Title: Castrovalvan Cordial
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: G
Length: 1090
Content notes: Ingredients can have physical effects. Please make & use with care.
Author notes: I made this initially a number of years ago, but I took the opportunity of the challenge to revise the write-up and properly acknowledge the fannish inspiration for it in the first place.
Summary: A tincture to promote healing sleep


"Drink, my friend. It is a simple concoction of herbs to promote healing sleep." The Doctor takes the glass and drinks, then thinks for just a moment before rattling off "Valeriana Officinalis, Sanicula Europaea, and just a hint of Rosemary." -- From the 5th Doctor episode "Castrovalva"

Castrovalva is one of my favorite Doctor Who episodes, and I was highly entertained when I looked up the ingredients that the Doctor rattles off -- they do exactly what the character says they will. In the episode, the liquid in the glass is bright emerald green. My cordial is a dark golden brown.

The Recipe:
1oz Valerian (Valeriana Officinalis), dried. A double handful.
1/2oz Sanicle (Sanicula Europaea), dried. A single handful
1 Teaspoon Rosemary (Rosemarinus Officinalis), fresh. An amount I judged would be a hint in comparison.
2/3 cup Wildflower Honey
1 ½ cup Aqua-vitae (80 proof charcoal-filtered vodka)

Crush the herbs together in a mortar with a pestle, until they are small and thoroughly bruised. Put them into a glass jar with a tight stopper, and pour in the vodka. Shake the bottle vigorously for several minutes, then put it in a cool, dark cupboard.

Let it steep for 3 weeks, shaking it occasionally. Then filter it out (in period a fine cloth or brown paper would have been used - I used coffee filters) and mix in the honey. Decant the entire mixture into a dark glass bottle with a tight stopper, and leave to mellow in a cool, dark cupboard.
This preparation, variously called a tincture, water or distillation, would have been used in very small doses, no more than an ounce at a time and more likely a spoonful.

This particular tincture will have an actual effect on the person taking it, as Valerian contains chemicals known to have a calming and soporific effect. Valerianates are used today to treat nervous disorders. Rosemary also has known tonic effects, and is still used in both homeopathic and regular medical practice. Sanicle is no longer part of the pharmacopeia, but has no known dangers.

Notes on the ingredients:
Valerian – Valeriana Officinalis, also know as Phu, setewale and All-heal, has been used since antiquity as a sedative, relaxant and general tonic. The active ingredient in the plant, concentrated in the roots, but present throughout, is still used in modern pharmacopeias. The base chemical – valepotriate – is one of the principle components of Valium. (Hobbs, throughout). Gerard considered Valerian "excellent for those burdened [under nervous or mental stress] and for those troubled with croup and other like convulsions, and also for those bruised with falls." (Grieve, p 824ff) The character in the story fit both the burdened and the bruised state. Culpeper states that Valerian is hot in the first degree, drying and purgative. It is under the dominion of Mercury, and good against epilepsy, headaches, vapors, difficulty breathing and useful against all inward wounds; clearing out the passages of phlegm (cold and moist) and driving out wind. (Culpeper, p 263ff, 363).

Sanicle – Sanicula Europaea, also known as Laecewyrt or Leechwort in Anglo-Saxon times, later came to be called Poolroot, Butter-wort, Wood Sanicle and Self-heal. It has no known current medicinal use or active chemical component. Gerard, quoted by Grieve, prescribes Sanicle for chest and lung complaints, and also for "effectually cleansing the system of morbid secretions, leaving the blood healthier and in better condition." (Grieve 711ff). Culpeper has Sanicle ruled by Venus, hot and dry in the second degree, good for the lungs and throat, dissipating the humours. It is effectual in binding, consolidating, heating, drying and healing. (Culpeper 231ff, 370).

Rosemary – Rosemarinus Officinalis, known to the Saxons as Bogen or Bothen, has a very long history of medical use, being cited in the works of Galen and Discorides. It is called the "Herb of Memory" and was used literally and symbolically throughout the medieval period as specific for aliments affecting memory and clear thinking. This use was well known in popular thought, as shown by Ophelia's speech in Hamlet "Here's rosemary, that's for rememberance." Hungary water, an ingredient in recipes as early as 1235 is primarily distilled from Rosemary. (Pollington, Grieve). Gerard prescribes "against weakness of the brain and coldness thereof, seethe Rosemary in wine…" He also recommends it as a general strengthener and vitalizer. (Grieve, p 681ff). Rohde quotes Bankes' Herbal as recommending powdered rosemary to dispel heaviness of spirit and "make thee light and merrie" and putting the leaves under one's bed to prevent bad dreams. (Rohde, p 56). Culpeper cites the Sun as Rosemary's ruling planet, categorizing it as warm and dry in the second degree. It is good against all cold diseases, particularly helping a weak or confused memory, and quickening the senses. (Culpeper p 219ff, 367, 370). All of these virtues would be of use to the character in the story.

Aqua Vitae – distilled alcohol came into use in the 13th century and was considered an important ingredient in many preparation, particularly medicines. Distillations, "spirits of wine" and cordials were in common use. Culpeper in particular advises the use of spirit and compound distilled waters are medicinal for diseases of cold and phlegm, being very hot. (Culpeper, p 401). Nostradamus recommends using the clearest and purest aqua vitae that may be obtained. I chose charcoal-filtered vodka as most closely answering that description, and having the least inherent taste.

Honey – called Mel in Tacuinum Sanitatis, honey is considered warming and strengthening. Honey has a very long history of use in both sacred and medicinal work, both for internal and external use. (Buhner, Arano, pl 64). Using honey rather than sugar may make the mixture somewhat cloudy.

References:
Arano, Luisa Cogliati; The Medieval Health Handbook Tacuinum Sanitatis, George Braziller, New York, 1976.
Bayard, Tania, ed & tran.; A Medieval Home Companion; Housekeeping in the Fourteenth Century, Harper Perennial, 1991.
Bidmead, Christopher; Castrovalva, Target Books, 1983.
Boeser, Knut, ed.; The Elixers of Nostradamus, Moyer-Bell, London, 1994.
Buhner, Stephen Harrod; Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers, Brewer's Publications, 1998.
Culpeper, Nicholas; Culpeper's Complete Herbal, Foulsham & Co, London. 1994. (Facsimile of 1653 edition).
Grieve, Mrs. M. A; Modern Herbal, In Two Volumes, Dover, 1971. Original edition 1931.
Hobbs, Christopher; Valerian, The Relaxing and Sleep Herb, Botanica Press, Capitola, CA 1993.
Kieckhefer, Richard; Magic in the Middle Ages, Cambridge University Press, 1989.
Pollington, Stephen; Leechcraft; Early English Charms, Plantlore and Healing, Anglo Saxon Books, 2000.
Rohde, Eleanour Sinclair; The Old English Herbals, Dover, 1971. Reprint of 1922 edition.
Siraisi, Namcy G.; Medieval and Early Renaissance Medicine, University of Chicago Press, 1990.
Storms, Dr. G.; Anglo-Saxon Magic, Martinus Nyhoff, 1948.