Backyard Herbs of Myths and Legends

We find them in pizza, on countertops, windowsills and lined along supermarket shelves sheathed in glass and plastic. Ordinary herbs are part of our daily lives, each offering a subtle tweak and the difference between bland and savory.

The herbs we use commonly today once held supernatural value to our ancestors from all over the world, each region placing its own unique cultural value on each plant. Herbal Pharmacy, written by seasoned gardener Jerry Baker, highlights the endless medicinal and historic uses of today’s common herbs.

Basil has long been associated with Italian cuisine. For superstitious Italians, basil was believed to be a love potion. Legend tells that when women were ready for romantic advances, they would place potted basil on balconies and wait for lovers to find them.

In India, basil is regarded as a sacred plant and is believed to bring happiness to homes. People in India would also bury basil clippings with the deceased to ward off evil spirits during passage from one world to the next.

Dill was used by ancient Greeks and Romans as incense. European residents believed that dill could prevent storms in the Middle Ages, while later American colonists chewed dill to promote money, love and protection. Dill was chewed during church to ward off hunger pains. Today chewing on dill is encouraged to soothe stomachaches and freshen breath.

Known as the “grandfather of herbs,” the use of licorice for medicinal purposes dates back to the year 500 B.C. The Chinese used licorice to purify the body. The bark of licorice plants can be peeled and separated into a brush-like structure used to clean teeth. Chewing licorice can also be used in lieu of cigarettes, offering a natural way to reduce or quit smoking.

Oregano of legend was given its sweet scent by Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Brides carried bouquets of oregano as a symbol of happiness and joy. When found on grave markers, it was believed to be a sign of happiness in the afterlife. Before it was used on pizza, it was also used to prevent contamination from witchcraft and charms in the Middle Ages.

Long before it was used as a natural sleep aid, valerian root was reported to be an advocate of protection, love and purification. It was also highly valued as a perfume and spice during the Middle Ages. In the twentieth century, valerian was given to World War I and II soldiers to combat shell shock, known today as post-traumatic stress. Thyme, also used during World War I, was used to clean wounds inflicted on battlefields.

Civil War battlefields used yarrow for its blood clotting ability. Regarded as a weed in the United States, yarrow was crushed and placed in the nose to stop nosebleeds, a remedy still used today. The Chinese consider yarrow a sacred plant and dried stems were used to tell fortunes. Sweat-inducing yarrow can be used to relieve colds and is rumored to increase psychic ability.

Jerry Baker provides a wonderful background of the many modern and historical uses of common and uncommon garden variety herbs. The historical uses of herbs varies from culture to culture, passed down from one generation to the next each with its own set of anecdotal values.

We'd love to hear from our Douglaston and Little Neck readers. Post some of your own family herbal remedies in the comment section below.

Kristin Allocco was raised in Bayside and works for the Queens Farm Museum. Sustainability is her lifestyle and her living, and she's more than willing to share best practices.