In my last post I wrote about
5 Forgotten Medicinal Herbs that were commonly found in the 19th century gardens. Those herbs were Clary Sage, Celandine, Elecampane, and Feverfew but we only just scratched the surface of forgotten herbs.
There are so many more herbs to cover but so little time. So, I've decided to post again but this time instead of five herbs I've written about ten.
Please remember that the purpose of this article is for historic education purposes only. The herbs should not be used without consulting with your doctor.
Comfrey
Like the ancient Greeks, early settlers to America used comfrey leaves to heal wounds and to stop bleeding. This is done by chewing up a leaf and then applying the mauled up "chaw" to the wound before a bandage is applied. When done properly, the wound heals quickly which means there is less of a chance of infection to the injury. However if the wound is not cleaned before the comfrey is applied, dirt that becomes trapped inside the wound could cause a serious if not lethal infection.
Comfrey is a good looking plant. It has small bell shaped flowers that can range in color from white to purple or even striped. The leaves are broad with fine hairs and the root is black. Harvesting the root should be done in the late fall but the leaves can be harvested throughout the year.
If you are planting comfrey in your garden be sure that it gets lots of water because this is one plant who really likes moist soil. It does well in full sun but I've had great success with it in partial shade.
Foxglove
This comes as both a biennial and perennial with trumpet-shaped flowers. The flowers come in white, yellow, pink, lavender and can have spots as well as other markings. It grows vertically and some varieties can grow as high as six feet.
Foxglove is one of those plants that is steeped in lore. The plant shows up in mythology worldwide and has long been associated with witchcraft. An old saying about Foxglove goes "It can raise the dead and it can kill the living."
Today it is found in the heart drug digoxin which us used to reduce the risk of heart attach and stroke. Like with all herbs however caution should be taken as every part of this beautiful plant is poisonous to humans and when misused can be deadly.
Today it is found in the heart drug digoxin which us used to reduce the risk of heart attach and stroke. Like with all herbs however caution should be taken as every part of this beautiful plant is poisonous to humans and when misused can be deadly.
Contact with any part of Foxglove can lead to skin irritation, headaches, severe stomach ache, hysteria, seizures, and death if eaten. The 1868 New Cyclopedia of Botany and Complete book of Herbs by Frederick Farrah, says about the plant "... not to be made use of without great caution: It is a very dangerous and poisonous plant."
Throughout history, it has been used to treat heart and kidney problems, edema, irregular heart beat, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and epilepsy just to name a few. Farrah gave this advice about treating dropsy with the herb " If dropsy can be cured at all, it can be cured with foxglove, for is this fails there is little chance of any other succeeding."
If you decide that you would like to plant Foxglove in your garden, use caution and always wear gloves when handling. This herb should be planted is a moist, but not soggy, spot that gets more shade then sun especially if planted in a hotter climate.
Garden Rue
I hope those who are reading this article are not surprised to learn that Rue is not just the name of a character in the famous Hunger Games trilogy.
According to the 1863 addition of The New American Cyclopedia: a Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge, " The old name for Garden Rue was "herb of grace," given to it on account of its use in exorcisms. It is often associated with rosemary, and used on like occasions." Even today, it is still used for breaking a hex, warding off the evil eye, and in love potions by those who practice magick.
Rue is considered an evergreen shrub and can grow to three feet in height. It was once planted in gardens for it's medical properties but today it can act as a helpful repellent against Japanese beetles as well as attract butterflies.
This small woody shrub, has yellow flowers that bloom in the summer and leaves that are covered in oil glands. The oil can cause irritation or even blisters to form on the skin. Use caution and wear gloves when handling this plant. Several sources also recommend that Rue be kept out of reach of children and those who are expecting.
Rue does best when planted in a sunny, well drained spot. It is tolerant to drought and can grow in rocky or dry soil. Once established it rarely needs watered and sue to it's woody growth, it can be pruned into a hedge.
The leaves can be used as an aromatic stimulant for someone who has fainted, help to get rid of worms in the stomach, increases the flow of urine, help with stomach pains, improve eyesight, and colic. Leaves of this herb should be dried in cloth bags and be kept out of reach of children. Once dried, the cloth bags can then be placed around the home as an insect repellent. Extreme caution should be used. Overdosing on this herb can cause violent stomach pain, complications, and death.
