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Quince
Botanical name: Cydonia oblonga
Other common names: Golden Apple
Earliest recorded medicinal uses: 3000 BC in Mesopotamia, Palestine around 100 BC
Quince are part of the Rosaceae or Rose family of plants. Quince is a fairly new plant to me, not very commonly used in the US today. It is much more popular in European countries, especially in Poland, Switzerland, and Israel. If you ever get a chance to take a nibble from a fresh raw quince you will never forget them! They immediately suck every molecule of saliva in a second, I strongly recommend trying it once or at least watch someone else do it! A low histamine fruit quince may help some with allergies.
Avoid eating large amounts of raw quince due to it’s high fiber and tartness can cause digestive issues.
Constituents include but are not limited to oxalic, shikimic, malic, ascorbic, and citric acids, caffeoylquinic, hydroxycinnamic derivatives, tannins, ketones, esters, nor isoprenoids, vitamins, and minerals.
Its potential health benefits include but are not limited to antioxidants, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, acid reflux, gastrointestinal, and anti-ulcerative.
Mentions in the Bible-
Although quince are not named in the Bible many scholars believe quince or persimmon was the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden that tempted Adam and Eve.
Most common ways to use cooking in stews, jams and jellies, tincture, powdered and tea.
Tendencies or energetics astringent.
ROSEMARY
Botanical name: Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia rosmarinus
Other common names: Sea Dew, Elf Leaf, Polar Plant
Earliest recorded medicinal uses: Cuneiform tablets dated 3100 BC, 50 AD for medicinal benefits mentioned by Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides both ancient Roman scholars.
Rosemary is part of the Lamiaceae or the mint family. Considered a sacred herb rosemary is included in monastery gardens in Europe. There are many noted uses for rosemary over time. In burials, embalming, during plagues, King Ramesses used as an offering for Amon at Thebes, protection against typhus, and many more. Basically, rosemary has been used by humans for thousands of years for its scent and medicinal properties.
Avoid pregnant women should avoid larger quantities than using as a cooking herb due to emmenagogue effects.
Constituents include but are not limited to ursolic acid, triterpenes, diterpenes, linalool, monoterpenes, flavonoids, subinene, myrcene, thujene, copalene, caffeolyl, phenolic acids, bornyl acetate, vitamins, and minerals.
Its potential health benefits include but are not limited to astringent, diuretic, nervine, carminative, emmenagogue, abortifacient, antioxidants, antidepressant, antidiabetic, cognitive enhancer, anxiolytic, and anti-inflammatory.
Mention in the Bible-
Although not directly mentioned in the Bible many scholars say it was a rosemary bush that Mary hung her cloak on while fleeing from Herod’s soldiers turning flowers from white to blue. It is also thought that a rosemary bush will not grow taller than 6 feet so it will not be taller than Christ.
Most common ways to use cooking, tea, infused oil, essential oil, tincture, oxymel, and mels.
Tendencies or energetics warming and drying.
self-heal
Botanical name: Prunella vulgaris
Other common names: Heal-all
Earliest recorded uses: Chinese medical texts from 206 BC-AD 23
Self-heal is part of the Lamiaceae, mint family. One of the most overlooked herbs in the US. Has thousands of years of human use with no adverse reactions ever recorded. Herbalists have said for years if you have self-heal you need never to send for the physician. Many use as a daily tea for disease prevention.
Self-heal constituents include but are not limited to rosmarinic acid, betulinic acid, delphinidin, hyperoside, oleanolic acid, manganese, rutin, ursolic acid, vitamins, and minerals.
Its potential health benefits include but are not limited to astringent, antiseptic, antioxidant, carminative, tonic, vulnerary, styptic, gastrointestinal, hypotensive, and lymphatic.
Most common ways to use self-heal is tea, tincture and oxymel.
Tendencies or energetics cooling.
Spikenard
Botanical name: Nardostachys Jatamansi
Other common names: Muskroot, Nardin, Indian Spikenard
Earliest recorded uses: Bible approximately 950 BC in the book Song of Solomon. It was commonly used in Mesopotamia, it was found in their cuneiform script, 4000-2000 BC
Nard not to be confused with American Spikenard, is from the Himalayan Mountain range and belongs in the Caprifoliaceae or the honeysuckle family. The rhizomes are used to make an amber-colored oil that is thick and intensely aromatic. Lavender and Spikenard are thought to be the same in the Bible by some, some think it is two different herbs. Some say only one was used at a time, some say both lavender and spikenard were used together. Eventually, lavender was removed leaving just spikenard or nard in the Bible. You will see the same Biblical information on both herbs....until I learn differently.
