| Chizpurfle
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: underwater
Posts: 10,319
 x9
|  Stuck inside with Sirius | *Splish-Splash* | bamBAM | ☁ Spooktacular ☁
On the whole, Noble thought their answers were pretty decent, and covered most of the major points. Though he was left wondering whether Rainwater had been teaching them herbology or aromatherapy of late, as there was a distinct preference for plants of the herbal variety. Something which Tom had felt the need to mention. “I’m sure you can come up with something more specific than that,” Noble told the Gryffindor first year, a less than impressed look on his face.
The other answers, he wrote up on the blackboard as they went. First of all: valerian. Both sprigs and roots were acceptable answers, and Noble nodded at Fiona and Isla in turn. “Indeed,” he replied. “Valerian is a sedative and can also help ease muscle spasms. Notably, for the topic of today’s class, the roots are used in the draught of peace, and sprigs of dried flowers in sleeping draughts…from which you could infer – correctly – that the roots contain the more potent sedative.” That said, he moved on to Chloe’s answer, which covered another known sedative. “You’re correct, passionflower can also aid in sleep and relieve anxiety. However, in large doses it can cause drowsiness and it’s rather fallen out of favour in recent years…especially for sort of potion we’ll be brewing today.”
The next two answers were hardly a surprise, given the two plants on his desk at the front. He brushed his hand through the one with the lilac flowers first – lavender, clearly – as Cole and Phoebe spoke. “Another mundane herb, lavender is probably best known for its distinctive flowers and relaxing scent.” Which those in the front row could probably now smell. “It’s most common to use the dried flowers in potion-making, but sometimes you’ll find the essential oil used too.” He turned his attention to the other plant on his desk now: chamomile. “Another herb known for it’s relaxing qualities and use in tea is chamomile, as Naya, Bernadette and Charlie mentioned. It’s easy to store in dried form, so that’s what most potions call for. It can also be used fresh, however…both the leaves and the flower heads.”
Moving on, Noble added Lucas’ suggestion of peppermint to the board. “Peppermint – and mint in general – has a both a calming, but also refreshing effect, which can help combat the stuporific effects of some of the other suggestions mentioned.” Since soothing and relaxing didn’t necessarily need to make one sleepy at the same time. “And yes, fresh leaves are much stronger than dried ones, which can quickly degrade and lose their calming properties.”
As he glanced back over his shoulder, it was no surprise that Eiji had thought a little further afield with his answer. “Also known as the five-flavour fruit, I do believe,” Noble replied. “Since it possesses all five basic flavours.” And hopefully they’d remember that, when he came to teach their ‘bewitching the senses’ module in a few weeks. “It can help with relieving stress…and as a result, can boost the immune system and endurance. Not something we need for today’s brew…but a useful ingredient all the same.” And Jillian followed up with another stress reliever. “Likewise, with ashwagandha.”
And finally, a completely out of the box answer. Though, perhaps surprisingly, Curtis wasn’t wrong. “Chocolate can indeed have relaxing properties, increasing the endorphins in the brain. Particularly dark chocolate.” Which he was rather partial to, by the way.
With Cora and Heath staying quiet for now, Noble put down his chalk, and moved around to the front of the table. “Today we'll be making a soothing solution…a potion closely related to the standard calming and sleeping draughts, but with a less potent formulation that means it can be safely used to settle young children and small animals.” So, it was quite likely that several of them would find an easy and obvious practical application of it with Schmoe’s assignment. And Noble would definitely be encouraging them to take a vial or three with them, so everyone could finally get a decent night's kip.
“To start, you’ll need to heat 70ml of flobberworm mucus in your cauldron over a low heat. You’ll also need to come cut yourself three heads of lavender flowers, leaving yourself five inches of stalk, and four decent sized leaves from the chamomile plant.”
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