What is an Herb?

What is an Herb?

I probably should have posted this before I did my first blog in this series, however I didn't and thought that this would explain somewhat to those who are "newbies" to the gardening world.

I use this as when I am giving a presentation about herbs. Hope you find it educational, enlightening, and inspiring.

According to legend, the Anglo-Latin scholar Alcuin (ca. 732-804) posed this question to his pupil Charlemagne. The King replied, “the friend of physicians and the praise of cooks.”

This response might seem odd to early 21^st  century readers, but Charlemagne’s answer was certainly indicative of his time. By the eighth century, people had been using herbs as medical tools for over four thousand years. Herbalism and medicine were essentially the same practice.

It is no coincidence that Native American historians point out that at this same time, cultures in this land were also using herbs as medicine. When the colonists befriended the natives, their "medicine cabinets" so to say, expanded with new herbal remedies the natives brought to them.

If you were born with diabetes, you did not live long. If an epidemic hit, you lived and died in terror. A minor cut could lead to an amputation. In fact, most accidents proved fatal, it was just a matter of time. So needless to say, medicine has come a very long way since the 18th century and prior to the 18th century. During war times, more soldiers died of disease or infection than actually being mortally wounded in battle.

Needless to say, modern medicine has come a long way. The diseases and infections that we use to die from, herbs have played a major role in benefiting our lives. We’ve learned to appreciate their qualities, ornamentally, culinary, and medicinally. Today, about 50% of our medicines come from herbs, in some way or form.

 So this leads to one of the most frequent questions that customers ask me: What herbs are used for what? Well, herbs can be broken down into three categories: ornamental, culinary and medicinal. Medicinal herbs are what I'm here to talk about today, and hopefully I can give you a few more ideas, and new enlightenment today.

First and foremost, I am not a licensed herbalist, or medical practitioner, so please learn more about these herbs, and check with a health care professional before using them.