Spikenards constituents include but are not limited to sesquiterpenes, coumarins, jatamansic acid, nardal, ketone, acaciin, ursolic acid, octacosanol, kanshone A, nardosinonediol, nardosinone, arstolen-9beta-ol, oleanolic acid, beta-sitosterol, vitamins and minerals.
Its potential health benefits include but are not limited to anticonvulsive, anti-inflammatory, and antiepileptic properties. Along with antifungal and antibacterial in topical, and scalp health.
Mentions in the Bible-
John12:3 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Song of Solomon 4:13-14 13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard, 14 nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices.
Mark 14:3 3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Most common and only way I have found so far to use is infused oil.
Tendencies or energetics warming.
STINGING NETTLE
Botanical name: Urtica dioica
Other common names: Common Nettle, Nettle Leaf, Nettle
Earliest recorded uses: Bible approximately 2100 BC in the book of Job. There are texts of its pain relieving abilities dating from 1570 and 1200 BC, it is also said Julius Caesars' troops covered themselves with fresh nettle using the sting to keep them awake and alert 58-45 BC
From the Urticaceae, nettle family, with about 54 genera and 2,625 species. Stinging nettle is definitely one of my personal favorite herbs…. it’s a powerhouse! The entire plant is considered medicinal, seeds, aerial, and roots are all processed separately. It is one of the richest, edible sources of chlorophyll. It is normal for people with knowledge of the herb who suffer from arthritis to smack the affected area with stinging nettle for pain relief lasting days even weeks to months.
Avoid excessive amounts during pregnancy, a tea or overnight infusion is common for pregnant women to use.
Stinging nettle constituents include but are not limited to lignans, gallic acid, carbonic acid, acetylcholine, salicylic acid, ammonia, carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals.
Its potential health benefits include but are not limited to astringent, antioxidant, digestive, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, nervine, nutritive, styptic, tonic, diuretic, galactagogue, and circulatory stimulant.
Mentions in the Bible-
Job 30:7 7Among the bushes they cry out; Under the nettles they are gathered together.
Zephaniah 2:9 9 Now, as surely as I live, says the Lord of Heavens armies, the God of Israel, "Moab and Ammon will be destroyed-destroyed as completely as Sodom and Gomorrah. Their land will become a place of stinging nettles, salt pits, and eternal desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them and take their land."
Proverbs 24:31 31I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered in weeds, and it's walls were broken down.
Most common ways to use are teas, tincture, raw and cooked foods, poultice, oxymel. A not so common way, in the United Kingdom they hold an annual World Nettle Eating Competition…. yes a raw stinging nettle eating competition.
Tendencies and energetics drying and stimulating.
TURMERIC
Botanical name: Curcuma longa
Other common names: Haldi, Indian Saffron, Curcumin
Earliest recorded medicinal uses: Bible approximately 950 BC. Dating back to 2500 BC pots near New Delhi were discovered containing turmeric residue. Around 500 BC it became a staple in Ayurvedic medicine that is still practiced today.
Turmeric is part of the Zingiberaceae or the ginger family. The rhizome is the part of the plant used. There are other species of Curcuma with much lower amounts of curcumin that are sold as turmeric, so be aware. Turmeric is known as a superfood with its many benefits and its cancer-fighting abilities. Turmeric is best taken with fresh ground pepper, you need the volatile oil piperine. The liver isn’t fond of turmeric but dislikes piperine even more allowing the turmeric to slip by. Increasing the bioavailability of it by 2000%. Indian turmeric is of superior quality with the highest curcumin available. Biblical scholars debate over three different herbs being the biblical saffron. They are turmeric, saffron crocus, and safflower. The Hebrew word Karkom and the Arabic word Kurkum have both been used in translations, both turmeric and saffron can grow in Israel.
Avoid during pregnancy or trying to become pregnant due to uterine stimulant effect, but there are also several countries that have been eating turmeric multiple times daily for centuries. So you decide for yourself. It is also suggested to avoid if you have a bile duct obstruction due to cholagogue activity.
Constituents include but are not limited to curcumin, turmerone, demethoxycurcumin, atlantone, terpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, diferuloylmethane, zingiberone, diferuloylmethane, vitamins, and minerals.
Its potential health benefits include but are not limited to anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, antifungal, antiviral, antiarthritic, hypotensive, tumor-preventing properties, cholagogue, carminative, stimulates digestive enzymes, emmenagogue, cardioprotective, anti-diabetic, and diuretic.
Mentions in the Bible-
Song of Solomon 4:13-15 13 Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard,14 nard and saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree, with myrrh and aloes and all the finest spices. 15 You are a garden fountain, a well of flowing water streaming down from Lebanon.
Most common ways to use in cooking, capsules (I don’t recommend due to oil in pepper drying up) oxymel, mels, tincture.
Tendencies or energetics warming and drying.