Herb

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A variety of herbs are visible in this garden, including mint. Garden of herbs.jpg
A variety of herbs are visible in this garden, including mint.

In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typically distinguishes herbs from spices. Herbs generally refers to the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), while spices are usually dried and produced from other parts of the plant, including seeds, bark, roots and fruits.

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Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, aromatic and in some cases, spiritual. General usage of the term "herb" differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs; in medicinal or spiritual use, any parts of the plant might be considered as "herbs", including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, root bark, inner bark (and cambium), resin and pericarp.

The word "herb" is pronounced /hɜːrb/ in Commonwealth English, [1] but /ɜːrb/ is standard among American English speakers as well as those from regions where h-dropping occurs. In Canadian English, both pronunciations are common. [2] In botany, the noun "herb" refers to a "plant that does not produce a woody stem", and the adjective "herbaceous" means "herb-like", referring to parts of the plant that are green and soft in texture". [3] [4]

"What is a herb?" "The friend of physicians and the praise of cooks."

--Alcuin and his student Charlemagne [5]

Definition

Herb garden at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, England, originally planted in the 1870s by Lady Louisa Egerton, recreated by the National Trust, largely following the original design. The Herb Garden - geograph.org.uk - 1629279.jpg
Herb garden at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, England, originally planted in the 1870s by Lady Louisa Egerton, recreated by the National Trust, largely following the original design.

In botany, the term herb refers to a herbaceous plant, [6] defined as a small, seed-bearing plant without a woody stem in which all aerial parts (i.e. above ground) die back to the ground at the end of each growing season. [7] Usually the term refers to perennials, [6] although herbaceous plants can also be annuals (plants that die at the end of the growing season and grow back from seed next year), [8] or biennials. [6] This term is in contrast to shrubs and trees which possess a woody stem. [7] Shrubs and trees are also defined in terms of size, where shrubs are less than ten meters tall, and trees may grow over ten meters. [7] The word herbaceous is derived from Latin herbāceus meaning "grassy", from herba "grass, herb". [9]

Another sense of the term herb can refer to a much larger range of plants, [10] with culinary, therapeutic or other uses. [6] For example, some of the most commonly described herbs such as sage, rosemary and lavender would be excluded from the botanical definition of an herb as they do not die down each year, and they possess woody stems. [8] In the wider sense, herbs may be herbaceous perennials but also trees, [10] subshrubs, [10] shrubs, [10] annuals, [10] lianas, [10] ferns, [10] mosses, [10] algae, [10] lichens, [8] and fungi. [8] Herbalism can utilize not just stems and leaves but also fruit, roots, bark and gums. [8] Therefore, one suggested definition of an herb is a plant which is of use to humans, [8] although this definition is problematic since it could cover a great many plants that are not commonly described as herbs.

History

Ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus divided the plant world into trees, shrubs, and herbs. [11] Herbs came to be considered in three groups, namely pot herbs (e.g. onions), sweet herbs (e.g. thyme), and salad herbs (e.g. wild celery). [8] During the seventeenth century as selective breeding changed the plants size and flavor away from the wild plant, pot herbs began to be referred to as vegetables as they were no longer considered only suitable for the pot. [8]

Botany and the study of herbs was, in its infancy, primarily a study of the pharmacological uses of plants. During the Middle Ages, when humoral theory guided medicine, it was posited that foodstuffs, possessing their own humoral qualities, could alter the humoral temperaments of people. Parsley and sage were often used together in medieval cookery, for example in chicken broth, which had developed a reputation as a therapeutic food by the 14th century. One of the most common sauces of the age, green sauce, was made with parsley and often sage as well. In a 14th-century recipe recorded in Latin "for lords, for settling their temperament and whetting their appetite" green sauce is served with a dish of cheese and whole egg yolks boiled in watered down wine with herbs and spices. [12]

