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Rest-Harrow
Rest-Harrow
(Ononis spinosa printed as
Ononis arvensis)

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Rest-Harrow

Botanical: Ononis arvensis
Family: N.O. Leguminosae

---Synonyms---Wild Liquorice. Cammock. Stinking Tommy. Ground Furze. Land Whin.
---Part Used---Whole herb.



---Description---A troublesome weed, with a root that affords a sweet, viscid juice. Common in arable land. Its long, thicklymatted root will arrest the progress of the harrow, hence its name.

It is a favourite food of the donkey, from which the generic name is derived, onos being the Greek word for an ass.

A tradition exists that this was the plant from which the crown of thorns was plaited for the Crucifixion.

The plant is obnoxious to snakes.

---Medicinal Action and Uses---The young shoots were much used at one time as a vegetable, being boiled, eaten in salad or pickled.

In medicine it was used for stone in the bladder and to subdue delirium.

Purchase from Richters Seeds
Restharrow (Ononis spinosa) Seeds

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Bear in mind "A Modern Herbal" was written with the conventional wisdom of the early 1900's. This should be taken into account as some of the information may now be considered inaccurate, or not in accordance with modern medicine.

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