From Mesopotamia
One of the earliest known herbs gardens was made in Babylon, the
chief city of Mesopotamia (part of modern day Iraq). King Mardukapal (Ma-duck-a-pal)-Iddina
11, made it nearly 3000 years ago. He grew 64 kinds (species) of
plants to make medicines. Some of them we grow in our gardens today -
apple, coriander, dill, fennel, garlic, onion and roses. He also
grew more powerful plants such as hellebore and opium poppy.
Doctors in Mesopotamia believed the best times to give their
patients medicines was either at night or in the early morning.
Doctors today often tell us to take our medicines at those times
too! Mesopotamian doctors also told their patients to drink
herbal teas. You can make a herbal tea, by looking at the Cooking
Activity Sheet.
From Ancient India
The Ancient Hindus used herbs in medicines. They made strict
rules about where herbs should grow and they didn't allow just anyone
to pick them either!
For example, the picker had to be clean, respectable, religious and
live in jungle areas. He could only pick fresh herbs that grew in
places that were difficult reach, usually where the soil was rich and
well drained.
The herbs had to have a good root. They had to grow in a
place where there was a good mix of sun and shade. Herbs that grew
near Temples, shrines or burial places could not be picked as they
might be contaminated.
Indian doctors gave their patients herbal pills taken with honey,
butter or oil to take away the bitter taste. Or they might give powders mixed with sugar to sweeten them. Today we do the
same. Our medicines are often mixed or coated with something to
make them nicer to swallow!
From Ancient Greece
The herb elecampane is said to have got its name from Helen
of Troy. She was thought to be in a garden when she was
abducted by Paris, and the plant grew where her tears fell.
The goddess Leto was stung by a bee and was so annoyed that
she sent a swarm of small purple bee-eating birds to kill the
bees. The people guarding the hives were so angry that they
killed all the birds with stones from their slings. Zeus,
the father of the gods, was so grateful that he rewarded the
beekeepers by changing the dead birds into lavender plants.
The Ancient Greeks believed that parsley grew from the blood of Archemorus,
who was supposed to appear before someone died. So they would
not eat it. They used it to make wreaths for the dead and for
their tombs. Quite different from what the Romans believed - see
below.
From Roman Italy
Romans used garlands of parsley at feasts because they believed it
stopped them from getting drunk!
The Romans used insect repelling and sweet-smelling herbs on their
floors. The under-floor heating made them smell even
better. The floors were swept every day and fresh herbs were put
down (known as strewing herbs). The old herbs were used to start
the fire the next day.
Roman soldiers were said to put a leaf of plantain in their
footwear before a long march to prevent blisters.
Roman soldiers were also given a daily dose of garlic as a tonic.
From Central Asia
Avicenna, the famous Arabic doctor who lived in from
980-1037, was a very clever man. He studied many subjects
including medicine and astronomy. He was only seventeen when he
became an important doctor in Bhukara, in Central Asia. His fame
spread as far as Baghdad, now capital of Iraq. He was the Caliph's
doctor for seven years. He wrote two volumes of books about
medicine. Before he died, he gave away all his riches and freed
his slaves.
From Britain
The Druids were an ancient order of Celtic priests who lived
in pre-Christian Britain. They used Vervain to treat bladder
infections. In the Middle Ages, it was used for casting spells
or adding to love potions. It was often worn around the neck as
a good-luck charm.
Herbs were used a lot in Tudor times, especially at
weddings. They were used in the bride's headdress and to
decorate the tables, as well as strewn on the floor. Anne of
Cleves wore a pearl coronet with rosemary when she married Henry
VIII. Even poor brides could walk to church over a path
strewn with rose petals and dried herbs.
At the end of the ceremony, the bride and groom would sit under a
'kissing knot'. This was made from ribbons with sprigs of herbs
tucked into them. Each herb that was used would have a special
meaning for the couple.
Shakespeare's character Ophelia in 'Hamlet' spoke
about the meaning of herbs: "There's rosemary for remembrance…
There's pansies that's for thoughts…"
When the Pilgrim Fathers sailed on the Mayflower to
America in 1620, they took with them many of the herbs they used in
England. Later, many herbs that grew wild and were used by the Indians
in America were brought to Europe. You can read more about the Herbs That The Pilgrims Took To America here.
In 1652, an Englishman called Nicholas Culpeper published a
complete herbal, The English Physitian. In this book, he
listed all the known herbal remedies in England at that time. He
wanted to write a book that would help ordinary people make their own
herbal remedies instead of having to buy expensive ones from
doctors. Naturally, he was not popular with the doctors of the
day!
Also at this time, the Society of Apothecaries of London
created a famous herb garden -The Chelsea Physic Garden. You
may like to find out more about this garden by following
this link. Or you can watch the video about the garden from You Tube.
Herbs were used during both WW1 and WW2 to treat
soldiers wounded on the battlefield. One important treatment was
the use of sphagnum moss and garlic, both of which are antiseptics.
Huge quantities of herbs were needed to treat the war
wounded. People of Britain were encouraged to gather and dry
enough herbs. Cigarette cards, which used to come free inside a
packet of cigarettes, were used to help people identify herbs.
All kinds of groups of people were involved including the Boy
Scouts and Girl Guides. The collected herbs were sent to drug
companies, which made them into botanic drugs.
People were also encouraged to grow herbs in their gardens or in
window boxes, and farmers grew fields of them.
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Elecampane - whose full (Latin) name is Inula
Helenium
Helen of Troy. Elecampane is thought to have
been named after her.
Footwear of Roman soldiers.
Read
about their excellent design here. Despite their good
design, it is said that Roman soldiers put leaves of plantain in
their footwear before a long march to prevent blisters.
Avicenna, the famous Arabic doctor who
lived in from 980-1037
The Druids used Vervain to treat
bladder infections
Anne of Cleves wore a pearl coronet with
rosemary when she married Henry VIII.
In Britain, the post of "Royal Herb Strewer"
still exists. The present hereditary holder of this post is
shown here strewing herbs at the opening of the National Garden of
the Herb Society. To find out more read our Royal Herb Strewer page.
When the Pilgrim Fathers sailed on to
America in 1620, they took with them many herbs from
England. Later, many herbs that were used by the Indians in
America were brought to Europe.
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