Doctrine of Signatures...

The doctrine of signatures, dating from ancient times, states that herbs resembling various parts of the body can be used by herbalists to treat ailments of those body parts. In the times of sympathetic magic, the spotted oval leaves of Pulmonaria. officinalis were thought to symbolize diseased, ulcerated lungs, and so were used to treat pulmonary infections - hence the common name lungwort.


The pretty purple and pink flowers are an early harbinger of Spring - and at last we have some sunshine to show them at their best!