Chamomile is one of the more popular herbal sleep aids. A big part of its popularity may be the fact that it has a more pleasant taste when compared to other similar options. While chamomile is common and very affordable, there are situations where you might be unable to find it. If this is the […]
Comfrey: The Healing Herb
Comfrey was already well known and popular in Greece by 400 BCE. Its use was documented by Herodotus who recommended it as a solution for heavy bleeding. The Greeks would also use the plant’s root to cure respiratory problems. For Nicander the physician, comfrey was an antidote for poison and Galen also considered it a […]
Bronze Fennel: The Copper-Colored Herb
While it is difficult to pinpoint the specific origin of the bronze variety of fennel, historians believe that all forms of the fennel herb originated in the Mediterranean part of Europe. The use of fennel dates back to Ancient Egypt. Hippocrates, the Greek physician for whom the Hippocratic oath was named was also a fennel […]
Feverfew: A Pain-Killing Herb
Feverfew is an herb that originated in the Balkans and that belongs to the same family (Asteraceae) as the daisy, which also includes other herbs like dandelions and chamomile. In Ancient Greece, Feverfew was called parthenion and used it to treat problems related to menstruation and childbirth. The story is that someone fell from the […]
Walnut Flour: The Truly European Nut Flour
The walnuts used to make walnut flour originated in Asia Minor, which today makes up most of Turkey. The first documentation of walnut tree cultivation was in Babylon, 2000 BCE. There is archaeological evidence that points to walnuts being consumed in Europe eight millennia ago. They may have been eaten even earlier. They both featured […]
Caraway Vs. Cumin: SPICEography Showdown
Caraway seeds are often confused with cumin, especially in some Indian recipes. The same Indian word — jeera — can refer to both spices, which is what causes the confusion. If you are unfamiliar with one or both spices, you should learn their differences before trying to use either since they are not always interchangeable. […]
Chamomile: A Tea Herb For Sleep
There are two varieties of chamomile: German and Roman. German and Roman chamomile are both used in essentially the same way — to make tea. The big difference between the two is that Roman chamomile is a perennial and is also slightly bitter while the German variety is an annual and is sweeter. Chamomile is […]
Clary Sage Vs. Sage: SPICEography Showdown
Clary sage and sage are two of hundreds of different sage varieties. Because they are related, they share many properties even though they are not perfectly alike. Which one should you use? Does one have certain properties that you will not get from the other? Let’s take a look at how clary sage compares to […]
Horehound: A Medicinal Mint For Colds
Horehound is native to Europe, Africa, and Asia but it can also be found growing in North America where it was intentionally introduced. The most common horehound variety is also sometimes called white horehound or houndsbane. There is another even more aromatic version referred to as black horehound. The name’s origin is in two old English […]
Clary Sage: The Ancient Medicinal Sage
The origins of clary sage lie in the Mediterranean region. The Latin name for clary sage is Salvia sclarea, which comes from the word clarus. Clarus means clear. The name comes from the plant’s effectiveness for removing dust and other foreign particles from the eye. It is used for this purpose because the seeds are […]
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