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Companion Planting Parsley Seeds As One of the Ingredients in Embalming Their Dead

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Companion Planting Parsley Seeds As One of the Ingredients in Embalming Their Dead Chapter 14 Herbs and Their Uses Learning Objectives 1. State some of the various uses of herbs throughout history 2. Describe parts of plants that may be harvested and used Ocal 3. Explain the varying cultural needs of plants 4. Explain how to plan a garden and get started growing herbs 5. Explain how to store and preserve TMG herbs for a variety of uses Instructor Copy Herbs and Their Uses erbs are an important part of our his- Herbs were also used cosmetically and as tory. They have been used in politics, dyes. Cosmetically, the ancient Romans used romance, love, religion, health and lavender for fragrance in their baths. Lavender Hsuperstition. They have been considered eco- was an early form of aromatherapy, as it was nomic plants, having some value or use other believe to elevate the mood. Additionally, to than sustenance. When humans became tillers make facial powder, Japanese women used the of the soil, they moved herbs with special rhizome of another Iris, the I. tectorum. An- qualities closer to where they lived. During cient Europeans also used herbs as dyes. Three the Dark Ages, Charlemagne wanted to use ancient dye herbs of Europe were woad, weld the cultivation of herbs to lift his subjects of and madder. These plants produced the prima- the Holy Roman Empire out of barbarism to ry colors of blue, yellow and red, respectively. civilization. In his Capitulare de Villis Im- They, and combinations of them together with perialibis, 812 AD, he ordered that 73 herbs, their mordants, supplied all the dyes needed including a few fruit and nut trees, be planted for the beautiful Unicorn Tapestries housed at in his royal gardens in Aachen. He also or- The Cloisters in New York City, the Medieval dered his subjects to grow them to improve the branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. quality of their lives. Scientifically, herbs were an important ele- ment in the practice of alchemy, the forerunner Past Uses of Herbs of modern day chemistry. Alchemists in the Some of the oldest uses of herbs are religious Middle Ages used to spend their time dis- or symbolic. Some examples of herbs used in covering the philosopher’s stone, which they religious rites include holy basil as a reincarna- hoped would allow them to transmute base tion of the god Vishnu, bay leaves in the wor- metals, such as iron and lead, into gold. Herbs ship of Apollo and Madonna lily blossoms for such as lady’s mantle and valerian were often the honor and adoration of the Virgin Mary. used in these experiments. Herbs were also used as repellants against Herbs were also used medicinally. Through- evil spirits and as protection. To superstitious out history, the medicinal uses of herbs have people who could not begin to understand the been among the most common, with herbals of causes of natural events, herbs were believed the 15th-17th centuries listing a plant remedy to have special powers to protect them from for every physical complaint there was. Simi- the angry gods. For example, the Romans larly, almost every plant available was used in planted houseleek on their roofs to keep their some way to treat illness or heal wounds. In home and its occupants safe from thunder and those days, every botanist was also a physi- lightning. cian and every physician was also a botanist who grew his/her own medicines. In fact, Figure 1. Raised Bed Herb Garden the medicinal herb gardens of the physicians of the Moravians in Bethlehem, PA are still preserved. Specific examples of plants used for healing are: yarrow by Achilles in the Trojan War to heal the wounds of his soldiers; lamb’s ear, because it was absorbent and slightly antiseptic, as a bandage; Dittany of Crete by the ancient Greeks to draw weapons out of the flesh; Mullein for sores, wounds and boils; and mandrake by Rachel of the Bible for fertility. With the Age of Enlightenment and the Renaissance, the study of science blossomed, and botany and medicine parted company. The medicinal use of herbs declined sharply. It was not until the last half of the past century that Tennessee Master Gardener Handbook 434 the use of medicinal herbs has again become big business. Medicinal Herbs of the Present Uses of Herbs Monastery at St. Gall In present day Western civilizations, the culi- The monastery at St. Gall, Switzerland, nary and ornamental uses of herbs are probably listed in 820 AD, had the healing herbs the most common reasons for growing herbs. grown in its physic garden. One of these However, there has been a recent resurgence in herbs was sage. Sage was