Herbs have played an
important part in man's life for countless years -- in his
politics, romance, love, religion, health, and superstition.
Celery was used by the
Abyssinians for stuffing pillows. Ancient Greeks and Romans
crowned their heroes with dill and laurel. Dill also was used by
the Romans to purify the air in their banquet halls.
Some herbs were given
magical properties, probably because of their medicinal uses. The
early Chinese considered artemisia to have special charms. In
France during the Middle Ages, babies were rubbed with artemisia
juices to protect them from the cold. Ancient Greeks used sweet
marjoram as a valuable tonic, and parsley as a cure for stomach
ailments. Rosemary was eaten in the Middle Ages for its
tranquilizing effects and as a cure-all for headaches.
Chives, still a common herb
often found growing wild, had economic importance throughout Asia
and many Mediterranean countries. Odd as it seems now, the early
Dutch settlers in this country intentionally planted chives in
the meadows so cows would give chive-flavored milk.
Mint, another popular herb
today, also had its beginnings early in history. Greek athletes
used bruised mint leaves as an after-bath lotion. In the Middle
Ages, mint was important as a cleansing agent and later was used
to purify drinking water that had turned stale on long ocean
voyages. Mint also was given mystical powers It was used to
neutralize the "evil eye" and to produce an aggressive
character.
Mustard was lauded by
Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, and Shakespeare called
it a desirable condiment in several of his plays.
Other herbs with importance
dating back to early times include basil, saffron, sage, savory,
tarragon, and thyme.
Early settlers brought
herbs to America for use as remedies for illnesses, flavoring,
storing with linens, strewing on floors, or burning for their
pleasant fragrances. Some herbs were used to improve the taste of
meats in the days before preservation techniques were developed.
Other herbs were used to dye homespun fabrics.
Herb gardens were almost an
essential feature of pioneer homes. They were placed in sunny
corners near the house to be readily available to the busy
homemaker. As the population of the new country grew, people from
many nations brought herbs with them. This resulted in an
exchange of slips, seeds, and plants.
Many herbs familiar to
settlers from other countries were found growing wild in the new
country. These included parsley, anise, pennyroyal, sorrel,
watercress, liverwort, wild leeks, and lavender. American Indians
knew uses for almost every wild, nonpoisonous plant, but they
used the plants chiefly for domestic purposes -- tanning and
dyeing leather and eating.
