We know what we know until we don’t
Thousands of years ago, folks just like us – naturally curious scientists – experimented with uses for flora because that’s what scientists do. One of us with a wound out of necessity grabbed a handful of leaves to stanch the bleeding and by chance grabbed yarrow leaves which is effective at that task. The effect was duly noted and passed down through generations along with other innocent discoveries and non-scientific possibly unproven traditions until we invented alchemists, pharmaceuticals and Walgreens.
Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim (remembered as Paracelsus) was a Swiss physician, alchemist and philosopher in the early 16th century. He was also very spiritual and espoused the idea that all plants, by shape or color or somehow, displayed for us God’s intention for their use. He traveled around Europe, often as an army surgeon in different conflicts, practicing what he preached.
Jakob Bohme’s book Signatura Rerum organized the tenets of Paracelsus in what became known throughout Europe as the doctrine of signatures. The thinking was plants tell us what they are good for– a walnut is shaped like a head so it must be useful for headaches or dementia. The genus Orchis, which contains many orchid varieties, was so named because the Greek word for testicle is orchis, and folks like us noticed that orchid tubers look just like testicles.
Paracelsus famously stated regarding orchids, “Behold the Satyrion root, is it not formed like a male’s privy parts. Accordingly, magic discovered it and revealed it can restore a man’s virility and passion.” No wonder orchids became so popular.
Also evident was that Cherokees, Hindus and Lutherans might see the same plant differently, so Dutch physician Rembert Dodoens noted the doctrine was so subjective “it seems absolutely unworthy of acceptance.”
Science over time began to compete with longstanding herbal traditions which points out that we don’t ever know everything yet, so instead of being pompous, we should pay attention. As a young herb explorer, I tried many tea combinations. I was fond of combining comfrey leaves with mint and alfalfa. Comfrey leaves and roots were traditionally recommended for dozens of ailments from sprains and whooping cough to diarrhea until science notified the world that comfrey contained toxic alkaloids. Though short-term topical use of comfrey ointments for bruises or sprains is still mentioned, Steven Foster in Herbal Renaissance sums it up this way, “In regard to comfrey, cautious moderation, or perhaps abstinence, works best.”
Folklore will always be with us. According to myth, Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, famously loved beets because she was convinced they enhanced her beauty and sexual proclivity. Greeks and Romans hung a couple beets on brothel walls like a signpost. Science has discovered consumption of beets does relax blood vessels, which allows blood to flow more easily to all your parts… just so you know. Use with discretion.
Ancient Celts believed knocking on a tree alerted the good spirit in the tree which would scare away evil beings, and we still rap our knuckles on wood for good luck. Native nations of the Pacific Northwest gathered around cedar trees to refresh their spirits. Ancient Romans believed the scent of mint stimulated libido. European tradition holds that lighting a mullein stalk scares away bad witches. Stems of rosemary also would deter those with evil intent. Luckily for me, I have cedar, mint, mullein and rosemary growing nearby.
Celts also believed fairies lived near patches of stinging nettles because, if I’m writing an entry in the Doctrine of Signatures, they intimidate intruders. Same for thistles which Scottish tradition claims will ward off thieves. Uncle Ed planted holly bushes outside all his windows for that reason. He was very scientific.
Forty years ago, a neighbor, who had never been outside northern Louisiana except for a shopping trip to a Dallas mall, told me to always plant my second cucumber crop on July 21. I’ve tried it with success, but that doesn’t make it science… yet.