HERBS FOR THE AUTUMN SEASON

Sage…The taste of Sage is earthy…warm and with a slight peppery taste. Add to poultry…stews…soups and squash dishes. Sage is also good added to homemade breads…and of course dressing.

Rosemary…The taste of this popular herb is bold…with a mild taste of citrus and Lavender. Rosemary is excellent for poultry…lamb…breads…potatoes…and yes desserts.

Thyme…A wonderful mild minty taste…and to me…a fresh peppery taste.

Chives…Fresh mild onion flavor…so good in potato dishes…sprinkled over salads…and egg dishes.

Parsley…Such a fresh…grassy taste…added to just about any dish…except of course desserts…this herb adds a spark of freshness.

AUTUMN SEASON CLEANSING AND BLESSING HERBS

Sage…Cleanses spaces and clears out stuck energy.

Rosemary…Home protection…uplifts spirits.

Thyme…Brings courage and strength.

Bay Leaves…release.

Cinnamon…warmth…and invites abundance into your home.

It is so nurturing and calming to cleanse and bless your home this season…as the Autumn…is the season to release unwanted energies within you…and also in your home…to clear out stuck…unwanted energies…illness or unpleasant guests from the Summer season. When you cleanse and bless your home…you are creating a home…that supports a cleansed and refreshed…environment…that supports peace and harmony…for your home…for you…and everyone who resides in your home…including your pets and plants.

SUPPLIES…
small sachets (hobby shop or make your own)
herbs you have chosen

Gather together all the herbs…and spices…about ¾ cup each…and fill as many sachets as you want placed around your home…to cleanse and bless that particular room. After your Cleansing and Blessing herbs are filled in the sachet bags…tie securely… and say a blessing or a prayer holding your filled bag over your heart…then place in the room…where ever it feels right to you!

*** These Cleansing and Blessing Herb sachets make wonderful holiday gifts too!

Preserving the wisdom and knowledge of herbs as medicine…as well as their culinary use in ancient civilizations is my honor and privilege. Take a walk with me…back in time…and explore the healing medicine of herbs…and how herbs shaped culture…society… medicine…and cooking in the ancient world.

This Autumn Season I am sharing… and being your herbal guide…as we explore together the ancient Egyptians and their extensive and wise knowledge of herbs…in medicine…and in their kitchens!

Are you ready to walk like an Egyptian?

HERBAL EDUCATION OF THE EGYPTIANS IN ANCIENT AND PRESENT TIME

I have always been fascinated by the ancient Egyptian civilization and culture…and was truly amazed and excited to find out they had extensive knowledge about medicine…especially their expert application and use of herbs. They did have such a complex and often misunderstood culture. One misunderstood practice in their culture…was the issue of death. It seems because they mummified their dead and had such elaborate ceremonies and rituals around death and burial surrounding the Pharaohs and their families…their complex… ancient culture…must be focused on death and dying. Actually…the opposite is true…they affirmed life each day…as health…well-being and appearance were prized by the ancient Egyptians. Being healthy and maintaining good health to the ancient Egyptians was honoring Godliness and the priest/physicians as well as magicians who played an active role in medical care… with spiritual magic…including incantations for healing and wellness…viewed health and illness as a battle between good and evil.

Not all of Egyptian medicine was based on offerings to the gods…the ancient Egyptians were advanced medical practitioners for their time. They were masters of human anatomy and healing…including their knowledge of herbs…plants and spices…due to their expertise in mummification ceremonies…as well as knowledge of how human organs function in the body.

Another surprise for me while researching the ancient Egyptians…and their medicine…is that they had a knowledge and skill in anesthesia…and used Opium and Mandrake Plant to put patients asleep so they could perform surgery. They developed techniques in medicine…that have formed modern day medical practices.

A great deal of our knowledge of Egyptian medicine comes from surviving medical and magical records including the Leiden Papyrus…Ebers Papyrus…Kahun Papyrus and the Demotic Magical Papyrus. These ancient papers contain recipes and spells for treatments of a great variety of diseases and their symptoms. Ancient Egyptian magicians/healer priests would recite incantations while preparing and giving medications. It is so surprising…and to me amazing…that Egyptian remedies and prescriptions…are believed to have helped form the basis of modern natural medicine.