considered a medicinal uses. This is true especially among panacea and one of the most commonly people who are seeking alternative methods used. The saying arose, “How can a man of treatment for their ailments, or are inter- die who grows sage in his garden?” Oth- ested in self-care and may not respond well to er healing herbs grown in this physic gar- laboratory-developed medicines. Global and den were: iris, peppermint, rosemary, red environmental consciousnesses may also fac- rose and cumin. Some of these are now tors into this resurgence. However, because the regarded as culinary herbs, flowers, or as effects and proper dosing of all herbs have not medicines. been thoroughly researched, especially how herbs interact with laboratory medicines, it is very important that only herbs that have been Parsley tested for safety be taken and that a doctor is consulted doctor before taking any herbal Parsley, well known today and widely medicines. used as a culinary herb, was used very Among the over-the-counter medicinal differently in the past. One of the earliest herbs that are currently popular are: Echina- records of it is in the writings of Sappho, cea, St. John’s Wort, golden seal, ginkgo, fe- the Greek poetess of the 7th century BC. verfew, saw palmetto, aloe, cat’s claw, ginseng, She said that coronary wreaths of pars- milk thistle and ephedra. It is estimated that ley were worn in the hair at love feasts. about 25 percent of prescriptions written today Herodotus, the Greek historian of the 5th are based on, or include, plant material. century BC, said that the Scythians used Companion Planting parsley seeds as one of the ingredients in embalming their dead. It was not until Herbs are useful for companion planting. They the 1st century AD that the Roman natu- can improve the quality or yield of desirable plants, deter unwelcome pests, or provide ralist Pliny indicated its culinary use, say- environment for biological pest control. People ing that parsley was swimming in all their are continually discovering more combinations sauces. of companion planting with herbs, see Chapter 11, Vegetable Gardening. The best way to de- Killer Herbs termine workable combinations is by observa- tion. This is primarily because the underlying In ancient times, toxic herbs were used reasons of why certain plants are compatible to kill people. In Athens, the means of ex- and others are not is still uncertain. There are ecution by the city-state was by admin- many factors involved with each plant com- istering the juice of hemlock, the poison bination, including chemical and biological used to kill Socrates. factors. Therefore, the result in one garden may not happen in another. Thus, the best way to keep track of which combinations work and Useful Plant Parts which do not is to write down observations Herbs may be hardy, tender, herbaceous or and to share them with other gardeners. evergreen perennials. They may also be trees, shrubs, vines, annuals, hardy annuals or bien- nials. The part of the plant used as an herb can come from the: leaves, buds, flowers, stems, seeds, roots, bulbs, corms, tubers, bracts, rhizomes or bark. Among herbs whose leaves Tennessee Master Gardener Handbook 435 Table 1. Common Herbs Growing Name Type Use Part Culture Agrimony P M Dry Whole plant Ajuga P M PSh Leaf Alexanders B C RS,FS Whole plant Angelica B Rep, C PSh Whole plant Anise A C Dry Ripe seed Basil, holy A Rel. FS Whole plant Basil, sweet A C FS,W,RS Leaf Bay tree T Rel, C FS, W Leaf Beebalm P C FS Leaf, Blossom Borage A C FS Leaf Burnet, Salad P C PSh Leaf Capers TP C FS Flower buds Caraway B C FS Root, Ripe seed Cardoon B C FS Midrib of leaf Catnip P M, Pet FS Leaf, Flower Chamomile, Ger. A M, Cos FS Flower Chamomile, Rom. P M,O FS Whole plant Chervil HA C PSh Leaf Chives P C RS,W,FS Leaf Colchicum HC P FS Corm Comfrey P M RS,PS Leaf Coriander HA C, M FS Ripe seed & Cilantro Leaf Costmary P Rel, H FS,LS Leaf, Flower Cumin A C, M FS Ripe seed Dill A C, M FS Seed, Weed Dittany TP M, H PSh Leaf Epazote A M, C RS,FS Whole plant Equisetum P Abrasive RS,PS Stem Fennel A,TP Rep, C, H FS Seed, Weed Ferula TP R, H FS Stem Feverfew P M FS Leaf Flax A M FS Seed Foxglove B M PS Leaf Garlic HB Rep, M, C RS,W,FS Bulb Garlic Chives P C RS,W,FS Leaf KEY TO TYPE OF PLANT: A - Annual, B - Biennia, HA - Hardy Annual, HB - Hardy Bulb, HC - Hardy Corm, HSh- Hardy Shrub, P – Perennial, PV - Perennial vine, TP - Tender Perennial, TSh.- Tender Shrub, TT - Tender Tree KEY TO CULTURE: FS - Full sun, PSh - Part Shade, RS - Rich Soil, LS - Lean Soil, W - Water KEY TO USE OF PLANT C - Culinary, Cos - Cosmetic, D - Dye, F - Fragrance, H - Historic, M - Medicinal, O - Ornamental, P - Poison, Rel - Religious, Rep - Repellant Tennessee Master Gardener Handbook 436 Table 1.
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