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Materia Medica -umbelliferae

Pertinax

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The Carrot family provided several very interesting medicinal/culinary/deadly umbelliferous herbs to the Ancient World , and if you are careful to look them out nowadays, they are still so available. The main thing is not to get the culinary gems (Candied Angelica) mixed up with the State Poisons (Hemlock and Waterdropwort) or the top notch wound salve (Yarrow).

 

There are also quite a number of not so useful members of the group and one notable outsider (Valerian) that have a superficially similar appearence .So getting a correct ID is most important.

 

Yarrow (Achillea millefollium) is the Roman wound salve par excellence, also called the Centurions Herb, Soldiers Herb, Knights Millefoil or nosebleed. It is suggested that the Romans brought this plant to Britain and encouraged its cultivation wherever they settled for any time . It is useful as a medicine and as a dressing.Thujones, lactones and flavinoids abound in its complex make up.The Redcoats took it to N America as I think I have mentioned before.

The frond/fern like new growths are the key to identification.

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=853

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?act=mo...=si&img=827

:wacko:

 

Hemlock (Conium maculatum) is the Greek state poison. This is the herb that was given to Socrates after he was condemned to death.Its height and the purple blotches on its stem are keys to ID.Proximity to water is common so if in doubt about a plant near a stream-dont chew it! Hemlock was used in Anglo-Saxon medicine, and is mentioned as early as the tenth century in English Herbals. The name Hemlock is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words hem (border, shore) and le

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Gaius Octavius

The 'culinary cafe' site is pretty good. I am going to post it on the 'Wine, etc." thread and take credit for it.

The 'youtube' site gves me a significantly better understanding of yourself. As a Doctor of Metaphysics, I prescribe a long rest in the ark. (Misspelled 'dark' but 'ark' will serve as well.)

Pics, as usual are great. Will pass on to Domina Claudia.

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Rameses the Great
Hakim Chisti the Tibb

 

Hakim is an Arabic name, and Tibb means doctor in Arabic too.

 

Are the herbs grown in England and Ireland comprable to that of mainland Europe? I heard that they can be different in length and depending on the type of land. Obviously the lands of England and Ireland are more lush I assume.

 

These pain killers are fascinating. I did not know back then that they had any types of analgesics.

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Pertinax
Hakim Chisti the Tibb

 

Hakim is an Arabic name, and Tibb means doctor in Arabic too.

 

Are the herbs grown in England and Ireland comprable to that of mainland Europe? I heard that they can be different in length and depending on the type of land. Obviously the lands of England and Ireland are more lush I assume.

 

These pain killers are fascinating. I did not know back then that they had any types of analgesics.

 

There are definite strength and intensity variations in the physical ranges of herbal medicine. My rule of thumb is that if one draws a line from the Nile delta toward Italy and thence to Britain (with Scotland and Ireland in many cases being quite different ecosystems) then rhizome strength is greater the nearer the Nile (length of season/altitude/fertility are all co factors). It was certainly noted in Rome that preparation of henbane (hycosine) had to be done carefully, a strong , egyptian grown , fresh plant could kill whereas a European variant would anaestetise.This comment is only a rule of thumb-lobelia could kill you anywhere you got it for example.

Continental climate winters would be harder on plants , especially at altitude, Britains wetness and relative warmness rather spoils my rule (gulf stream-we are level with Moscow and Canada), by producing some very verdant herbs/crops.

 

As for the Roman Materia Medica just scroll back through the blog and gallery, I think you will find surprising continuity of usage.

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Lost_Warrior

Yarrow stops bleeding, so if you're out somewhere and get hurt crush some yarrow and put it on the wound, to stop the bleeding (make sure its Yarrow though!!)

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Pertinax

Yarrow stops bleeding, so if you're out somewhere and get hurt crush some yarrow and put it on the wound, to stop the bleeding (make sure its Yarrow though!!)

Yes indeed , its recorded that children have been seriously ill just making reed whistles from the stems of Hemlock. If in doubt use a crushed mix of (for N American members) Lamb's tounge and comfrey ,

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Pertinax

Lol my mom used yarrow when she cut her hand badly, and when she went to get it stitched, the doctor was like "what...is this stuff??"

Amazing , as ive said elsewhere , up until 1935 any Doctor not knowing that would have been laughed at.Aconitic acid/achilleiac acid (appear to be almost same thing) is the active principle, if , heaven forfend, one had bleeding piles Yarrow would again be the best poultice.

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