Ancient Egyptian medicine is believed to be the origins of Coptic and Greek knowledge…a foundation so to speak of science- based medicine. Ancient written material from this time period prove the ancient Egyptians had an understanding and awareness of cancer medicine…and they had a methodical process and approach to malignancies. Egyptian physicians of the time could describe in detail primary and metastatic tumors and recommendations about whether an entire mass should be removed without leaving lesions that could possibly return…or spread in the body.

Herbs played a major and valuable role in ancient Egyptian medicine. Thyme…Cumin…Frankincense…Fennel…Juniper…Henna…Linseed…Cassia…Senna…Aloe…and Caster Oil. Many of these herbs and spices were stepped in wine…which was then drunk as an oral medicine. Egyptians thought Garlic and Onions aided in endurance…and consumed large quantities of them. Raw Garlic was given to those that suffered from asthma…and to those suffering with bronchial-pulmonary issues. During the building of the Pyramids…the workers were given Garlic daily to give them vitality and strength to carry on and perform well during the construction of these massive structures. Cloves of Garlic have been found in Egyptian burial sites…including the tomb of Tutankhamen and in the sacred underground temple of the Apis bulls at Saqqara.

The ancient Egyptians believed that certain drugs and herbs were a universal remedy for all disease…because they were thought to be made from a god…and they called these the “Godly medicines.” One medicine in particular that was especially potent was said to have been created by the sun god Ra. This magical medicine was composed of honey…wax…and 14 herbs and plants…in equal parts…mixed well…and then placed on the body as an unguent and believed it would cure all illness.

Dental care in ancient Egypt was taken care of by the priests and scribes…as their society believed health and their religion were a close connection…and dental health was often a result of spiritual imbalances or supernatural forces at work on an individual. Evidence from mummies show remains of dental tools and herbal remedies to assist with pain management and stabilize teeth.

Toothpaste…in the form of a powder…made from Mint…salt…pepper…and dried flowers …were ground and mixed…forming a power to cleanse their teeth…as breath mints were also developed… mixing herbs…and spices…with honey.

I have listed below some of the other herbs used in ancient Egyptian prescriptions…some of which are quite effective in modern times.

Acacia…used for internal bleeding…and to treat skin disorders.

Aloe…used for headaches…chest pains…burns…ulcers…skin disease…and allergies.

Basil…used for strengthening the heart.

Bay…used to calm the body and mind when burned.

Caraway…used for digestion…and as a breath freshener.

Cardamom…used as a spice in food…as it aids digestion.

Cedar…the smoke of burning Cedar was burned to attract good spirits and remove negative energies.

Cumin…was used as a stimulant and to aide in digestion. Cumin ground into a powder and mixed with a bit of wheat flour…and water… as a binder…was allied to relieve the pain of sore joints and help with arthritic pain.

Dill…was used for gas…and as a laxative and diuretic.

Fenugreek…used for respiratory issues…calming the liver…and to sooth pancreas…and reducing swelling.

Frankincense…used for throat and larynx infections…to stop bleeding…to help with asthma.

Garlic…used for just about everything…including shrinking hemorrhoids…and ward off negative spirits.

Honey…used as a natural antibiotic to dress wounds and as a base for healing herbs and plants.

Juniper…used for chest pains…respiratory issues…stomach cramps…and is antimalarial.

Licorice…used as a mild laxative…to sooth the liver…pancreas…chest and respiratory issues.

Mustard…used to relieve chest pains.

Myrrh…used to relieve headaches…and to sooth gums…toothaches…and backaches.

Mint…used to aide in digestion…to stop vomiting and to freshen breath.

Sandalwood…used to aid in digestion…stops diarrhea…soothes headaches and gout.

Thyme…used as a pain reliever.

Onion…used to prevent colds…sooth sciatica…relieving pain and cardiovascular issues.

Sesame…used to sooth asthma.

In ancient Egyptian herbal and plant medicine the herbal and plant remedies developed and practiced by the ancient Egyptians…were quite effective…and also reinforced by the patients…and the priests/physicians strong belief and foundation of spiritual magic.

