Stinging Nettle

With a name like “stinging nettle” it doesn’t sound like a good idea to use this plant internally or externally… does it? But stinging nettle has a long history in medicine. One of the earliest uses of stinging nettle was in attempts to stimulate paralyzed limbs. A paralyzed limb would be slapped with a bunch of stinging nettles — this was known as urtication. Nettle was also made into fabric; archaeologists have uncovered nettle cloth in Bronze Age burial sites. During the fifteen hundreds, stinging nettle was suggested as an antidote for some poisons. Colonists brought stinging nettle to the … Continue reading →

Rose

The rose has a long, romantic history. But while this flower is mostly known in the arena of love, it also has some notable entries in the book of medicine. History suggests that Greek colonists first introduced the rose to southern Italy. The Romans crowned newlyweds with crowns of the fragrant flowers. Rose water — bruised petals boiled in water — was used as early as the tenth century. Rose attar (also known as otto) appeared in the sixteenth century. Native Americans used rose petals (mixed with grease or dried and powdered) to treat sores and blisters. Petals soaked in … Continue reading →

Lemon Balm

Shortly after I graduated college, I got a summer job at a 1800s historical park. One of the houses boasted a lovely little herb garden, and my favorite plant in the garden was lemon balm. It smelled like a combination of lemon and mint; I was always cutting bunches and hanging them to dry in the restored cottages. Lemon balm has been around for at least two thousand years. Greek and Roman scholars took note of the plant and used it for a variety of remedies, including dog and scorpion bites. Arabs used the plant to treat heart disorders and … Continue reading →

Acai

I’d never heard much about acai before a friend gave me a smoothie-maker for Christmas. Along with the smoothie-maker, I was given a big bag of frozen berries and some packets of acai to kick off my blender experiments. First things first: acai is pronounced ah-sigh-ee. It comes from Brazil and is all the rage in anti-aging these days. You might not think acai is much to look at — but these tiny, dark red and purple berries have huge health benefits. They’re full of essential fatty acids. They’re full of antioxidants — anthocyanins are antioxidants that lend those deep … Continue reading →

Juniper

Juniper is an evergreen popular in landscaping… but you may know the plant more for giving flavoring to gin. The juniper shrub’s branches, leaves, and berries have long been used in cooking and medicine, too. Juniper has a very strong smell, which led early medical practitioners to believe it could drive away evil spirits and disease. Native Americans believed that juniper was useful for cleansing and healing. It was used to prevent infection, relieve arthritis, and cure illnesses. Bundles of juniper branches with leaves were heated and tied to a sore limb to relieve pain. These days, juniper still has … Continue reading →

Thyme

Thyme is another herb that may be most popular in the kitchen… but is useful elsewhere. The little flowers on the plant attract bees and make thyme popular in garden borders. Thyme grows well in windowsill and container gardens, and has a long history in both cooking and medicine. Ancient writings refer to both common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and wild mountain thyme (Thymus praecox articus). The name may come from a Greek word for courage… or a similar word meaning “to fumigate”. Both meanings are applicable to the plant — thyme can be invigorating but it was also burned to … Continue reading →

Lovage

What a romantic name — lovage sounds like it comes from “love” and “age” if you ask me. (Though it probably has a totally different origin!) Lovage was most popular during the Middle Ages — even the emperor Charlemagne kept lovage on the grounds. The herb was planted in both kitchen gardens and medicinal gardens. The roots of lovage were thought to be where the best medicine resided. They were used to treat rheumatism, jaundice, sore throat, kidney stones, and stomach problems. Some herbalists used lovage to relieve menstrual problems. The plant was used as a diuretic. Chewing on a … Continue reading →

Mustard

Mustard isn’t just for hot dogs — it has a long history as a healing herb. Ancient Greeks and Romans used mustard seeds in cooking and in the sickroom. Romans pounded the seeds and mixed them with wine to make an early version of today’s popular condiment. The seeds were taken internally to relieve digestive problems and used externally to promote blood flow. Some English herbalists recommended mustard seeds as a treatment for epilepsy; one seventeenth century herbalist used mustard seed to sooth toothaches. In North America, both settlers and natives used the seeds for both food and medicine. Mustard … Continue reading →

Hyssop

Back as far as the seventh century, hyssop was in use as a cleanser. The herb was scattered on the floor in kitchens and sickrooms in order to improve the smell. Hyssop does have a very strong smell. It is a member of the mint family, but has a scent more like camphor. The name comes from the Greek word hussopos and the Hebrew word esob — meaning holy herb. The plant is native to Europe and Asia and has been spread across North America. Traditionally, hyssop was used for cleansing — inside and out. One seventeenth century herbalist suggested … Continue reading →

Witch Hazel

Despite the spooky name, this tree has nothing to do with witches! The name comes from an Old English word meaning “pliant” because the flexible branches made good bows for archers. Witch hazel is native to most of North America — the only place the tree is hard to come by is in the far west. It tends to grow in moist areas and prefers light woods and rocky streams. The tree prefers partial shade and sandy or peaty soil. Native Americans made a tea from the leaves and bark of the witch hazel tree. The tea was used to … Continue reading →