Reproduction

Perennial herbs are usually reproduced by stem cuttings, either softwood cuttings of immature growth, or hardwood cuttings where the bark has been scraped to expose the cambium layer. A cutting will usually be approximately 3 to 4 inches in length. Plant roots can grow from the stems. Leaves are stripped from the lower portion up to one half before the cutting is placed in growth medium or rooted in a glass of water. This process requires high humidity in the environment, sufficient light, and root zone heat. [13]

Uses

Culinary

A bundle of thyme (Thymus) Thyme-Bundle.jpg
A bundle of thyme (Thymus)

Culinary herbs are distinguished from vegetables in that, like spices, they are used in small amounts and provide flavor rather than substance to food. [14]

Herbs can be perennials such as thyme, oregano, sage or lavender, biennials such as parsley, or annuals like basil. Perennial herbs can be shrubs such as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), or trees such as bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) – this contrasts with botanical herbs, which by definition cannot be woody plants. Some plants are used as both herbs and spices, such as dill weed and dill seed or coriander leaves and seeds. There are also some herbs, such as those in the mint family, that are used for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Emperor Charlemagne (742–814) compiled a list of 74 different herbs that were to be planted in his gardens. The connection between herbs and health is important already in the European Middle Ages-- The Forme of Cury (that is, "cookery") promotes extensive use of herbs, including in salads, and claims in its preface "the assent and advisement of the masters of physic and philosophy in the King's Court". [5]

Teas

Some herbs can be infused in boiling water to make herbal teas (also termed tisanes). [6] [10] Typically the dried leaves, flowers or seeds are used, or fresh herbs are used. [6] Herbal teas tend to be made from aromatic herbs, [11] may not contain tannins or caffeine, [6] and are not typically mixed with milk. [10] Common examples include chamomile tea, [10] or mint tea. [11] Herbal teas are often used as a source of relaxation or can be associated with rituals. [11]

Medicine

A traditional Chinese decoction (Tang Ji /Tang Ji ), using Chinese herbs Chinese herbal decoction (Yi Guan Jian ) on snow.jpg
A traditional Chinese decoction (湯劑/汤剂), using Chinese herbs
Nicholas Culpeper was an English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer. (etching by Richard Gaywood between 1644 and 1662) In Effigiam Nicholai Culpeper Equitis by Richard Gaywood.jpg
Nicholas Culpeper was an English botanist, herbalist, physician, and astrologer. (etching by Richard Gaywood between 1644 and 1662)

Herbs were used in prehistoric medicine. As far back as 5000 BCE, evidence that Sumerians used herbs in medicine was inscribed on cuneiform. [16] In 162 CE, the physician Galen was known for concocting complicated herbal remedies that contained up to 100 ingredients. [17]

Some plants contain phytochemicals that have effects on the body. There may be some effects when consumed in the small levels that typify culinary "spicing", and some herbs are toxic in larger quantities. For instance, some types of herbal extract, such as the extract of St. John's-wort ( Hypericum perforatum ) or of kava ( Piper methysticum ) can be used for medical purposes to relieve depression and stress. [18] However, large amounts of these herbs may lead to toxic overload that may involve complications, some of a serious nature, and should be used with caution. Complications can also arise when being taken with some prescription medicines.

Herbs have long been used as the basis of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, with usage dating as far back as the first century CE and far before. In India, the Ayurveda medicinal system is based on herbs. Medicinal use of herbs in Western cultures has its roots in the Hippocratic (Greek) elemental healing system, based on a quaternary elemental healing metaphor. Famous herbalist of the Western tradition include Avicenna (Persian), Galen (Roman), Paracelsus (German Swiss), Culpepper (English) and the botanically inclined Eclectic physicians of 19th century/early 20th century America (John Milton Scudder, Harvey Wickes Felter, John Uri Lloyd). Modern pharmaceuticals had their origins in crude herbal medicines, and to this day, some drugs are still extracted as fractionate/isolate compounds from raw herbs and then purified to meet pharmaceutical standards.