There sadly is not an overabundance of herbal remedies for medicinal purposes…of ancient Egyptians…but I did find an herbal bath soak…that will soak your stress away!

*** PLEASE USE HERBAL SAFETY…CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT ANY HERB

AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN INSPIRED HERBAL AND MILK BATH SOAK

4 cups of whole or powered milk
5 tablespoons raw natural honey
1 handful of fresh Rose petals
5 drops of olive oil…almond oil…or Sandalwood essential oil
2-3 tablespoons of dried herbs…Mint…Thyme…and other dried herbs of your choice

Prepare this bath infusion…by whisking the honey and milk in a glass container until it dissolves. Fill your tub with hot water…comfortable to your touch. Pour the honey…milk mixture into your filled tub…add the oil of choice…and then the dried herbs…stirring with your hands…to disperse oil and herbs. Just before you get into tub…sprinkle your bath with Rose petals…and get in tub. Soak your cares away…at least 30 minutes…longer is very okay! Enjoy this bath soak…just as Cleopatra did!

PS…AS with any bath soak…drink a lot of water to hydrate and release toxins from your body.

HERBS AND FOOD PREPARATION IN ANCIENT EGYPT

The use of herbs and spices…were included in food preparation…to enhance flavor of dishes…but also to preserve foods. Some of the herbs and spices used in cooking…were…Cumin…Anise…Juniper…Thyme…Cinnamon…Fennel…Fenugreek…Poppy Seeds…and Mustard. Salt was also used…and two types were used…one was called “red” and the other salt used was called “northern salt.”

I wish their cook books or huge amounts of recipes recorded by the Egyptians were found…but I am very pleased that a few ancient recipes have been found in ancient written accounts and ration lists on papyri and ostraca…and also from reliefs and paintings on the walls of tombs. But the biggest and most direct evidence is from foods that have been found in perfect preserved form…found in tombs.

I have included here an ancient Egyptian recipe…I am grateful my extensive research on the matter…produced these simple recipes…that you can make today in your own kitchen.

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RECIPE FOR LENTIL SOUP

The ancient Egyptians prepared and ate simple…Earthy fare…which relied on aromatic herbs…to enhance flavor…as well as being nutritious. The below recipe is an example of their hearty fare…and I hope you make it!

1 cup brown lentils
1 chopped red onion
2 tablespoons ghee or sesame paste
1 teaspoon Cumin
½ teaspoon Anise
2 tablespoons fresh chopped Dill
salt to taste
water

Wash the lentils in cold water…and place in large soup pot…and cover with water…begin simmering lentils on low heat. Add the Anise and Cumin. Add the red onion…stir well all ingredients. Simmer until lentils and red onion are tender. Add 2 tablespoons fresh Dill…stir well…and simmer a few more minutes. Season with salt to taste…stir…and serve hot.

EGYPTIAN USE OF HERBS IN PRESENT DAY FOR CULINARY AND MEDICINAL PURPOSES

Carrying on the traditional wisdom and health benefits of herbs…Egyptians of today rely on herbs for culinary and medicinal purposes.

MODERN DAY USE OF HERBS AS MEDICINE IN EGYPT

ANISE SEED…Is brewed into a warm tea to soothe colic in babies…ease coughs…clear respiratory congestion and relieve menstrual cramps.

CUMIN AND MINT TEAS…An after dinner brewed tea…to relieve bloating…stomach upsets…and other digestive issues.

CHAMOMILE…Used to help with sleep and ease stomach discomfort

MODERN DAY CULINARY USE OF HERBS IN EGYPT

CUMIN…Added to heavy dishes like ful medames which is mashed fava beans and lentils to enhance flavor and reduce gas.

MINT…Used fresh or dried in salads…sauces…and brewed into teas each day.

CORIANDER…mixed into spice blends and used for meats and vegetables.

THYME…Used in spice blends such as Za’atar

I hope you have enjoyed and learned something wonderful and new about the ancient Egyptian civilization…and have a sense of appreciation for their medical and culinary history.

Happy Autumn Season to you…

Love… Victoria Clinical Herbalist

***This article on herbs and their medicinal and culinary use are for educational purposes only…and not to be used to self diagnose or self medicate. Always consult with your doctor before taking or ingesting any herb.