ANCIENT HEALING PLANTS
Disclaimer: This blog is solely for curiosity and knowledge; it is not intended to be prescriptive. As with any medicine—plant, herb, or otherwise,—consult a physician.
A plant might be “considered worthy of veneration because from its crushed leaves, petals, stalks, or roots could be extracted healing unctions, essences or drugs affecting the nature and intelligence of human beings.” Since the dawn of time, root workers, shamans, and medicine men/women have used plants for healing. Some are as ancient as the world itself. If you’ve seen one of the most lauded films of the past year, “Hamnet,” you know that the central female character is an herbalist, healer of sorts, and one who chants poetry declaring the magical powers which certain plants possess. For instance, “una” or “cat’s claw” is said to be the most ancient plant, and it “defeats venom,” air illness, and “the horror who stalks the land” (the plague was a fatal threat during the 16th century). “Waybread” is also mentioned in the film and is what we call today broadleaf plantain, as is mugwort. Plantain (not to be confused with the banana-like fruit) is used topically for wound healing, to treat inflammation, and can treat insect bites and stings.
Cat’s claw bark is still brewed and steeped today as a tea to support the immune system and as an antiviral, while mugwort tea has been utilized to ease menstrual cramps, improve digestion, and support the immune system as well. Rosemary enhances spiritual perspective, is known for remembrance, and should be planted in a pot near the entrance of a home for protection. Rue is known as the “herb of grace” and in Greek means to be set free. A centuries-old plant, rue was among the first herbs cultivated for medicinal use. Native to the Mediterranean, rue was used as far back as ancient Greece to ward off evil, while it was also believed to support healthy eyesight. It has been noted that artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo may have eaten rue for this purpose.
While some mystics believe that the horn of a rhinoceros or wine specially prepared with certain snake venom are effective for potency and fertility, it is mostly herbs that have long made this claim. For example, mandrake is a plant with roots in the shape of a man. People used to believe that if a plant’s “fruit, leaves, petals, or roots bore a resemblance in shape or color to parts or organs of the human body,” it would be useful in healing certain ailments. Mandrake is actually toxic and highly misunderstood. While it’s one of the most mythologized plants ever, it is never used in medicine today. According to folklore and legend, it was thought to be an aphrodisiac and potent love charm. It was also believed that, when pulled from the ground, mandrake would shriek and whoever heard it would die or be driven insane. Primitive physicians used the plant for its sedative properties to induce unconsciousness.
There are other less controversial botanicals and herbs not so deeply steeped in folklore that proposedly improve reproductive health and vitality. Raspberry leaf tea is probably the most common and is often used by women to help with fertility and regulating their monthly cycle, while damiana—a woody shrub with yellow flowers—has also been used in homeopathy for thousands of years. The leaves are known as an aphrodisiac and are traditionally used in Mexico and worldwide. Maca root, native to the Andes in Peru, has been utilized for thousands of years by indigenous peoples to enhance energy and libido.
For sources used in writing this blog and information cited, check the links below:
https://sacred-texts.com/eso/sta/index.htm/ “The Secret Teachings of the Ages,” Manly P. Hall (1928)
https://steporrgardens.substack.com/p/discovering-hamnets-herbololgy-and