Herbs

Sunflower: Cultivated 3,000 yrs ago, dedicated to Sun God, Helios. 

Hops: Pliny 1st century, and used for brewing by 8th century. 

Agrimony: Used as a heal all in Anglo Saxon times. From Agrimone Greek. Used for eye and skin disorders 

Hyssop: from Hebrew, a holy herb used for purifying temples and rituals. 

Elecampane: Helen of Troy was gathering this herb when she was abducted by Paris. 

Lavender: Used by Greek and Roman from lavare to wash. Insect repellant properties.

Meadowsweet: a strewing herb used in Elizabethan England for church weddings and bridal garlands. Sacred to the Druids.

 

Fennel: Roman gladiators bathed in fennel before battle and wore a wreath of fennel. A favourite of Charlemagne and a sacred herb for the Anglo Saxons. Charm against evil. 

Sweet Woodruff: Used to sweeten drawers and mattresses, and placed on pillows for healing dreams. Added to wine and punch. Used for garlands, strewn in churches. 

Lemon Balm: Sacred to temple of Diana, used medicinally by Greeks for 2000 years. Called Elixir of Life by Swiss physician, Paracelsus. Dispels melancholy.

Bergamot: Contains the antiseptic, thymol. 

Myrtle: favourite of the priestesses of Venus who wore a Myrtle wreath when Paris awarded her the Golden Apple for her beauty. Also woven into bridal bouquets. Shakespeare had Venus and Adonis meet under the shade of a Myrtle tree. 

Bay: Sacred to Apollo, the Greek God of Prophecy, poetry and healing and to his son, Asclepius, God of Medicine. Priestesses of Delphi ate Bay, a slight narcotic in large doses, and a wreath for poets and athletes. A Roman symbol for wisdom and glory. 

Horehound. Sacred to Horus, used to break magical spells. An old English dowry herb. 

Mint: the Pharisees collected tithes in mint, dill and cumin. Laid on synagogue and church floors. Mentioned by Ovid as a symbol of hospitality.

Parsley: used to crown victors at Isthmian Games, to decorate tombs, fed to horses in ancient wars. 

Roses: used for wine in ancient Persia, Cleopatra seduced Anthony knee deep in rose petals. Saladin when entering Jerusalem in 1187 washed the Omar mosque in rose water. 

Rue: Leonardo and Michelangelo claimed rue improved their inner vision. Rue was used to sprinkle holy water before high mass. Used as a protection against plague and as an antidote to poison in Greece. Shown in heraldry, Order of the Thistle, and the suit of Clubs in playing cards. 

Basil: culinary herb. Native to India where it was regarded as a divine essence. They swear their oaths upon it. Said to have been found around the tomb of Jesus, some Greek Orthodox churches decorate their altars with it. 

Evening Primrose. Contains medicinal gamma linoleic oil. Grown in monastery gardens and used to demonstrate the principles of heredity. 

Marjoram: said to have been created by Aphrodite, brides were crowned with the flowers and were placed on tombs to bring peace to the departed.  

Basil: Known as the 'king of herbs' this has been used for soothing abd inducing feelings of love, harmony and sympathy and an ingredient in spells and rituals. In 'Bucklands Book of Gypsy Magic' many spells from Romani lore involve basil. Once called the 'love herb' a man wood a woman with a bouquet of basil. Considered a symbol of love in Italy, women would place a pot of basil on their balcony to let suitors know they were av ailable.

Achillea Millefolium: An aromatic perennial. 16th century John Gerard said this was named after Achilles and will heal injuries on the battlefield. Used in divination when casting I Ching. Place yarrow under your pillow for dreams of loved ones. 

Garlic: Cultivated for 5000 years in Middle East and found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen (1370-1352BC). Popular in Greece and Rome but not allowed in temples. Healing properties clears and thins blood, reduces cholesterol, lowers blood pressure. Anti-oxidant properties.

Aloe Vera: Depicted in Egyptian wallpaintings, Cleopatra was said to use it as a beauty product for her skin. Mentioned in the Bible as embalming ingredient. Not to be taken internally. 

Book Recommendation - The Complete Book of Herbs - A Practical Guide to Growing & Using Herbs by Lesley Bremness. Published in association with The National Trust. Full colour plates.

Everything that a beginner or experienced person with a love of herbs could want in a book! From planning your herb garden, whether it be small or large, indoors or outdoors. Herbs can be used for all kinds of decoration, such as wreaths, garlands and baskets. Culinary herbs used in soups, fish dishes, meat and salads, desserts, preserves and drinks. Household products, herbal dyes, potpourri, fragrances, health care and beauty, healing remedies, cultivation and harvesting. Excellent information, well presented. You will find lots to enjoy here! 
Review: Wendy Stokes www.wendystokes.co.uk