I really enjoy researching and finding out how herbs and plants where once used to support life. I do believe that our lives are a balance of Spiritual, physical and mental wellbeing and although we have a good understanding of this I believe there’s always something new we can learn.
I want to go back to two of the more common places where we have gathered our current practices and information on the use of herbs and herbal medicine; Greece and Rome. These two place are widely known for their ancient uses of herbs and natural elements, so lets take a deeper look into their traditional medicinal uses of herbs.
Greece
Both ancient Greece and Rome based their medicinal and healing practice primarily on herbs, foods and their diet and additionally animal products, minerals, clays and wines were also used for therapeutic benefits. Prior to the 8th century illness was regarded a divine punishment and so healing was a gift from the gods. Many healing practices date back before the 8th century and the writings of Hippocratic Corpus ( a collection of 60 early ancient Greek medical works) however this was the time when science and nature began to merge and physicians and philosophers began to explore and write of the specific medicinal uses and effect of plants/herbs, food and dietary practices.
Photographs of the books The works of Hippocratic Corpus
The Hippocratic Corpus (AD 300-310) were explorers of nature and the first to separate illness from the supernatural in regards to healing and medicine.
Hippocratic Corpus, The father of medicine
These manuscript were based on the doctrine of humourism; the principal of the four elements; earth, air, fire and water. These four elements in man would be identified as phlegm blood, yellow bile and black bile and had to be in correct proportion to one another. This principal of the four elements (or humors) remained the fundamental prop of European medicine as well as their exploration of plants, food and diet (herbal medicine being apart of dietary therapy).
Ancient Greek and Roman artifacts that are evidence of herbal medicine practices.
Fig. 1. Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum).
Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. Med. gr. 1, folio 221v
This fifth-century BC marble relief shows a Greek physician treating a woman (Photo By DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini via Getty Images)
Its important to note that the corpus mentions roughly 300 plants and foods for medicinal uses and healing practices and although ‘rational’ medicine was developing folk and/or religious healing practices continued throughout Greece and all over Europe. Hippocratic physicians came to understand that what can do harm in large doses can cure in small doses in regards to herbs and so Greek warriors would use poison covered arrows to ensure death to the enemy.
(This theory is true (not in all cases) for many herbs that are considered poisonous when consumed directly or in large amount, more times than not they can have healing abilities if extracted and taken correctly.)
While yes these herbs were used particularly to heal physical wounds or illnesses, the use of herbs and flora were tied closely with mythology and floral symbols which were important to the greeks and although Hippocrates approach was clinical his principals and elements may tie back into Greek mythology considering that many convictions Hippocrates had were anatomically and physiologically incorrect.
Rome
Ancient Roman medicine was advanced for the age. Rome, due to its concentration of people, lifestyles, and immigrants from foreign exploits, became a place of plagues and various diseases, which demanded public health strategies. So with its wealth Rome made room for the best medical techniques and knowledge.
For the Romans, the first great physician was Galen of Pergamum(AD 131-201), a Greek physicians, who was brought to work in the colosseum and worked in amphitheatres looking after injured gladiators, eventually building a great name for himself.
Claudius Galen of Pergamon
Pendanius Dioscorides (40-90AD) assembled the book Materia Medica (which is mentioned in my first substack) which involved 600 herbs with descriptions, preparations and their effects. This had become the reference for centuries to come and is still spoken of these days.
We can see how the Greeks and Romans traditional use of herbs in medicine was the foundation for modern medicine and how much of what we have today is due to these first physicians whose basic understanding of medicine was found in herbs.
Ancient uses of herbs
Its important to understand that the medicinal uses of these plants and herbs from both Greece and Rome will cross over as both groups are of European decent similarity is inevitable. The uses of these herbs stated below are only what they were used for historically and not what they are currently used for.
Heres some of the common medicinal uses of herbs/ plants:
Opium – There’s possible evidence (although it would have been rare in war) that the use of opium (opium poppy) as an anaesthetic was used for surgery.
Flaxseed – Post operation the stitching of wounds would be done with flax or linen thread and at times soaked with wines or vinegars.
Herbal wines – Alcohols infused with herbs were used to treat ailments. Herbal wines such as Southernwood (aka lovers plant or lemon plant) were known to be an antiseptic and repel insects like intestinal worms. However the strength of this plant and its success was questionable.
Rose or Violet Wine-rosatum: This herbal wine is prepared in a specific manner and served as a laxative. Traditionally the lower white part of rose petals are removed and sewn into a linen bag. The Bag is immersed in wine for seven days and then replace with new petals. The process is repeated for roughly a month or so. Once the wine is strained it is sweetened with honey and served for its medicinal purpose.
