The Doctor’s Medicinal Garden
Many of the trees and plants in the garden, surrounding the restored Doctor’s home, served as a "natural pharmacy" from which the nineteenth century doctor could prepare remedies and cures for the villagers. This authentic garden was developed and maintained by the Southern Ontario Unit of the Herb Society of America. The following perennial herbs are typical of those commonly used to stock a storehouse of remedies.
Comfrey
Symphytum officinale
Old time remedy herb used for compresses applied to injuries.
Elecampane
Inula helenium
Also known as wild sunflower, this was a very common cold remedy herb.
Boneset
Eupatorium perfoliatum
As the name implies this herb was used for broken bones.
Horehound
Marrubium vulgare
Still popular today as horehound candy, this herb was a common ingredient in lozenges.
Coltsfoot
Tussilago farfara
Many old time herbs have names that reflect a use from the past but this herb was not used exclusively for colts! This plant was a remedy for colds and bronchitis.
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Many of the plants growing at the Village could be considered herbs because whether wild plants or garden flowers, they were useful in a variety of ways in the daily lives of pioneers. Every plant that could provide a use was valued - whether it supplied a moth repelling scent or provided healing qualities to a lard salve or yielded a vivid dye. Pioneer theme gardens can preserve this knowledge of heritage plants to be shared with school children, Sunday School classes or even the local boy scout troop.
In mid-nineteenth century Ontario, the household garden played a major role in the daily life of the pioneer. The plants found growing in the gardens, orchards, and fields of Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto, Ontario, are representative of those grown by the early settlers for food, medicine, and other domestic uses.
"Garleac" is the old English word for this everyday seasoning. During the Middle Ages garlic was known as the poor man's treacle. Today, it can be found in every healthfood store, grocery store, farmers market, and even at the local pharmacy in easy to swallow "odour-free"caplets!
This herb, one that has been appreciated throughout the ages, will continue being popular for many generations to come. Many references from all cultures have been made about garlic, from Greek festivals to Chinese medicine. Garlic now is still an inexpensive remedy for a wide range of ailments.
Of All the Issues Swirling Around the Growing Interest in Herbal Remedies, One Question Surfaces Again and Again: Do Herbal Remedies Really Work?
Unfortunately neither "Yes" nor "No" are satisfactory answers. Few issues can be seen in terms of black or white; this is especially true in the case of herbal remedies.
As I write, the autumnal Vancouver monsoons rain down upon us. It is a good time to reflect on a healthy diet through enjoying your home-grown herbs, whether they be fresh or preserved by you in your kitchen.
Humankind has used herbs from time immemorial as preservatives for embalming bodies as well as for preserving food. We are familiar with the deliciously calming perfumes from lavender, anise, santolina and, indeed, the culinary herbs too, the thymes, mints, and marjorams to mention only a few. Then there are the spices from warmer climates.
Creating beautiful herb gardens with a few tricks of the trade!
Herb gardening is all about the gardener's own personality and taste. Herb gardens can be as wild as the deepest jungles of Africa to the most formal designs of precision and form. Herbs lend themselves to many garden designs and no two herb gardens are alike. Just as the stately wild mullein is at home in a naturalized garden, so too is the garden variety found strategically placed, dominating the English castle wall.
Herbal remedies have surged in popularity and are flying off store shelves. For those consumers who are also parents, natural herbal remedies for children are also of interest. As parents, we all want what is best for our kids, many of us desire to give our kids healthy, safe and naturally derived medicines.
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