Medieval Herbs Are Still Useful Today
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For thousands of years, it has been the practice of cultures all over to grow and harvest herbs. Medieval Europe, however, specialized in it. During the Middle Ages, there was a lack of understanding about medical knowledge and technology, subjects the Greeks knew well and Medieval herbs were used for most ailments as well as superstitious reasons. While some of what was known in the Middle Ages was nonsense, much was valid.
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 Cloister’s many sections most notably feature herb gardens. In spite of New York’s harsh frigid winters, humid and stifling summers, and unpredictable rainy Fall and Spring, over 250 species thrive there.
It isn’t an exact replica of any particular herb garden, as it’s base was from many sources. The results are the standard features of any historical herb garden, like wattle fences, raised beds, and a central wellhead. These Medieval herbs form an enviable centerpiece when surrounded by other plants and orchards that many home practitioners try to copy.
Herbs are typically hardy; however, many fragile herbs can not make it through a New York winter when subzero temperatures and snow are frequent. Hence, these delicate herbs are planted in period appropriate pots so that they can be brought inside during these frigid winters.
Herbs cultivated during Medieval times could be used for silly reasons like trying to ward off evil ghosts. It was believed that dill held magical powers. People also thought that they could be protected from the plague by rosemary. To try to treat epilepsy, sage was used.
Herbs were arranged at the Cloisters in nine sections corresponding to classifications used in the period. The first section holds Absinthe and Thistles, the second contains medical herbs, such as St. John’s Wort and Liquorice. The third section holds Lavendar, Lemon Balm and other aromatics.
Herbs have been categorized by their usefullness in art and other questionable purposes such as promoting Love and Marriage. Meadow Rue and ‘magic’ plants such as Herb Robert are good examples. There is also a category for herbs used in cooking such as 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.
