Meadowsweet - a Strewing Herb
[ Explored No. 139 on 1 July 2017. Thank you all so much ! ]
In Medieval dwellings, floors were carpeted with rushes, reeds or straw, for insulation and to provide bedding for members of the lower household. These floor coverings were only cleaned out and replaced once or twice a year, so to counteract the accumulated odours, fragrant herbs were scattered (strewn) on top of them, releasing their scents when they were walked upon. Some of these herbs also acted as insect and pest repellants.
With regards to Meadowsweet, John Gerard said that Queen Elizabeth 1st “did more desire it than any other herb to strew her chambers withal.”
Meadowsweet has continued to be used for medicinal purposes - for headaches (it contains aspirin), rheumatism, acid reflux, and poor digestion (as it sooths the mucous membranes in the intestines).
There ! And you thought it was just a weed growing in the countryside meadows, didn't you !
This is from a wild area in our local park and now stands looking lovely and smelling delicious in the kitchen. Taken with a 4x magnifying filter on my lens - I'm quite pleased with it for a first attempt :o) The flowers are tiny - about 1 millimetre across. Hope you like it too !
Thanks, as always, for your support and for just looking and reading ... you are all so appreciated. Please don't eat meadowsweet without checking out whether it's safe for you ... I don't know the dosage or how to prepare it !
Meadowsweet - a Strewing Herb
[ Explored No. 139 on 1 July 2017. Thank you all so much ! ]
In Medieval dwellings, floors were carpeted with rushes, reeds or straw, for insulation and to provide bedding for members of the lower household. These floor coverings were only cleaned out and replaced once or twice a year, so to counteract the accumulated odours, fragrant herbs were scattered (strewn) on top of them, releasing their scents when they were walked upon. Some of these herbs also acted as insect and pest repellants.
With regards to Meadowsweet, John Gerard said that Queen Elizabeth 1st “did more desire it than any other herb to strew her chambers withal.”
Meadowsweet has continued to be used for medicinal purposes - for headaches (it contains aspirin), rheumatism, acid reflux, and poor digestion (as it sooths the mucous membranes in the intestines).
There ! And you thought it was just a weed growing in the countryside meadows, didn't you !
This is from a wild area in our local park and now stands looking lovely and smelling delicious in the kitchen. Taken with a 4x magnifying filter on my lens - I'm quite pleased with it for a first attempt :o) The flowers are tiny - about 1 millimetre across. Hope you like it too !
Thanks, as always, for your support and for just looking and reading ... you are all so appreciated. Please don't eat meadowsweet without checking out whether it's safe for you ... I don't know the dosage or how to prepare it !