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That's for Remembrance: Herbs in the Nineteenth Century American Home

Herbs were important in many aspects of nineteenth-century life. In addition to adding beauty to the garden and flavor to cooking, herbs were important for medicinal applications. The following exhibit, based on an exhibit prepared by Outdoor Interpreter Sherry Wise and folklore student Meg Hathaway and installed in the Wylie House kitchen during October 2007, displays and discusses some nineteenth-century herb varieties still grown in our heirloom garden today.

Rosemary growing in the Wylie House kitchen window

Click on the thumbnails to get a larger view of each picture.

CLARY SAGE (Salvia Sclarea)
Called "Clear Eye" from the fact that the seeds have been used for clearing the sight and treating infections of the eye.
A mucilage of the seeds will draw splinters and thorns out of the flesh.
from A Modern Herbal

ELECAMPANE (Inula Helenium)
Gently stimulant, tonic, disphoretic, diuretic expectorant and emmenagogue. Much used in chronic diseases of the lungs and chest. Some take a tea-spoonful of the powdered root every few hours; others drink half a gill of the strong decoction frequently. A syrup is made by slicing the fresh roots, covering them with sugar, and baking them an hour or two.
from The Family Nurse 1837

FEVERFEW (Chrysanthemum Parthenium)
Known for its fever-dispelling properties. A tincture made from feverfew and applied locally immediately relieves pain and swelling from the bites of insects and vermin.
from A Modern Herbal

HOREHOUND (Marrubium Vulgare)
A strong infusion of the herb sweetened with honey is gently aperient and promotes expectoration. Highly recommended for coughs and diseases of the lungs. Plentiful draughts of the warm infusion induce vomiting. A few tea-spoonfuls should be taken frequently, when cool.
from The Family Nurse 1837

LAVENDER (Lavendula angustifolia)
Dried lavender flowers are used to perfume linen, also as a preventative to the attacks of moths and other insects. Lavender oil used as a sedative. Also used to treat burns, wounds, infections, and headaches.

LEMON BALM (Melissa Officinalis)
An infusion of the herb is a cooling drink in fevers. When taken warm, it aids medicines given for perspiration.
from The Family Nurse 1837

VALERIAN (Valeriana Officinalis)
Valerian allays pain and promotes sleep.

It is of especial use and benefit to those suffering from nervous overstrain, as it possesses none of the after-effects produced by narcotics.
from A Modern Herbal

"Herbs are prepared for use in the following ways: Decoction, by boiling water; Infusion, by steeping in boiling water; Powder, by bruising; Extract of Essence, by distillation; Expressed juice, by squeezing; Tincture, by steeping in alcohol."
from The Family Nurse 1837

Drying is one useful way of preserving herbs for future use. Here are several bundles of different herbs grown in the garden at Wylie House.

Seeds are saved from one season to the next so that the garden can be replenished. This bottle holds carrot seeds.

The terminology relating to herbs and medicines of the nineteenth century is not always familiar to us today, so a list of definitions, such as this one, is a useful resource.

Books such as The Family Nurse provided guidance in the nineteenth century about how to use herbs for medicinal purposes. Today such resources are excellent sources of information about medical and family practices of earlier times.