There is a record dated 1226 for '12d for Roses for Baron's Chamber and in 1516 for flowers and rushes for chambers for henry the 9th [6]

Certain herbs contain psychoactive properties that have been used for both religious and recreational purposes by humans since the early Holocene era, notably the leaves and extracts of the cannabis and coca plants. The leaves of the coca plant have been chewed by people in northern Peruvian societies for over 8,000 years, [19] while the use of cannabis as a psychoactive substance dates back to the first century CE in China and northern Africa. [20]

Indigenous Australian peoples developed "bush medicine" based on plants that were readily available to them. The isolation of these groups meant the remedies developed were for far less serious diseases than the western illnesses they contracted during colonisation. Herbs such as river mint, wattle and eucalyptus were used for coughs, diarrhea, fever and headaches. [17]

Ritual

Commiphora gileadensis (Gilead myrrh) Balsamodendron ehrenbergianum00.jpg
Commiphora gileadensis (Gilead myrrh)

Herbs are used in many religions. During the monastic era, monks would cultivate herbs alongside vegetables, while others would be set aside in a physic garden for specific purposes. [21] For example, myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) and frankincense (Boswellia species) in Hellenistic religion, the nine herbs charm in Anglo-Saxon paganism, neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves, bael (Aegele marmelos) leaves, holy basil or tulsi ( Ocimum tenuiflorum ), turmeric or "haldi" (Curcuma longa), cannabis in Hinduism, and white sage in Wicca. Rastafari also consider cannabis to be a holy plant.

Siberian shamans also used herbs for spiritual purposes. Plants may be used to induce spiritual experiences for rites of passage, such as vision quests in some Native American cultures. The Cherokee use both white sage and cedar for spiritual cleansing and smudging.

Cosmetics

Originally there was always doubt in ancient societies, especially in the sceptical medium of western traditions, as to the efficacity of herbal medicines. The use of herbal cosmetics dates back to around six centuries ago in the European and Western countries. Mixtures and pastes were often concocted to whiten the face. During the 1940s, herbal cosmetics took a turn with the emerging red lipstick color, with every year gaining a more intense red. Herbal cosmetics come in many forms, such as face creams, scrubs, lipstick, natural fragrances, powders, body oils, deodorants and sunscreens. They activate through the epithelium of sebaceous glands to make the skin more supple. Ayurvedic oils are widely used in India, prized for their natural health-giving properties. [22]

One method and perhaps the best, used to extract natural oils from herbs to make lipstick is partition chromatography. The process involves separation in watery solution, and then the injection of colour under pressure.

Other

Strewing herbs are scattered (strewn) over the floors of dwelling places and other buildings. Such plants usually have fragrant or astringent smells, and many also serve as insecticides (e.g. to repel fleas) or disinfectants. For example, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) was sometimes strewn across floors in the Middle Ages because of its sweet smell. [10]


See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marjoram</span> Perennial herb

Marjoram is a cold-sensitive perennial herb or undershrub with sweet pine and citrus flavours. In some Middle Eastern countries, marjoram is synonymous with oregano, and there the names sweet marjoram and knotted marjoram are used to distinguish it from other plants of the genus Origanum. It is also called pot marjoram, although this name is also used for other cultivated species of Origanum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosemary</span> Species of plant

Salvia rosmarinus, commonly known as rosemary, is a shrub with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. Until 2017, it was known by the scientific name Rosmarinus officinalis, now a synonym.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thyme</span> Herb

Thyme is the herb of some members of the genus Thymus of aromatic perennial evergreen herbs in the mint family Lamiaceae. Thymes are relatives of the oregano genus Origanum, with both plants being mostly indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Thymes have culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses, and the species most commonly cultivated and used for culinary purposes is Thymus vulgaris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbal tea</span> Beverage made from infusing or decocting plant material in hot water

Herbal teas, also known as herbal infusions and less commonly called tisanes, are beverages made from the infusion or decoction of herbs, spices, or other plant material in hot water; they do not usually contain any true tea. Often herb tea, or the plain term tea, is used as a reference to all sorts of herbal teas. Many herbs used in teas/tisanes are also used in herbal medicine. Some herbal blends contain true tea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrub</span> Small- to medium-sized perennial wood plant

A shrub or bush is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height, less than 6–10 m (20–33 ft) tall. Small shrubs, less than 2 m (6.6 ft) tall are sometimes termed as subshrubs. Many botanical groups have species that are shrubs, and others that are trees and herbaceous plants instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbaceous plant</span> Plant that has no persistent woody stem above ground

Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.

