Monk Herbalist: All About Ancient Medieval Healers

At larger monasteries one monk may have been assigned the duty of herbalist. It was the herbalist's duty to study the many medicinal herbs grown in the monastery. The herbalist would also be responsible for the preparation of the various ointments and lotions that the monastery's physician would have used while tending the sick. The monk-herbalist probably had a stillroom or workshop where he could dry and store the herbs and create the various tinctures and salves that were a necessary part of daily medieval monastery life.

"No joy is so great in a life of seclusion as that of gardening. No matter what the soil may be, sandy or heavy clay, on a hill or a slope, it will serve well."

Walafrid Strabo, Hortulus, c. 840 AD

Hortulus

Hortulus was a poem written by the German monk Walafrid Strabo in the 9^th century. Strabo, who lived from 808-849 AD, was the Abbot of Reichenau, an island monastery located on Lake Constance in Switzerland. Hortulus, which translates to "The Little Garden", describes Strabo's personal monastery garden. The poem contains descriptions of the many herbs that were grown in his garden along with their medicinal uses.

"Amongst my herbs, sage holds the place of honour; of good scent it is and full of virtue for many ills."

Walafrid Strabo, Hortulus, c. 840 AD

The Plants

Some of the plants that are mentioned in the poem include the following:

Betony - Stachys officinalis - betony was thought to be a sort of panacea in the Middle Ages and a wide range of symptoms and problems were thought to be alleviated by this wonder herb. An infusion made of the leaves helped to relieve headaches.

Catmint - Nepeta cataria - an infusion of the leaves was used to relieve cold symptoms and to help calm a nervous disposition.

Chervil - Anthriscus cerefolium - this herb was used as a blood purifier and to warm and sooth a weak stomach.

Horehound - Marrubium vulgare - the juice expressed from the leaves was mixed with honey and used to relieve coughs and colds.

Poppies - Papaver somniferous - a syrup was made of the seed heads and used as a sleep potion, pain reliever and cough medicine. This is the opium poppy from which morphine, heroine and codeine are derived and is currently subject to legal restrictions.

Southernwood - Artemisia abrotanum - this plant was used to rid the body of worms and as an insect repellent. The ashes were mixed with oil and rubbed into the scalp to help restore lost hair.

Wormwood - Artemisia absinthium - wormwood was used as a strewing herb to help repel fleas. It was also used to flavor alcoholic beverages such as beer before hops became readily available. An infusion made of the leaves was supposed to help with stomach disorders along with being able to expel worms from the intestines.

Shrewsbury Quest

The Shrewsbury Quest is located in Great Britain and is a renovated medieval Benedictine monastery which opened to the public in 1994. The gardens are based on a plan of the monastic gardens of Christ Church, Canterbury c. 1165.

Brother Cadfael is a fictional character created by the late novelist Ellis Peter. Brother Cadfael was a monk, gardener and herbalist featured in the 20 books of Peter's Cadfael Chronicles. Some of the herbs that were grown by Brother Cadfael included gilvers (clove-pinks), gromwell, ginger, columbine, herb of grace and mustard. As a tribute to Brother Cadfael the Shrewsbury Quest includes Cadfael's Herb Garden, Cadfael's Private Gardens and Cadfael's Workshop.

Additional Information

Further information regarding monastic gardens can be found in the articles St. Gall; The Plan for a Medieval Benedictine Monastery Design and Monastery Gardens; Ancient Herbal Folklore.

Resources

Bayard, Tania. Sweet Herbs and Sundry Flowers; Medieval Gardens and the Gardens of the Cloisters. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, David R. Godine Publisher, 1985.

Hales, Mick. Monastic Gardens. Stewart, Tabori and Chang, 2000.

MacDougall, Elisabeth B. (ed.). Dumbarton Oaks Colloquium on the History of Landscape Architecture IX. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 1986. "The Medieval Monastic Garden." Paul Meyvaret, pages 23-54.

Peplow, Elizabeth & Reginald Peplow. In a Monastery Garden. David & Charles, 1988.

Whiteman, Robin. Brother Cadfael's Herb Garden; An Illustrated Companion to Medieval Plants and Their Uses. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1997.