FYI: TRIVIUM RESEARCH TIDBITS ON MAGICAL PLANTS AND HERBS

The oak (Quercus robur) is considered the tree most closely corresponding with strength, stability and endurance. It houses the fallen Lleu Llaw Gyffes when he takes on his eagle form. Closely associated with the druids (people of the oak), the oak may symbolize the druidic origins of Math and Gwydion.
Medicinally, the oak has the following qualities:

• it acts as an astringent to help quell diarrhea; it works as a pulling poultice to draw out infection
• it works as an antiseptic to treat wounds, staunch bleeding and reduce fevers
• treats hemorrhoids
• respiratory infections
• antiviral
• antifungal 

When they conjured their Blodeuwedd, did Math and Gwydion specifically use oak to provide Lleu with a wife who provided her husband with the medicinal comfort listed above? Or did they intend Lleu's wife to possess the qualities of the oak: strength, stability, endurance and integrity?

Broom (Cytisus scoparius) works as a powerful cleansing agent on both energetic and physical levels. Traditionally as its name implies, housewives made brooms from its branches. They spun broom's fibers to make cloth, and collected the tannins in its bark to use for tanning leather. Perhaps, Math and Gwydion expected Broom to impart a sense of cleanliness and orderliness to Blodeuwedd's housekeeping.

Broom requires little tending. It grows well without the need for overt gardening. Did Math and Gwydion gift Lleu with a wife needing little tending? Did the story's medieval author extol a self-sufficient wife with humility and simple values that needed little care? 

Medieval doctors used broom for the following:

• to treat complaints of the cardiovascular system
• to act as a diuretic
• to induce labor
• 
  

Ingesting broom might result in poisoning, making professional supervision a must.

Meadowsweet (Spiraea ulmaria) produces white lacy flowers popular in bridle bouquets and was often called brideswort.  Little wonder as to why the magicians chose this fragile blossom possessing grace, refinement and elegance. They wished Lleu and Blodeuwedd a harmonious union, the type of honoring and cherishing that most associate with wedding vows.

 
However, as a common funerary herb, Meadowsweet perhaps represented not only honor and commemoration, it evokes the notion of transitioning from one phase to the next.

According to the herbalist Grieve, the Druids held meadowsweet in high regard and counted it as one of their three most sacred herbs. (along with water mint and vervain.) Known to evoke calm and peaceful feelings, housewives tossed meadowsweet on the floors of their homes and used the flowers in mead and ale.

Cunning folk knew to use meadowsweet  medicinally to:

• reduce fevers (it contains salicylates the primary component of modern aspirin)
• to reduce pain
• to control menstrual cramps
• to reduce spasms.