From the 12th century through the 17th and 18th centuries historic herb gardens were the centers of medicinal learning!
For most of us, a few herbs for the kitchen is the limit of our knowledge but our ancestors made use of the plants around them for live-saving and herbal wellness needs. The idea of the archetypal Garden of Eden is embedded in our culture as a place of spiritual healing and contemplation.
The medieval monastic houses and their cloisters were centers of knowledge and skill in the cultivation of garden plants for medicinal and culinary use.
The knowledge that was gained concerned Simples & Worts; their herbal medicines and herbal plants, respectively.
Comfrey's wound-healing properties are due to allantoin stimulating cell proliferation.
Valarian is a sedative which relieves cramps and headaches
Elecampane is used to treat bronchial coughs.
Rowan tree There was good reason for having a Rowan tree outside your door. It was an efficacious charm against witchcraft.
Examples of Simples…
Simples and Worts were also used for dyeing cloth...
• Dandelion root for magenta
• Nettle for green
• Juniper berries produced a brown dye (as well as for the production of Gin!)
The list of aromatherapy and domestic uses for Simples & Worts is extensive and will be covered in the future.