The common primrose

Spring is such a magical time of the year. Not only does it give us the chance to finally once again see Nature in all her glorious colors, but it also allows us to work with plants we are not able to in other seasons. One of those fantastic little plants is the common primrose or primula vulgaris. As her Latin name (primula=first) indicates, this plant is one of the first signs of Spring in Nature, and most of the bugs and butterflies adore its lovely nectar.

Quick facts about common primrose

Scientific name	Primula vulgaris
Common name	Common primrose
Flowering season	December to May
Description	Small, perennial, woodland plant, 10-20 cm tall with yellow flowers that have darker yellow-orange centers. Each flower grows from a woolly stalk and has five petals. Hairy and wrinkly leaves form a rosette at the plant’s base.
Edible parts	Flowers, leaves, root
Contraindications	The plant contains small amounts of saponin and is not recommended in pregnancy. For the same reason, large uses of this plant may produce allergic reactions and/or digestive problems. As for what large uses are, it depends on the person. I’ve found that most people don’t have any problems when drinking 1 to 3 cups of tea per day which is what any doctor or pharmacist would recommend as safe use. But with anything else, consult your doctor to be sure if this plant is safe for you to use it.
Benefits	Tea from flowers calms coughs, helps with insomnia, strengthens and stabilizes heart rhythm, and helps with menstrual problems. Leaves are rich in vitamin C and used in salads or any cooking. Leaves and roots are used for calming the cough, strengthening the blood, and calming bronchitis.
Magical purpose	Primrose is said to be the flower of the fairies. They use their flowers as shelter from the rain. The most common feature this plant is known for is its ability to unlock portals and locked doors to other realms, especially those in nature. Primrose functions as a magical key that you can use on your spiritual journeys and just gently touch any portal or looked door to be able to pass through.

Primrose tea preparation

A couple of days ago, I had the pleasure to pick some wild primrose flowers. The majority I’ve put away to dry so I can prepare some magical key bottles, but I couldn’t resist and just had to make some fantastic tea since I prefer tea from fresh plants over dried ones. Here are the directions so you can make your own. Feel free to ask any questions if my instructions aren’t clear enough.

Step 1 – pick the flowers

When picking primrose flowers, never pick all of them from one bush. If you pick them all, there will be no bush in that location the next year. My grandparents taught me that you always have to leave half in Nature, but to be extra sure, I usually pick one-third of the flowers from any small bush and leave two-thirds behind. Nature has enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed, so be gentle and wise when picking any plan from it.

With the use of your first three fingers, gently press a couple of flowers and pluck them from the stalk which should remain unplucked. The stalk is edible too, but since it has little hairs on it, it is not recommended for consumption.

Step 2 – clean and wash the flowers

Of course, you will not manage to pick each and every flower without its stalk. Gently remove any stalks or leaves until all you have are flowers. Once you’re done with the cleaning, wash your flowers in cold water. Please do not skip this step. Nature is divine, but some creatures in it, such as small mice, do carry various diseases. ALWAYS wash your plants before eating them.

I’ve made 3 cups of tea (my cup = 2.5 dcL) with around 3 handfuls of fresh flowers, which weighed 5 grams total. A good rule of thumb is to double the amount of fresh flowers compared to dried ones. This means that if you’re making tea from dried flowers, you would need around 2.5 grams for the same amount of tea. Of course, if this amount makes your tea too strong or too weak, feel free to use less or more flowers. I’ve found that a full hand of fresh flowers makes a perfect cup of tea to my taste.

Step 3 – Boil water and make tea

Boil the water and pour it over the primrose flowers. Let the tea rest for 5 to 10 minutes. The best thing about this tea is you do not throw the flowers away afterward. They are perfectly safe and tasty to eat after you drink your tea. This is the same reason why you do not need to filter the tea if you don’t want to. I usually drink the tea without the flowers and eat them afterwards, but there is nothing wrong with having them swim around your tea while you drink it.

As with any natural tea, this is not something that you drink in one take. Enjoy it. Take small sips and enjoy its lovely smell. Try to connect with the plant as you are drinking it, and feel how its energy is merging with yours.

IMAGE CREDITS:
All images used are my personal photographs. You have my permission to use with proper credit to this site.

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Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again my dear pagan soul. Rejoice in life, and life will rejoice in you. May God and Goddess bless you in everything you do and spirit guides follow you wherever you go.

In love and light,
Towint

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