The Use of Medicinal Medieval Herbs
Plants of the Middle Ages Used by John Gerard and Nicholas Culpeper
Jul 27, 2009
The use of plants and herbs for medicinal purposes was influenced dramatically at the latter end of the Medieval period (approximately 16th century); medieval cloister gardens were full of healing herbs and plants, within the sacred walls of many monasteries, and of use to many who sought help from the monks of the monastery.
However, the English Medieval Witchcraft Acts of 1541, 1562 and 1603 onwards, had probably restricted the use of much herbal and plant medicine for fear of being labeled a 'witch' and the consequences attached to it; in 1545, the birth of John Gerard marked the start of a 'new' era of herbal medicine.
The Publication of a 'Herbal' by John Gerard
John Gerard (1545- 1612) was a highly respected English herbalist of the 16th century; in 1596, he was first credited with publishing records of the plant species found in his garden, at Holburn, but it is for his later publication in 1597, the Herball, for which he is most remembered.
John Gerard's Herball was a combination of translations from classical writers and John Gerard's own observations on plant species, habitat and growth patterns. John Gerard was later appointed both as a 'herbalist advisor' to King James I and a Master of the Barber-Surgeons Company, indicating the merging of plant medicine and conventional medicine at this time.
The Influence of Nicholas Culpeper 'The English Physician'
Nicholas Culpeper (1616 – 1654), although educated at Cambridge University and a practicing physician, was never a rich man, choosing to make medicine accessible to the poorer classes and not just the rich. Nicholas Culpeper's most famous publication was published in 1653 and is referred to as The English Physician or Culpeper's Herbal.
The English Physician was unlike earlier publications John Gerard had published in that it was not a translation of previous text; in 1649, John Gerard had fallen into disagreement with the College of Physicians for publishing translated texts in English and not Latin, the language in which all medical texts had been written in up to this period.
The English Physician, although influenced by previous medical writings, set out both botanical and medical differences of plants and plant descriptions and locations, in a way that made it accessible for medicinal use by a lay person. The English Physician also included the use of 'essential oils' in addition to herbal plant use, plant remedies, aromatic infusions, poultices and aromatic wines.
Medicinal Herbs and Plants Used by Nicholas Culpeper
Nicholas Culpeper listed over 360 plants in The English Physician for medicinal and herbal use; some of these plants included:
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Marjoram (Origanum marjorana)
- Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
- Sage (Salvia officinalis)
- Rose (various botanical species)
- Chamomile (various botanical species)
- Mint (various botanical species).
Other Medicinal Herbs Used in Medieval Times
Other medicinal herbs and plants which were used in Medieval times include:
- Anise (Pimpinella anisum) – seeds used to reduce sweating
- Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) – seeds used to treat fever
- Flax (Linum usitatissium) – used as a laxative
- Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) – used to treat feet and women's problems
- Rue (Ruta graveolens) – used to treat bites of venom
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – used to treat headaches and war wounds of knights in battles.
The Popularity of Medieval Herbs and Plants
As the 17th century approached, industrialization and scientific advances became common practice; conventional medicine had become more popular than the herbal medicine of the Medieval period. The medical texts of herbalists such as John Gerard and Nicholas Culpeper were discarded for modern medical inventions; however, today the practice of herbal medicine and the use of medicinal plants and herbs has increased and the old medicinal references are being popularized once again.
References:
Bremness, Lesley 1988 The Complete Book of Herbs UK: Dorling Kindersley Limited
Davis, Patricia 1999 Aromatherapy An A-Z UK:Vermilion
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