Once upon a time in a town far far away by Easy Jet, but quite a long way to walk, there was a problem. The Town Council had been compelled to meet - and they were grumpy and fed up. The town had been plagued for some time by rats - lots of them. The rats were being more than a nuisance. Tourist income was down and food hygiene inspectors had closed down many of the town's cake and pasty shops as well as a library. Something had to be done.
All conventional approaches had failed so a radical plan was voted in unanimously, and with great haste and desperation. A few days later, after convergence of focus groups and a risk assessment, the Pied Piper was invited to the Town Hall and his fee agreed subject to the usual Hamelin Town Council conditions - cash on delivery.
Bright and early the next day he set to work and his success was so immediate that the Council joyously declared a Public Holiday, Bank Holiday, teachers' no-pupil-day, and street festival (subject to license). With much ceremony, self-importance, and wearing of uniforms, they watched the rats follow the Pied Piper from the town. Big success, and job done. The Council members were confident of re-election and of attending next summers all expenses paid trip to Hamelins twinned town.
Sadly though the Council had not consulted the impoverished treasury before promising payment to the Piper and even independent arbitrators and the small claims court could not resolve the subsequent pay dispute. Now the Pied Piper was grumpy and fed up.
Although classically trained as a concert piper the hero of our story was a herbalist by day and on this occasion, so the original 13th century folk tale tells us, he used a large bunch of Valerian to do the job. Cats and rats are attracted to Valerian flowers and this is why they scampered along after him, thus resolving the towns tourist deficit problems.
Nowadays many many herbalists and people at Holland and Barrett will tell you that Valerian is a proven calming sedative. Taken regularly, for at least two weeks, it is effective in treating insomnia as well as being wonderful at improving mood and reducing nervous tension.
Although we now respect it for its calming properties and use in treating hyperactivity it is interesting to also consider that it was traditionally used for wound care and treating epilepsy as well.
Today we use the dried root as a powder or tincture but the Pied Herbalist knew enough to use the much more potent juice of the root.
Go out today and you will find Valerian growing on walls and around brickwork near you. As an added bonus it also comes in three attractive colours - white, pink, and red.
The Pied Piper knew of its sedative powers of course and so it was that, frustrated with the Council's intransigence over the payment of his fee, he resorted to extreme measures. Using Valerian he put all the children into a deep and dreamy sleep until he received his dues (which he did).
A radical measure but he had a mortgage to pay.
So the moral of the story? Be really nice to herbalists.
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