In the 19th century the oil of Garden Rue was sometimes mixed with turpentine petroleum to make a powerful tonic that was to be ingested. In the Culpeper's Complete Herbal, written in 1832, it recommends that "The seed thereof taken in wine is an antidote against all dangerous medicines and deadly poisons."
Once again I do not recommend using any herb, especially one as toxic as Garden Rue, with out consulting your doctor and doing further research. Such research might lead you to a number of studies that show Garden Rue to be mostly ineffective and dangerous.
According to the 1863 addition of The New American Cyclopedia: a Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge, " The old name for Garden Rue was "herb of grace," given to it on account of its use in exorcisms. It is often associated with rosemary, and used on like occasions." Even today, it is still used for breaking a hex, warding off the evil eye, and in love potions by those who practice magick.
This small woody shrub, has yellow flowers that bloom in the summer and leaves that are covered in oil glands. The oil can cause irritation or even blisters to form on the skin. Use caution and wear gloves when handling this plant. Several sources also recommend that Rue be kept out of reach of children and those who are expecting.
Rue does best when planted in a sunny, well drained spot. It is tolerant to drought and can grow in rocky or dry soil. Once established it rarely needs watered and sue to it's woody growth, it can be pruned into a hedge.
The leaves can be used as an aromatic stimulant for someone who has fainted, help to get rid of worms in the stomach, increases the flow of urine, help with stomach pains, improve eyesight, and colic. Leaves of this herb should be dried in cloth bags and be kept out of reach of children. Once dried, the cloth bags can then be placed around the home as an insect repellent. Extreme caution should be used. Overdosing on this herb can cause violent stomach pain, complications, and death.
In the 19th century the oil of Garden Rue was sometimes mixed with turpentine petroleum to make a powerful tonic that was to be ingested. In the Culpeper's Complete Herbal, written in 1832, it recommends that "The seed thereof taken in wine is an antidote against all dangerous medicines and deadly poisons."
Once again I do not recommend using any herb, especially one as toxic as Garden Rue, with out consulting your doctor and doing further research. Such research might lead you to a number of studies that show Garden Rue to be mostly ineffective and dangerous.
Horehound
In the 1st century BC, Horehound was mentioned as a remedy to help treat respiratory infection. Today it is most commonly found in throat lozenges, among other things, that are used to help ease a sore throat or just eaten for the taste by some.
Horehound can grow to a little more then two feet in height. It's blooms gather along the woody stem in small clusters with the colors ranging from white to pink to purple. The leaves can be
harvested and dried for later use although oil can also be extracted from the plant.
When planting horehound give it plenty of room as it is considered to be invasive and can quickly take over a garden. It does well in full sun, well drained soil, and even well in areas poor soil quality.
The Household Encyclopedia of 1859 has this to say about the herb:
" This herb is a popular remedy in chronic pulmonary complaints especially catarrh, and in uterine and liver affections." It can also ingested to kill worms, mixed with lard and applied to dog bites, used for coughs, or made into candy. "To Candy, boil it in water till the juice is extracted; then boil some sugar to feather, add thereto the juice of the horehound, and boil it again to the same height. Stir it with a spoon against the sides of the pan till thick, then poor it into a paper case previously dusted with fine sugar and cut into squares..."
Hyssop
Hyssop is another herb valued for its properties as a cough reliever and antiseptic. It's flowers come in pink, white or blue blooms when it blossoms in the summer time. There is a minty smell about the plant and it is often placed near bee hives for bees to produce a flavored honey.
Tea made from the leaves can help ease sudden colds and chest congestion. But those who drink the tea are more susceptible to sunburns because it opens up the pores in the skin.
By the end of the 19th century it fell out of favor with many gardeners because " it is not a plant of much beauty." However, again and again when Hyssop is mentioned it seems that the authors always say something about it being the bible or a biblical herb. "...yet it is a plant that must always have an interest to readers of the Bible; for there it comes before us as the plant of purification, as the plant of which the study was not beneath the wisdom of Solomon, and especially as the plant that added to the cruelties of the Crucifixion."
Hyssop does well in containers and in an open garden as long as there is enough room for it's roots to
spread out. It will do well in full sun or in partial shade and should be planted in a well-drained soil.