<i>Salvia officinalis</i> Species of plant

Salvia officinalis, the common sage or sage, is a perennial, evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish flowers. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae and native to the Mediterranean region, though it has been naturalized in many places throughout the world. It has a long history of medicinal and culinary use, and in modern times it has been used as an ornamental garden plant. The common name "sage" is also used for closely related species and cultivars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lovage</span> Species of flowering plant

Lovage, Levisticum officinale, is a tall perennial plant, the sole species in the genus Levisticum in the family Apiaceae, subfamily Apioideae. It has been long cultivated in Europe, the leaves used as a herb, the roots as a vegetable, and the seeds as a spice, especially in southern European cuisine. Its flavour and smell are reminiscent both of celery and parsley, only more intense and spicy than either. The seeds can be used in the same way as fennel seeds.

<i>Solanum dulcamara</i> Species of plant

Solanum dulcamara is a species of vine in the genus Solanum of the family Solanaceae. Common names include bittersweet, bittersweet nightshade, bitter nightshade, blue bindweed, Amara Dulcis, climbing nightshade, felonwort, fellenwort, felonwood, poisonberry, poisonflower, scarlet berry, snakeberry, trailing bittersweet, trailing nightshade, violet bloom, and woody nightshade.

<i>Althaea officinalis</i> Species of plant

Althaea officinalis, the marsh mallow or marshmallow, is a species of flowering plant indigenous to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa, which is used in herbalism and as an ornamental plant. A confection made from the root since ancient Egyptian times evolved into today's marshmallow treat, but most modern marshmallow treats no longer contain any marsh-mallow root.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boldo</span> Species of plant

Peumus boldus, commonly known as boldo, is a species of tree in the family Monimiaceae and the only species in the genus Peumus. It is endemic to the central region of Chile, between 33° and 40° southern latitude. Boldo has also been introduced to Europe and North Africa, though it is not often seen outside botanical gardens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mugwort</span> Genus of flowering plants used as herbs

Mugwort is a common name for several species of aromatic flowering plants in the genus Artemisia. In Europe, mugwort most often refers to the species Artemisia vulgaris, or common mugwort. In East Asia the species Artemisia argyi is often called "Chinese mugwort" in the context of traditional Chinese medicine, Ngai Chou in Cantonese or àicǎo (艾草) in Mandarin. Artemisia princeps is a mugwort known in Korea as ssuk (쑥) and in Japan as yomogi (ヨモギ). While other species are sometimes referred to by more specific common names, they may be called simply "mugwort" in many contexts.

<i>Prunella vulgaris</i> Species of flowering plant

Prunella vulgaris, the common self-heal, heal-all, woundwort, heart-of-the-earth, carpenter's herb, brownwort or blue curls, is an herbaceous plant in the mint family Lamiaceae.

<i>Ajuga chamaepitys</i> Species of flowering plant

Ajuga chamaepitys is a species of flowering plant of the family Lamiaceae. Popularly known as yellow bugle, chian bugle or ground-pine, the plant has many of the same characteristics and properties as Ajuga reptans. A. chamaepitys can be found in Europe, the Eastern part of the Mediterranean, and North Africa.

<i>Salvia</i> Largest genus of plants in the mint family

Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. Within the Lamiaceae, Salvia is part of the tribe Mentheae within the subfamily Nepetoideae. One of several genera commonly referred to as sage, it includes two widely used herbs, Salvia officinalis and Salvia rosmarinus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominican tea culture</span>

Dominican tea culture combines many customs adapted from various colonial and immigrant cultures that have mingled in Dominica. "Bush teas", made from local herbal plants and often taken for medicinal purposes, are a traditional part of Dominica's culture.

