Masterwort

In an illustration by Paracelsus, we see the great physician and universal philosopher of the 16th century holding a Masterwort root in his hand. It is said that he always carried such a root with him. For Paracelsus, the Masterwort was one of the very great medicinal plants and it had a generally universal significance at that time and for a long while afterwards.

The superficial first impression is rather sobering. When we encounter the Masterwort in the mountains during summer, no special colours or shapes stand out. This is explained by its botanical family. The plant belongs to the family of umbellifers (Umbelliferae), with numerous representatives, which are often difficult for laypeople to distinguish.

All species of this family share the umbrella-shaped, mostly white inflorescence (e.g., meadow chervil). It is a plant family that does not produce spectacular external appearances.

Nevertheless, it includes some significant spice, medicinal, and poisonous plants as well as aromatic food plants (parsley, caraway, fennel, anise, celery, hemlock, etc.). Since the flowers, as mentioned, do not have remarkable features, one must learn to understand the essence of the umbellifers primarily through the leaves. Let us seek out the Masterwort at its natural habitat. We find this typical mountain plant in nutrient-rich, moist, and often rocky locations.

We quickly recognise the Masterwort by the gloss of its leaves. This is not particularly strong or conspicuous; it is noble and conveys an impression of compactness. The leaves radiate a powerful naturalness with their own sheen. Many other plant experts were fascinated from the first moment by the gloss of these leaves and sensed the power they emanate.

When one intuitively explores this plant, one recognises a force best described as "expanding upwards." It is an efficacy that has a distinct relation to the chest. The forces of the Masterwort seem — on an energetic level — to expand and simultaneously tighten the chest.

Previously, to express a posture conveying self-confidence, the phrase "with a swelling chest" was used. The analogous form is also found in the leaves. They are trifoliate with three stalked leaflets. The leaflets are upright and resemble a half-open hand reaching upward; they are deeply divided into three parts.

The individual parts (the divided ones) have the characteristic upward-spreading form inherent to the nature of the Masterwort. Whether examining the plant as a whole or the inflorescence shortly before blooming, one continually finds this characteristic upward expansion. The following incident illustrates the great power of this plant. Our medicinal plant collector, who investigates the effects of medicinal and poisonous plants through personal testing as every true plant expert does, once misjudged the dosage of a very poisonous mountain plant.

He ate a piece of root from Cyclamen europaea and shortly afterwards experienced dramatic effects; the windpipe rapidly began to swell and narrow, and breathing became dangerously difficult. In critical distress, remembering old reports about the fantastic effects of the highly valued Masterwort, at the last moment, nearly choking, he found a Masterwort, dug up its root, and dripped its juice into his throat. Within just one minute, the windpipe began to widen, and after ten minutes the poisonous effects had completely subsided, allowing him to breathe freely again.

Such events, which can still happen today, allow us to imagine why the Masterwort once had such great importance. We recognise in the signature of the Masterwort marks of power and self-confidence that do not need to impress through conspicuous external signs. True strength acts as a natural self-evidence from within. Such inner strength is the best guarantee for defence against harmful external influences such as poisonous effects on the physical or emotional level.