Lady’s Bedstraw
This herb is also known as Yellow Bedstraw and in most places is considered to be a weed. It has yellow flowers that form in clusters on a stem that can grow up to 3 feet tall. Lady's Bedstraw will root wherever it touches the ground so grower beware!Hyssop
Hyssop is another herb valued for its properties as a cough reliever and antiseptic. It's flowers come in pink, white or blue blooms when it blossoms in the summer time. There is a minty smell about the plant and it is often placed near bee hives for bees to produce a flavored honey. Tea made from the leaves can help ease sudden colds and chest congestion. But those who drink the tea are more susceptible to sunburns because it opens up the pores in the skin.
By the end of the 19th century it fell out of favor with many gardeners because " it is not a plant of much beauty." However, again and again when Hyssop is mentioned it seems that the authors always say something about it being the bible or a biblical herb. "...yet it is a plant that must always have an interest to readers of the Bible; for there it comes before us as the plant of purification, as the plant of which the study was not beneath the wisdom of Solomon, and especially as the plant that added to the cruelties of the Crucifixion."
Hyssop does well in containers and in an open garden as long as there is enough room for it's roots to
spread out. It will do well in full sun or in partial shade and should be planted in a well-drained soil.
Lady’s Bedstraw
For hundreds of years, Lady's Bedstraw was used to stuff mattresses because it is a natural repellent and killer of fleas. Additionally, the flowers could be used coagulate milk in cheese production and add color to the end product. When made into a tonic, it can causes excess sweating, increase urine flow, or help the patient relax.
In Norse mythology, the goddess of married women Frigg, helped women give birth. They would plant Lady's Bedstraw, or Frigg's Grass, and use it as a sedative.
Motherwort
Motherwort is a herb that was used midwives to help stave off infection in women who had just given birth. Ironically, it can also be used as a contraceptive and to bring on menstruation.
The American Frugal Housewife written in 1833 recommends that housewives grow the herb in their gardens. "Motherwort tea is very quieting to the nerves. Students, and people troubled with wakefulness, find it useful."
Grow this herb in well drained soil in areas of partial shade. Motherwort can grow to be over two feet tall with blossoms, which attract bees, that bloom in late summer. Take caution however because this plant is considered invasive.
MulleinThroughout history this herb has been used to treat cough, whooping cough, sore throat, and just about any other ailment of the chest or throat. It also can be applied to skin for wounds, burns, hemorrhoids, frostbite, and infections.
The leaves can be dried and smoked in a manner similar to tobacco to help clear mucus out of the body. Mullein is also said to encourage the toxins to leave the body
Pennyroyal
This perennial herb is a low growing plant that will bare reddish purple to light purple blooms in the summertime. Pennyroyal tends to do well partial shade with moist soil. It can also be grown in hanging baskets or used as a grown cover in rocky soil.
The oil of Pennyroyal is very poisonous. So much so that it is used as a deterrent against fleas, mice, and even snakes. Despite this, prior to "modern times", it was still advised that people should apply it their face and arms to keep the insects at bay. Truthfully, in small doses pennyroyal is not dangerous and can be drunk in a tea to combat a wide variety of ailments. But even just a hair to much can lead to liver poisoning.
The New Family Herbal by Mathew Robinson in 1870 says "It is used as a popular remedy with much confidence in obstructions of the courses, especially if attended with pain and hysteria...The green herb bruised and put into vinegar, cleanses foul ulcers, and takes away marks, bruises, or blows about the eyes. The oil is a remedy for tooth-ache."
Many of the sources that I have come across say that pennyroyal is an easy herb to grow. Personally, I have not had much luck with it. It never seems to want to come back once winter is over.
Soapwort
Soapwort is not native to the United States. It was brought over from Europe with some of the first settlers. It was, and still can be, used to wash just about anything. Hair included.
It does especially well with delicate textiles such as handmade lace or even can be used to gently clean dishes made from tin. Detergent made from Soapwort can be used in place of urine to clean and thicken newly woven cloth, a process known as fulling, or added to beer to create a foam on the top.
To make soap from the leaves or roots, take 12 leafy stems and put them into a pint of boiling water. After 30 minutes cool and strain. This liquid can also be added to a traditional batch of soap to help give it some extra cleaning power against grease stains.
