Herbs, Herbalism, & Herbal Remedies

A Modern Herbal written by Mrs. M. Grieve in 1930's. References to medieval authors, including recipes from period.

This bibliograp hy is primarily intended for the contributi ng authors and expert advisers of the Anglo-Saxo n Plant-Name Survey. It is, therefore, biased towards Anglo-Saxo n England, but with a wider range of titles in areas where this may be appropriat e to ASPNS studies.

A list of commonly-available herbs, and herbs that are safe to use.

This site is dedicated to the study of early herbal texts, particular ly those written in German. It aims to make available research material and digital versions of important texts.

There are several references to food preparation scattered throughout the more than 1600 pages of Gerard's Herball; but unlike his medicinal cures, his culinary notes are not indexed in the book. I've made a list of their pertinent texts on the following pages, and have included the original page numbers so that you may look up the complete text and illustrations.

Yale University's Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library Online. Complete reference.

Herbs known and written about before 1066.

Encourages study, teaching and practice of medieval herb uses, as well as study of medieval apothecary and pharmacy practice, in the East Kingdom.

Includes a history of herbs, definitions of the types of herbs that are grown in gardens, recommended herbs for beginning gardeners, and pointers for indoor and outdoor herb gardening.

Botanicals played a part in a variety of customs used at courts all over the world during our period: handwashing; strewing herbs; after-dinner spices; fumigants; perfumes, pomanders and incense.

An herb pillow; a hand oil; anti-chafe body powder; sore-throat tincture; anti-gas tincture; scented water for handwashing; and a recipe for a simple lombard mustard.

Covers safety in usage, including scientific articles. This is where professional herbalists share information.

Medicinal herbs in medieval England.

The use of herbs and spices in Russia, Poland, Bohemia, Hungary and parts of Germany during the medieval and Renaissance periods is well attested, but there is not a great deal of information translated into English on the subject. Herein I have tried to collect the information that exists in the books I have access to.

The Group is for the discussion of how our ancestors used medical and culinary herbs; it is open to living historian and gentlefolk alike. The disscussion ranges from 600 AD up to 1900 AD, and animal and mineral products will also be discussed.

Healing with medicinal plants is as old as mankind itself. The connection between man and his search for drugs in nature dates from the far past, of which there is ample evidence from various sources: written documents, preserved monuments, and even original plant medicines.

A few highlights in the history of herbalism.

Asnapium: An Inventory of One of Charlemagne's Estates, c. 800 from the Medieval Sourcebook. Examples of included items are: bed clothes, kitchen ware, farm implements, measures of dry goods and harvests, cattle and fowl, specific garden herb and trees.

Some historical herbalists; unifying theories; ways to prepare and use herbs; herb descriptions (lemon balm, chamomile, comfrey, ginger, hops, lavender, marjoram, oregano, mint, mustard, roses, rosemary, sage, and thyme); flower herbs; sources/bibliography.

Oils, ointments, infusions, decoctions, syrups, lohocs, tinctures, wines, vinegars, poultices & plasters, compresses or fomentations, and troches.

English translation

Materia Medica, Spellcheck for Botanical names, Cook's Physiomedical Dispensatory and more.

At one time or another, every conceivabl e object or substance has been considered to be an aphrodisia c. Some things have, however, been more popular than others, and I will present some of these trends.

Herbs and spices were (as they are now) used to add to the flavor of dishes.

Ancient, medieval and modern people have been tucking herbs into tiny gardens from time immemorial, and so can you.

Antidote Anecdotes: Medieval Poison Prevention and Cures.

An ongoing site with articles and links on Herbalism as it applies to the Middle Ages and the SCA.

A treatise on sage in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, written in an "in-persona" style.

Color scans of the Ps. Apuleius, Herbal
England, St. Augustine's abbey, Canterbury;
11th century, c. 1070-1100.

Color scans of Ps.-Apuleius, Dioscorides, Herbals (extracts); De virtutibus bestiarum in arte medicinae, in Latin and English
England, Bury St. Edmunds; 11th century, late.

An Irish folk tale on the origin of the healing properties of herbs is strikingly dissimilar to a Saxon account.

Discussion of historical and modern herbalism.

Links to related articles.

An introducti on to medieval plants and gardening practices by way of the gardens of The Cloisters.