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Herb Folklore: Herbal Natural Remedies | The Old Farmer's Almanac

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Rosemary will give your herb garden a unique look while also adding flavor to your meals.

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Natural Remedies with Herbs

November 12, 2021
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We all know that herbs make great companions in the garden and kitchen. Herbs also have a long history as a natural remedy—and many other more unusual uses, too! Read on…

Anise
Romans paid taxes with anise, and it was used in cough drops.

Anise seed steeped in milk is said to be a sleep-producing drink, but it is also quite likely that the warm milk alone would do the trick.

Basil
Precious to lovers in Italy and considered sacred in India. Many years ago, Italian men wore a sprig of basil to indicate their intended marriage. A cup of basil tea after dinner helps digestion. Ease a headache by drinking tomato juice blended with fresh basil.

Borage
The Romans believed the herb to be an antidepressant, and ancient Celtic warriors took it for courage.

Caraway
Caraway was used to scent perfumes and soaps. The Greeks used it for upset stomachs.

Chervil
Eating a whole plant would cure hiccups; chervil was said to warm old and cold stomachs.

Chives
Bunches of chives hung in your home were used to drive away diseases and evil.

Dill
Romans made wreaths and garlands out of dill. Dill keeps witches away.

Fennel
Bunches of fennel were used to drive off witches. It was used in love potions and as an appetite suppressant.

Garlic
It was thought to give strength and courage. Aristotle noted garlic’s use as a guard against the fear of water. It’s also been widely used against evil powers.

Lovage
Chewing on a piece of the dried root will keep you awake. Lovage warms a cold stomach and help digestion. Added to bathwater, it was believed to relieve skin problems.

Marjoram
The Greeks believed it could revive the spirits of anyone who inhaled it. At weddings wreaths and garlands were made of marjoram.

Mint
It was believed to cure hiccups and counteract sea-serpent stings. The Romans wore peppermint wreaths on their heads. It was added to bathwater for its fragrance.

Oregano
Used for “sour humours” that plagued old farmers. Also used for scorpion and spider bites.

Parsley
Used for wreaths and in funeral ceremonies. Believed to repel head lice and attract rabbits.

Rosemary
Rosemary in your hair will improve your memory. It will protect you from evil spirits if you put a sprig under your pillow.

Sage
Thought to promote strength and longevity and believed to cure warts. American Indians used it as a toothbrush.

Summer Savory
It was believed to be an aphrodisiac. Some thought it was a cure for deafness.

Tarragon
Put in shoes before long walking trips to give strength. It has been used to relieve toothache and as an antifungal.

Thyme
Burning thyme gets rid of insects in your house. A bed of thyme was thought to be a home for fairies.

Anyone who has sage planted in the garden is reputed to do well in business.

Herbs

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Comments

Diane (not verified)

10 months 2 weeks ago

Fennel tea will get GI gas moving when nothing else will, both stomach and intestinal gas. It's wonderful. Chamomile is also a good remedy for gas, but not as powerful as fennel.

Diane,
When I had my first son, my mother in law told me to give him a fennel water bottle for gas. I thought it was an Italian superstition! LOL

Lucy E (not verified)

3 years 4 months ago

When my younger brother developed ringworm, my Dad took a sheet of newspaper and shaped it into a cone. He tucked the end at the open part of the cone under and into the crossing layers, so that end would not unravel and that part was flat. Next he set it on a ceramic plate. He started the tip of the cone on fire and let the tar sweat accumulate on the plate. Then he used his index finger to scope up the tar and rubbed it on the ringworm area. It worked well. Ringworm was completely gone in a few days.

Lucy Tuck (not verified)

4 years 5 months ago

I see the term "cold stomach" mentioned several times in the Herb Folklore list. Could you tell me what the term means & where it originated?

Wendy Baker (not verified)

4 years 5 months ago

A cold stomach was caused by a sluggish digestion (as opposed to a hot stomach, which had a lively appetite and digestion - think of teenagers who can eat tons of food and still be hungry). Food, especially hard to digest food like meat, was not digested quickly and was said to sit in the stomach, causing lack of appetite, indigestion, gas, and a feeling of heaviness. Pungent, bitter, and warming herbs and spices like fennel, dill, ginger, anise, etc., were needed to 'stimulate' the digestion to action, and also to help with the side effects of indigestion and gas.

Earliest I can find is Galen in the 2nd century AD, but he might have found it in Hippocrates five or six centuries earlier.