Folklore/Common Names: Our Lady's Bedstraw, Yellow Bedstraw, Maid's Hair, Petty Mugget, Cheese Renning, Cheese Rennet
Historical Reference:
The name Lady's Bedstraw most probably comes from its association with the 'cradle herbs', as the Biblical tale holds that Mary used Lady's Bedstraw to prepare the Christ child's bed, after which the formerly white flowers were said to have obtained their present golden color.
Throughout the Middle Ages, however, the name maintained its relevance, as the sweet smelling leaves and stems were often used for mattress stuffing, from the peasantry through the royal bedrooms.
One of its monikers, 'Maid's Hair', was said to come from the yellow blooms, which were made into or stuffed into caps for young ladies to wear in order to dye their hair a golden blonde.
The name 'Cheese Rennet' can be attributed to the use of Lady's Bedstraw to curdle milk, a benefit to the processing of certain cheeses. By the sixteenth century, the herb was called ' Cheese Renning'. Grieve tells us in A Modern Herbal that "The people in Cheshire especially about Nantwich, where the best cheese is made, do use it in their rennet, esteeming greatly of that cheese above other made without it.' The rich colour of this cheese was probably originally derived from this plant, though it is now obtained from annatto." Scottish Highlanders made use of this property as well, and it has been used in Gloucestershire for the same purpose, either alone or with the juice of the stinging-nettle.
In Ireland, the plant was widely used for its ability to dye cloth and wool, producing a bright red or a strong yellow dye (depending on the part of the plant used).
For an excellent article on the use of Lady's Bedstraw for dying, check here: Fiber Arts
Medical Uses:
Lady's Bedstraw clearly offered a range of useful properties, and many of those were medicinal as well. Noted herbalist Nicolas Culpepper recommended Lady's Bedstraw to combat nose bleed and internal bleeding, and "to heal all inward wounds generally". The French turned to Lady's Bedstraw as a cure for epilepsy. Today, it maintains it's therapeutic values, but primarily when used externally as a relaxing soak or for enhanced aromatherapy.
For example, you can still make pillows of bedstraw to combat sleeplessness. The honey scent and soporific nature of the herb lend themselves to rest and relaxation, and the heat of the head when resting on the pillow, provides enough heat to release the active essential oils.
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