Another aspect of my research was traditional methods of controlling the thyroid – and there are very few. When medieval medics are recommending the wearing of an amulet made from the skin of a hanged man about the throat it’s clear that there’s very few options available.

After a lot of research and googling the content of medical papers I did eventually find a couple of plants said to have been used to treat hyperthyroid in the past (but with no indication of efficacy). These were Gypsywort and Common Gromwell. Wanting to use these in resin casts I managed to get hold of the Gromwell seeds – which needed to be kept in the fridge for the first fortnight.

The leaves from these have become part of the eventual board game, and the plants have wintered and seeded completing the cycle.