COMMON FLEABANE

                                                                                                             Pulicaria dysenterica

The bruised leaves have a soap-like smell. They are astringent & can be used in the treatment of dysentery. 
The root is also astringent & used in the treatment of dysentery. 
A paste of the plant is applied externally to wounds.
The plant is burnt to repel parasites.
The ancient Irish used this plant to drive away the way flea to as reflected in the Gaelic name ‘Lus Bui Na Ndreabcaidh’ which loosely means ‘The Yellow flower plant that drives away the human flea’. 
People once mixed it with bedstraw to keep bugs out of their mattresses.

MAGIC:

In ancient Rome tying a wreath of fleabane around the head was thought to work for headache.