The following article explores the uses of typical Medicinal plants grown in medieval monasteries and healers' gardens. Healers and monasteries during the Middle Ages provided the sick with similar remedies, except for the fact that bloodletting was the more common treatment used by monasteries, university-educated physicians, and barber-surgeons. Whereas monks who used herbs had the approval of the church and local authorities, healers who used the same herbs were often branded as heretics. The authorities' approval of monks' healing skills is evidenced by the fact that large monasteries were endowed with funds to build bloodletting spaces, and even clinics, separate from the church and main cloister. Physicians were thought in Universities, such as that of Bologna. Barber-surgeons were often part of an army, because they had to amputate limbs. Healers had to be on the move and often did not benefit from having a clinic where they could practice or an accredited organization to look out for them.
Sage: Sage Tea, or "infusion," is used to alleviate fevers and nervous excitement accompanying brain and nervous diseases. It serves as a tonic to help in digestion problems. The dried leaves will strengthen gums when rubbed on them. When external heat is required, sage can be applied in bags as a poultice and fomentation. Dried leaves have also been smoked in pipes as a remedy for asthma. Sage leaves can be boiled in vinegar to use as a tonic. It is particularly known as a gargle for a sore throat (sage leaves, wine, vinegar, honey.) For sprain cures, boil bruised leaves in vinegar and apply, hot, to the injury. Sage also stops hemorrhaging, and stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. Its "magical" properties include warding off evil, the cure of snake bites, and the increase of women's fertility.
Rue:It is strongly stimulating and is an antispasmodic. Often given as an infusion. The oil may be given on sugar or in hot water to alleviate coughing, colic, flatulence, and stomach troubles. Externally, bruised leaves can relieve the pain of sciatica. The expressed juice, in small quantities, is a noted remedy for nervous nightmares; the fresh leaves, applied to the temples, are said to relieve headache. Compresses saturated with a strong decoction of the plant have been used for chronic bronchitis. If a leaf is chewed, an aromatic flavor will come out and relieve nervous headaches, giddiness, spasms, or palpitations. Beware, taken in excessive doses it becomes an acre-narcotic poison, and because it has emetic tendencies it should not be taken right after eating. "Magical" properties include defense against "witches" and the belief that it bestows second sight.
Descriptions and Growing Instructions:
Sage leaves are gray-green on top and are almost white on the bottom. Sage grows to about two feet high and wide and has lavender, white, pink, or purple flowers. The garden sage is best planted in a warm and rather dry soil, but will grow in ordinary garden soil. It prefers shade, but does not thrive under trees. It flowers in late spring and summer.
Watercress is a fast growing semi-aquatic perennial plant. Its hollow stems float on the water. It does not need to be grown in flowing water; a bucket of water can simply be used. Watercress roots grow in water, but the plant emerges to the air. Soak a towel with water, place the seeds on it and leave for about ten days. The seedlings will germinate, and they are then safe to be planted into pea pots for about three weeks. At this point they can be transplanted into moist soil after the danger of frost has passed.
Cancer Is the Symptom of Something Much Deeper - An Alternative Cancer CureOne reason for the healers' plight was that they used spells and incantations stemming from popular beliefs, while the church used prayers to accompany the treatments administered. Another reason was that local healers infringed on church business. In instances where the sick might have gone to monasteries for help, they may have decided to go to local healers, which did not go over well with the church. Yet another reason for healers to have been branded as heretics would simply have been ignorance and superstition. In the case of the Inquisition, it would also have depended on whether the possessions of the "witches," male or female, were worth confiscating. Oftentimes, Inquisitors would burn "witches" to create precedents, so that at a later time they could accuse and confiscate the property of wealthy "devil worshippers." Briefly stated, the hurdles in choosing to become a healer were daunting!
Beat Cancer - Graviola and the Rainforest Healing PowersAccording to the famed "Codex Sangallensis" of 1092 A.D., the following would have been grown in a monastic medicinal garden. It would be safe to assume that a good healer would have grown at least some of the same herbs. To be more authentic, the "magical" effects of plants are also mentioned, because these effects often stemmed from real benefits that Middle Ages medicine lacked the understanding to describe.
Sage: Sage Tea, or "infusion," is used to alleviate fevers and nervous excitement accompanying brain and nervous diseases. It serves as a tonic to help in digestion problems. The dried leaves will strengthen gums when rubbed on them. When external heat is required, sage can be applied in bags as a poultice and fomentation. Dried leaves have also been smoked in pipes as a remedy for asthma. Sage leaves can be boiled in vinegar to use as a tonic. It is particularly known as a gargle for a sore throat (sage leaves, wine, vinegar, honey.) For sprain cures, boil bruised leaves in vinegar and apply, hot, to the injury. Sage also stops hemorrhaging, and stimulates blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus. Its "magical" properties include warding off evil, the cure of snake bites, and the increase of women's fertility.
Do Famous Spiritual Energy Healers Manifest Miracles?Watercress: It is valuable for its antiscorbutic qualities and it promotes appetite as a salad. Bruised leaves, or the juice, will alleviate blotches, spots, and blemishes when applied. Do not confuse with the poisonous marshwort, or "Fool's Cress," which is similar to watercress except for longer pointed leaves, a paler green color, and different flower shapes. Watercress is believed to thwart lung cancer and the growth of breast cancer tumors. It is used as a diuretic, an expectorant, and a digestive. "Magical" properties include making the patient firmer and more decisive.
Rue:It is strongly stimulating and is an antispasmodic. Often given as an infusion. The oil may be given on sugar or in hot water to alleviate coughing, colic, flatulence, and stomach troubles. Externally, bruised leaves can relieve the pain of sciatica. The expressed juice, in small quantities, is a noted remedy for nervous nightmares; the fresh leaves, applied to the temples, are said to relieve headache. Compresses saturated with a strong decoction of the plant have been used for chronic bronchitis. If a leaf is chewed, an aromatic flavor will come out and relieve nervous headaches, giddiness, spasms, or palpitations. Beware, taken in excessive doses it becomes an acre-narcotic poison, and because it has emetic tendencies it should not be taken right after eating. "Magical" properties include defense against "witches" and the belief that it bestows second sight.
Descriptions and Growing Instructions:
Sage leaves are gray-green on top and are almost white on the bottom. Sage grows to about two feet high and wide and has lavender, white, pink, or purple flowers. The garden sage is best planted in a warm and rather dry soil, but will grow in ordinary garden soil. It prefers shade, but does not thrive under trees. It flowers in late spring and summer.
Watercress is a fast growing semi-aquatic perennial plant. Its hollow stems float on the water. It does not need to be grown in flowing water; a bucket of water can simply be used. Watercress roots grow in water, but the plant emerges to the air. Soak a towel with water, place the seeds on it and leave for about ten days. The seedlings will germinate, and they are then safe to be planted into pea pots for about three weeks. At this point they can be transplanted into moist soil after the danger of frost has passed.