first and twined into wreaths.

Woodbine cut on the waxing moon was preserved until the following March. When children were ill they passed under the plant three times to get cured.

St. John's Wort was most effective for curing fever if found by accident, especially on Midsummer's Eve.

Mustard and garlic repelled the Plague.

Eating carrots mixed with the white of an egg-cured insomnia.

Heather boiled in water and applied warm to the top of the head cured a headache.

To cure cataracts add a gold or silver coin to water, then grass and let seep. Pass the grass across the eye, and then pour water into the eyes.

To cure a toothache, touch a dead man's tooth.

To make freckles disappear, cover them with blood from a bull or hare, or use water distilled from crushed walnuts.