Herbal wine was also famed to be the only cure to soldiers who had been driven mad or poisoned by local plants, when deserted on an island.
Herbs
Sage – A sacred plant used by the Romans and greeks. For the Romans It was gathered with pomp and ceremony after an offering of bread and wine. The Greeks would use this herb to ward off evil spirits and drink it as a tea to increase fertility and improve digestion. Applied externally to treat venomous snake bites.
Olive – Used by both the Greeks and Romans to clean their bodies after exercise as it removed dirt and sweat. Also used amongst both groups as a perfume, lubricant and in foods. Used medicinally to treat skin conditions and digestive disorders.
Brambles – Greeks and Galen found this herb useful for gout. The romans found it useful for bleeding gums by chewing a leaf. As such, leaves were ground for ulcers and scars and a tea was made from the leaves and bark for its astringent abilities.
Rosemary – The romans burnt rosemary for purification. It is antiseptic and was used to preserve food. The greeks braided crowns into their hair and inhaled the herb to enhance cognitive abilities.
Oregano – This herbs was also worn as a crown for newly married couples in ancient Greece and placed in homes and on graves to ward off evil spirits. The romans used this herb primarily for its fragrance and antiseptic properties.
Tsai Tou Vounou – Grown throughout the mountainsides in Greece this herbs was administered to wounds caused by iron weapons during battle and so it was given the name iron wort.
Hyssop – Brought to centural Europe by the Benedictine Monks this herb was used to flavour liqueur. During the Roman empire hyssop was used for its cleansing actions and was regarded as a remedy for lepers.
Mint – In Rome this herb was used to flavour wines and sauces. Medicinally it was used as a diuretic and digestive as well as for coughs and colds. Also it was considered a sign of hospitality.
Lemon Balm – Dioscorides mentions in De Materia Medica that a Wine-infusion of lemon balm was used as a liniment in Greece.
Laurel or Bay Leaf – Both the Greeks and Romans used bay leaf to crown Emperors, kings, Olympians and war heroes and dedicated it to their god, Apollo. The plant was worn and garlands where hung to protect from diseases, evil spells and lightning. It was used greatly as a remedy against the plague.
Parsley – Worn by the Romans to ward off intoxication and evil spirits. Used as a potential antidote against poison and baldness. The greeks associated parsley with death and so it was placed in graves. Victors of funeral games or athletic contests held in honour of recently deceased persons, were crowned with parsley.
Borage – Used by the Romans to lower temperatures and fevers caused by colds or bronchitis whilst also being used to flavour food and drinks. The greeks used it for treating depression and for its relaxing properties.
Calendula – Was used in place of saffron in Rome to treat skin rashes and other skin conditions.
Violets – Used by the Romans to treat the eyes and cure hangovers.
Fennel – Used by the Romans for the eyes and sight. They noticed how moulting snakes would rub their eyes against it. In Greece the herbs covered te battlefield of Marathon and was used to aid digestion.
Aniseed – Use in cakes by the romans and to treat scorpion bites.
Mallow – Emollient used by the romans against inflammations of the skin. The greeks used the wine of mallow was administered to abscesses and wounds.
Liquorice – Use as a treatment for asthma amongst the greeks.’
Chicory – Romans used it for stomach and digestive problems as well as liver problems.
Pomegranate—The roots were used to cure worms and the skin was used for intestinal problems amongst the Romans. Greek priests wore wreath made of pomegranate twigs during ceremonies and drank the fruit juice as a tonic for digestion and circulation.
Before this gets a bit too drawn out, I’ll stop myself. However the list of herbs that had been used during these times amongst these two European groups is never ending. Its clear to see how much of our current medicine has stemmed from the use of herbs and herbal medicine from these Ancient cultures. We can see the clear effect that it has had throughout history and how these traditional practices using herbs for healing created the basis of medicine.
The pharmaceutical industry has emulated nature through synthetic products to exploit commercial rights and market these synthetics as mandatory consumption for health. While physicians from the past used medicine when it was only necessary and from natural resources. Its important we understand the traditional uses and benefits of herbal medicine so that we can be using it in our daily life (as many of these traditional uses or herbs and herbal medicine are still relevant today in supporting health).
I look back to these ancient cultures in hopes that we can gain the knowledge and understanding of how humanity once was and how it is now and how we can better our lives.
I think the Ancient Greeks and Romans were two cultures ahead of their time and I think much of it is owed to these physicians who explored and discovered the benefits of these God given herbs that can help humans live an abundant life.
