Herbs And Folklore

Plants or herbs have been used by people for thousands of years. Schools of Herbal Medicine have been recorded as far back as 6 century B.C. in China. Ancient Egyptian papyrus scrolls list and describe some 700 different herbs and their uses.

Dependent on the plant kingdom for medicinal, culinary and cosmetic needs people further integrated plants into their daily lives by using them to master their misfortunes and to control their fate.

Over the centuries many wonderful stories have arisen around herbs - their names, attributes and powers. The tale of the Goose Barnacle is a marvelous piece of fiction. This imaginary seaside tree supposedly bore shells or barnacles, the fruit of which were live geese. Technically, therefore, these marsh geese were fruits and not fowl and it followed that many Christians decided that these geese could be eaten on fast days when meat was forbidden!

Garlic hung around the neck was supposed to keep away not only disease but also evil spirits.

The expression "poet laureate" comes from the Roman belief that a sprig of the bay tree (Laurus) would attract the Muse of poetry. All aspiring poets carried or slept with a sprig. The ancient Egyptians believed that the onion was the symbol of the universe. just as today people might swear on the Bible, the Egyptians took their oath on an onion.

Many plants received their names because they flowered on or near a Christian feast day, e.g. Michaelmas daisies flower on or around the feast of St. Michael - Sept. 29. St. John's wort (wort means weed) flowers for the day of St. John the Baptist - June 24.

The humble dandelion was used as a diuretic and in French it is called pissenlit (piss-en-lit) or piss-in-bed.

Trefoil gets its name from the French "trois feuilles" or three leaves. Similarly, Cinquefoil has 5 leaves or "cinq feuilles". "To deck the halls with boughs of holly" is a custom which most likely originated with the Romans who during their pagan Saturnalis festival, December 17th, hung up boughs of holly to ward off evil spirits and lightning. The spiky holly leaves later became symbolic of Christ's crown of thorns and the bright red berries are a reminder of His blood.

Little violas or Johnny-jump-ups used to be referred to as Heartsease because in "flower language" the three colours white, purple and yellow mean loving thoughts, memories and souvenirs. A posy of these flowers or the juice in a love potion would surely ease the hearts of separated lovers.

Let your imagination wander over such names as Motherwort, Lady's Mantle, Bee Balm, Goose Grass, Eyebright, Touch-me-not, Naked Ladies, Leopard's-bane, Fleabane, Wormwood, Birthroot, Feverwort, Pleurisy Root, Mouse Ear, Knitbone, Horseheal, Witch's Bells.....

What fun herbs can be!

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