Soapwort is not only an amazing textile cleaner, it also possesses medicinal qualities as well. It can be applied externally to treat irritated skin but should not be done so in large amounts. The 1884 addition of A Manual or Medical Botany of North America, author Laurence Johnson says this about soapwort: "A hundred years or more ago soapwort was believed to be a valuable alterative, and was employed in syphilis, gout, rheumatism, etc. with effects similar to those attributed to sarsaparilla." Early medical books from the 1820's claim that most cases of syphilis were cured by this plant, without the use of mercury.
We know now that was most likely not the case. Modern research has shown us that when taken is excess, Soapwort can be poisonous. It actually can cause damage and even kill red blood cells.
Soapwort needs to be kept in moist soil in full sun or light shade. This herb will usually grow well in poor soil as long as it is watered regularly. It can spread to over 20 inches wide in two to five years and can reach 3 feet in high. It blooms in the summer with pink or white flowers that tend to attract butterflies.
Sources Used
A New Universal Etymological and Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language
By John Craig 1849
Herbs2000.com
2002-2016 Herbs2000.com
The American Frugal Housewife
By Mrs. Child 1833
Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities
By Amy Stewart 2009
This perennial herb is a low growing plant that will bare reddish purple to light purple blooms in the summertime. Pennyroyal tends to do well partial shade with moist soil. It can also be grown in hanging baskets or used as a grown cover in rocky soil.
The oil of Pennyroyal is very poisonous. So much so that it is used as a deterrent against fleas, mice, and even snakes. Despite this, prior to "modern times", it was still advised that people should apply it their face and arms to keep the insects at bay. Truthfully, in small doses pennyroyal is not dangerous and can be drunk in a tea to combat a wide variety of ailments. But even just a hair to much can lead to liver poisoning.
The New Family Herbal by Mathew Robinson in 1870 says "It is used as a popular remedy with much confidence in obstructions of the courses, especially if attended with pain and hysteria...The green herb bruised and put into vinegar, cleanses foul ulcers, and takes away marks, bruises, or blows about the eyes. The oil is a remedy for tooth-ache."
Many of the sources that I have come across say that pennyroyal is an easy herb to grow. Personally, I have not had much luck with it. It never seems to want to come back once winter is over.
SoapwortSoapwort is not native to the United States. It was brought over from Europe with some of the first settlers. It was, and still can be, used to wash just about anything. Hair included.
It does especially well with delicate textiles such as handmade lace or even can be used to gently clean dishes made from tin. Detergent made from Soapwort can be used in place of urine to clean and thicken newly woven cloth, a process known as fulling, or added to beer to create a foam on the top.
To make soap from the leaves or roots, take 12 leafy stems and put them into a pint of boiling water. After 30 minutes cool and strain. This liquid can also be added to a traditional batch of soap to help give it some extra cleaning power against grease stains.
Soapwort is not only an amazing textile cleaner, it also possesses medicinal qualities as well. It can be applied externally to treat irritated skin but should not be done so in large amounts. The 1884 addition of A Manual or Medical Botany of North America, author Laurence Johnson says this about soapwort: "A hundred years or more ago soapwort was believed to be a valuable alterative, and was employed in syphilis, gout, rheumatism, etc. with effects similar to those attributed to sarsaparilla." Early medical books from the 1820's claim that most cases of syphilis were cured by this plant, without the use of mercury.
We know now that was most likely not the case. Modern research has shown us that when taken is excess, Soapwort can be poisonous. It actually can cause damage and even kill red blood cells.
Soapwort needs to be kept in moist soil in full sun or light shade. This herb will usually grow well in poor soil as long as it is watered regularly. It can spread to over 20 inches wide in two to five years and can reach 3 feet in high. It blooms in the summer with pink or white flowers that tend to attract butterflies.
Sources Used
A New Universal Etymological and Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language
By John Craig 1849
Herbs2000.com
2002-2016 Herbs2000.com
The American Frugal Housewife
By Mrs. Child 1833
Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities
By Amy Stewart 2009
Photographs were used for educational purposes only and were under public domain or of my own collection
The garden pictured can be found at The McKinnis House in Findlay, Ohio
http://www.hancockparks.com/YourParks/LitzenbergMemorialWoods.aspx
The garden pictured can be found at The McKinnis House in Findlay, Ohio
http://www.hancockparks.com/YourParks/LitzenbergMemorialWoods.aspx
For additional sources please contact me
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