The term bergamot typically refers to either an extract from a citrus fruit (Citrus bergamia) and the fruit itself, or to a North American herb (Monarda didyma). The herb is a member of the mint family with leaves that look similar to those of spearmint, while the fruit has the appearance of a lime. The […]
Nasturtium: Much More Than An Edible Flower
The origin of nasturtium is in Central and South America. It is native to Peru and to Chile. The Inca people consumed nasturtium in much the same way that it is used today, which is mostly in salads. The plant was brought to Spain in the 16th century by Nicolas Monardes, a Spanish physician and […]
Butterbur: The Migraine Herb
Butterbur is a herb belonging to the Asteraceae family, which makes it a relative of the dandelion, arnica, and of feverfew. It originated in Asia and can be found growing there as well as in parts of Europe and North America. It has a preference for wet ground and is typically found growing in marshes […]
Arnica: A Homeopathic Herb
Arnica is an herb in the dandelion family that originated in Central Europe and Siberia. You can also find it in the US and in Canada. Arnica has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Both Europeans and Native Americans discovered the value of the plant independently of each other. Native Americans used to […]
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 […]
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 […]
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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