A rampant self-seeder, it is perhaps apt that its main medical use is for healing women’s reproductive organs. Dew forms beads that move like mercury on the leaves and gather in the centre thereby taking much longer for the dew to evaporate than on other plants.

The alchemists considered this dew to have magical properties and this is the basis for the plant’s botanical name, Alchemilla vulgaris.

Its common name is said to reflect the shape of the leaves, but could simply be that it is a woman’s herb used mainly to regulate the menstrual cycle and tone the uterus. It encourages circulation to the female reproductive organs and improves fertility.

This information is purely for the interest of the reader and should not be taken as medical advice. If you wish to utilise herbal remedies, please consult a qualified herbalist before doing so.