Reinventing the "Herbal" for the Modern Day Homemaker

“In Tudor times, in the sixteenth century, the pantry could be described as the control center of the domestic economy. It was here that the countrywoman would store her precious herbs and spices, and make lotions, potions* and distillations. In doing so, she could be described as the family doctor, pharmacist, herbalist, perfumer, candlemaker and pest controller all rolled into one, and the health and well being of everyone in the household was her responsibility.”

~ Stephanie Donaldson, The Country Store

*Note: Although "potion" is often referred to in the occult world, it's definition can also mean a liquid with healing properties.

I love reading about women in history, how they lived and what they were responsible for. Something that has always interested me was that our female ancestors survived without modern stores and conveniences. They were well acquainted with herbal remedies to treat their ailing loved ones. Countess Juliana van Stolberg had her own private apothecary (pharmacy) inside her castle.  Puritan women such as Anne Bradstreet were also skilled in the art of natural healing which was necessary in the primitive "New World".

Not only were they educated in herbs and plants, but they created their own simple soaps, body care products, household cleaners and more. They were experts in food preservation methods such as fermenting and drying. They knew how to create distilled floral waters such as lavender and rose. They handcrafted beautiful items for their home such as herbal wreaths (to ward off certain insects and odors), they hand-poured their own candles and prepared colorful potpourri of various sorts.

"In Elizabethan England it became customary for gentlewomen to write down the secrets of their household management in a book to pass on their skills from one generation to the next. As well as recipes, this book would include simple remedies, lotions and potions*, potpourris and polishes, many of which we would recognize and even keep in our pantry today."

~ Stephanie Donaldson, The Country Store

The educated women of that day would write down their recipes to pass down to their daughters. Their knowledge of running a household was recorded in an "herbal". Though some remedies were undoubtedly based off superstition of the time, many were viable sources of medical information.

source

Would you like to reinvent this concept for modern use?

Here are some ideas... Collect methods on how to make medicine out of basic pantry staples, how to prepare a poultice, how to treat a burn or how to soothe colic. We could record recipes for the bath and body such as lotions, balms and scrubs. We can incorporate instructions on how to ferment foods or prepare cultured dairy products. We can include practical recipes like homemade extracts, condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup) and other items that wouldn't be found in an ordinary cookbook. Another section might include how to dry herbs and how to utilize them. We can include tutorials on room sprays, candle-making and sweet smelling sachets...

          

The object is to acquire a broad spectrum of knowledge for your household and document it into one place. Like our ancestors, we can pass down our favorites to our daughters and daughter-in-laws. This is what your herbal will be... An encyclopedia of household wisdom! Doesn't this sound fun?

We will be sharing our printable version of an "herbal" with you, dear reader…

Note: Many of you love Pinterest and rely upon their record keeping of your favorite ideas... However, living on the farm, our internet is not trustworthy and hard copies are always appreciated. Also, you never know when an unforeseen circumstance will occur and you will need valuable information when there is no electricity. It is also convenient to have a mobile book to take with you into the kitchen or anywhere else in your home where you would prepare your recipes.

We have other activities scheduled here that involve sharing your household wisdom with like minded women. I have so much to learn in so many areas and I look forward to gleaning from you!

Here is what we have planned in the next few months (with other posts sprinkled in between):

• "Ways of Her Household" ~ A Modern Day Herbal (Free Printable)
• More Herbal History for the Homemaker
• Ways to Replicate an Herbal of Old for Modern Day Use
• A One-Month Link Up of Herbal Recipes in October Featuring the Following Topics:
• Recipes for Bath/Body Care & Make Your Own Medicine Cabinet
• Recipes for Food Preservation & Prepare Your Own Pantry 
• Recipes for Housecleaning Products & Laundry Room 
• Recipes for Home Decoration & Misc. 
• Godly Legacy of Juliana Van Stolberg ~ Herbal Healer
• Printable Packets of Recipes for Your Herbal
• And Other Interesting Tidbits...

I hope you will enjoy this new series as much as I have in creating it!

"She looketh well to the ways of her household,

and eateth not the bread of idleness." 

~ Proverbs 31:27