<i>Frasera caroliniensis</i> Species of plant

Frasera caroliniensis, commonly known as American columbo or yellow gentian, is a herbaceous perennial of the gentian family Gentianaceae found in the deciduous forest of Southern Ontario and throughout the eastern and southeastern United States. It was previously known as Swertia caroliniensis.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to herbs and spices:

This is a list of plants used by the indigenous people of North America. For lists pertaining specifically to the Cherokee, Iroquois, Navajo, and Zuni, see Cherokee ethnobotany, Iroquois ethnobotany, Navajo ethnobotany, and Zuni ethnobotany.

References

  1. ↑ "Herb". Cambridge Advanced Learners' Dictionary & Thesaurus. Cambridge University Press.
  2. ↑ "'H' an ingredient of modern herb". Toronto Star. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  3. ↑ Carolin, Roger C.; Tindale, Mary D. (1994). Flora of the Sydney region (4th ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Reed. p. 23. ISBN   0730104001.
  4. ↑ "Glossary of Botanical Terms". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  5. 1 2 Freeman, Margaret B. (1943). Herbs for the Medieval Household, for Cooking, Healing and Divers uses. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art. pp. ix–x.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of gardening (2nd ed.). Dorling Kindersley. 2004. pp. 404, 679. ISBN   9781405303538.
  7. 1 2 3 Allaby, Michael (2012). A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780191079030.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Stuart, Malcolm (1989). The Encyclopedia of herbs and herbalism. Crescent Books. p. 7. ISBN   978-0517353264.
  9. ↑ Oxford dictionary of English (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. 2010. p. 819. ISBN   9780199571123.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Bown, Deni (1995). Encyclopedia of herbs & their uses . Dorling Kindersley. pp.  10, 11. ISBN   978-0751302035.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Bremness, Lesley (1994). The complete book of herbs. Viking Studio Books. p. 8. ISBN   9780140238020.
  12. ↑ Health and Healing From the Medieval Garden. The Boydell Press. 2008. p. 67. ISBN   9781843833635.
  13. ↑ Tucker, Arthur; Debaggio, Thomas. The Encyclopedia of Herbs. London: Timber Press.
  14. ↑ Small, E.; National Research Council Canada (2006). Culinary Herbs. NRC Research Press. p. 1. ISBN   978-0-660-19073-0 . Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  15. ↑ Patrick Curry: "Culpeper, Nicholas (1616–1654)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford, UK: OUP, 2004)
  16. ↑ Wrensch, Ruth D. (1992). The Essence of Herbs. University Press of Mississippi. p. 9.
  17. 1 2 Tapsell LC, Hemphill I, Cobiac L, Sullivan DR, Fenech M, Patch CS, Roodenrys S, Keogh JB, Clifton PM, Williams PG, Fazio VA, Inge KE (2006). "Health benefits of herbs and spices: The past, the present, the future". Medical Journal of Australia. 185 (4): S1–S24. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00548.x. hdl: 2440/22802 . PMID   17022438. S2CID   9769230.
  18. ↑ Adele G Dawson (2000). Herbs, Partners in Life: Healing, Gardening and Cooking with Wild Plants. Bear & Co. pp. 5–6.
  19. ↑ Dillehay T, Rossen J, Ugent D, Karathanasis A, Vásquez V, Netherly P (2010). "Early Holocene coca chewing in northern Peru". Antiquity. 84 (326): 939–953. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00067004. S2CID   162889680.
  20. ↑ Ernest Abel (1980). Marihuana: The First Twelve Thousand Years (PDF). New York: Springer. ISBN   978-0-306-40496-2 . Retrieved 2018-07-25.
  21. ↑ Cooper, Guy; Taylor, Gordon I. (1986). English Herb Garden. Random House.
  22. ↑ Panda, H. (2015). Herbal Cosmetics Handbook (3rd ed.). Asia-Pacific Business Press.
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