Stinking Arrach

Arrach is also called dog's arrach, goat's arrach, and stinking motherwort. It has small and roundish leaves, of a dusky mealy colour, growing on slender stalks that spread on the ground, with small flowers in clusters set with the leaves, which leave small seeds. It is an annual, and smells like rotten fish, or something worse. It usually grows upon dung hills, and flowers in june and july, and the seed is soon ripe afterwards.

Stinking arrach is a valuable medicine for diseases of the womb, especially those which produce hard labour in child-birth; for it cleanses and strengthens the womb, and cures barrenness. It promotes and moderates the menses. In these respects it is very valuable. The best way of using it is to make it into a syrup, by sugar or honey.