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How Medieval Herbs Were Used

by: LeeDobbins
Total views: 4 | Word Count: 413

For millenniums, in all different cultures throughout the world, cultivating and reaping herbs has been performed. It was even considered a high art in medieval Europe. With the Greeks lacking medical know-how and technology, the Middle Ages relied heavily on Medieval herbs for medicines. The practice they used mixed knowledge through experience with balderdash, but they did know much that was well-grounded.

Beautiful and beneficial Medieval herb gardens provided families with medicine, food seasonings, and a place to escape from reality. The Cloisters in New York provides a modern-day version of these gardens. Despite being built years later in the 1930s, Cloisters was fashioned to look as much like the cloisters of old through treatises and poetry from the time. This goal was more than achieved.

The herb garden is prominently featured among The Cloisters' numerous sections. Despite the various types of New York weather that occur throughout the year, over 250 species are able to be grown.

These historical herb gardens were very original and had raised garden beds, wattle fences and a central wellhead along with the Medieval herbs. These gardens served as a magnificent centerpiece and were often surrounded by lush orchards and other pretty plants.

In the winter, many are placed inside pots that are similar to ones found in the period. This helps the fragile ones survive in the cold, harsh climate.

During the Middle Ages, people grew herbs for warding off evil spirits, which they viewed as a very useful purpose. They associated many herbs with special abilities. For instance, they thought Dill in particular possessed magical powers. They also thought some herbs had healing properties. For instance, they believed rosemary could prevent the plague and that sage could treat epilepsy.

The herb garden is arranged in nine sections. They are grouped according to their use in medieval times. One group is for household plants such as Thistles and Absinthe, next those used for healing or medicinal purposes like Liquorice and St. John's Wort, and the third for such aromatics as Lemon Balm and Lavender.

Some types of herbs were used for art and purposes such as encouraging love and marriage. These were thought to be 'magic' plants. The final group contains cooking herbs like Caraway, Fennel, Parsley, and Borage.

Despite the availability of the same plants, modern day herbalists are using medieval herbs less than in past times when their use was wide-spread. The medicinal properties of these herbs is more publicly discussed and correlates with similar uses of those in ancient times.

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About the Author

To learn more about medieval herbs as well as get tips on basic herb gardening, please visit http://basicherbgardeningtips.com/  

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