Colonial Uses of Herbs & Spices
During colonial times, herbs and spices were valued for their versatile properties and applications and were staples of the colonial household. Most colonists were well-informed about preparing herbs for the nourishment, protection and healing of their families.
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Herbs vs. Spices
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During colonial times, herbs were far more common than spices; most spices came from tropical areas and had to be imported, making them too expensive for regular use, says the Chadds Ford Historical Society.
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Uses
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Colonists used herbs for everyday applications including medicines, food flavorings, insecticides, fabric dyes and disinfectants, according to The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society.
The Colonial Household
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Most colonial households had an extensive herb garden and women were particularly knowledgeable about the uses of individual herbs.
Learning About Herbs
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To learn how to use herbs, colonists consulted an herbal, a book detailing the properties and applications of herbs and other plants.
Fun Fact
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Most colonists believed in the "Doctrine of Signatures," which held that herbs and plants resembled the body part or disease symptom that they could treat; for example, plants with milky liquids were believed to increase milk production in nursing mothers, according to the Chadds Ford Historical Society.
References
- Photo Credit "Basil (Ocimum basilicum)" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: The Marmot (Cliff Hutson) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
