HSA Webinar: The Dioscorides Garden Project in Athens, Greece

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By Maria Christodoulou

As a herbalist who explores the wisdom and whimsy in ancient Greek herbal medicine I often refer back to ancient texts which describe the medicinal use of plants. One of my favourite ancient herbalists was Pedanius dioscorides, a Greek medical physician and botanist who is considered the "father of pharmacognosy," or the study of natural medicines obtained from microbes and animals.

De Materia Medica, Dioscorides five-volume encyclopedia (originally titled Peri ules iatrikes) has been hand copied and referred to extensively for more than 1,500 years. This herbal reference would become the foundation of European and Western Pharmacopoeia. It described approximately 600 plants that were used in more than 1,000 traditional remedies.

The Dioscorides Garden, in Athens Greece, where I lived for two years, will feature plants that are significant to ancient history and medicine, as recorded by the garden's namesake. The Garden will provide a hands-on educational experience for schoolchildren, local residents and tourists. Visitors will be able to take part in organized garden tours and days, where they can learn more about plants and engage in insightful discussions on gardening and herbal history.

The Garden is a project for Herbalists Without Borders Athens Chapter, of which I am lead coordinator. Herbalists Without Borders is a U.S.-based non-profit with a worldwide network of herbalists and medicinal plant growers. They are also educators and practitioners who work on health, conservation, and education projects. The Athens Chapter has raised funds to support garden projects for Ukrainian children, herbal classes for refugee mothers and reforestation of areas affected by fires.

The Dioscorides Garden is based on the Dioscorides Garden of the U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, D.C., whose staff has expressed their enthusiasm for the project. They have also provided a list with the plants that are mentioned in De Materia Medicala , and which appear in the garden.

The Dioscorides Garden will be located in Athens at Zappeion. This is a public park in Syntagma (the central district of the city). The Garden's three main goals are:

1. Create a centrally located garden that is accessible to all ages
2. Plants of ancient and modern Greek herbal medicine
3. Develop strong ties with U.S. National Arboretum in order to raise awareness about the project and encourage collaboration internationally

A group of Ukrainian children created a small garden in 2022 as part of a garden event held annually with the HWB Chapter. The garden includes rosemary, sage thyme oregano rue basil mint lavender and mint. The Dioscorides Garden Project is a project that will expand the selection of medicinal plants. Depending on the funding available, signs with the names and descriptions of the various plants will be installed.

A Mediterranean climate makes gardening difficult. The plants that grow in the Mediterranean are adapted to dry, hot summers. As we experience a heat wave with temperatures between 95 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit for a week, plants are at risk of suffering. In order to ensure the survival of the garden in the long term, more sprinklers will also be installed and the plants will be planted carefully with the assistance of a landscape designer who has yet to be identified.

Although Dioscorides did not know the impact his herb work would have on the world, the plants that he described continue to inspire and motivate us to build our own legacy, one medicinal garden a time.

Join Maria Thursday, October 26 at 1pm Eastern time for the webinar: Exploring ancient herbs in Dioscorides’ De Materia Medica. The Herb Society of America Members can attend our webinars for free, and guests pay $7.50. Join today and get access to our webinar library, which includes over fifty titles. To register, visit https://www.herbsociety.org/hsa-learn/herb-education/hsa-webinars/

Photo Credits 1) Byzantium Copy of De Materia Medica From the 15 ^th Century (Public Domain); (2) View of entire Garden enclosed in garden fence at northeast entry point from the author; 3) Children of Ukraine take part in a hands on garden day in conjunction with HWB Events in 2022 or 2023.

References

Cilliers, Louise et Francois Retief. 2001. Review of Dioscorides, De Materia Medica by Tessa A. Osbaldeston and R.P. Wood. Acta Classica, 44, 253-257.

Osbaldeston Tess, and Robert Wood 2000. De materia medica : Being an herb with many other medical materials: Written in Greek during the first century after the common era : A new indexed edition in modern English. Johannesburg: IBIDIS.

Memory of the World - UNESCO Vienna Dioscorides [Online Database]. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/memory-of-the-world/register/full-list-of-registered-heritage/registered-heritage-page-9/vienna-dioscurides/

Maria Christodoulou, a clinical herbist and writer on ancient Greek herbal medicine under the name The Greek Herbalist, is a clinical herbalist who teaches and writes about this ancient Greek herbal remedy. She is the co-author of The Greek Herbalist's Guide to the National Garden in Athens, and The Greek Herbalist's Guide to the Mountain. She presented at the International Herb Symposium, and she was awarded the Ancient Worlds Modern Communities Award by the Society of Classical Studies at New York University in 2022. She is based in Greece and leads educational herb medicine tours across the country. She is also the coordinator for the Herbalists Without Borders-Athens Chapter of the American Herbalists Guild and a member United Plant Savers. For more adventures through antiquity, visit: www.thegreekherbalist.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the disadvantages of using herbs?

Herbs are a great way to keep your body healthy because they contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, phytonutrients, polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, essential oils, carotenoids, sterols, and sterolins. Some even contain cannabinoids.

But there are also lots of side effects associated with herbal remedies. For example, taking too much herb could cause liver damage or even death. Herbal supplements may interact with prescription drugs, which means that they might affect how well the drug works.

Some herbs can interfere with blood clotting, while others may increase bleeding when taken with anticoagulants (blood thinners).

There are also safety concerns for pregnant women and children.

The bottom line is that herbs aren't safe for everyone. If you're considering trying them out, do your homework. Look up each product's side effects and warnings and read reviews online.

What are healing flowers?

Healing flowers are plants that promote peace and tranquillity. They help us unwind after a stressful day and make us feel more relaxed.

They also help us connect to our inner selves and reconnect with nature.

These beautiful blooms are used for meditation, prayer, and contemplation.

We call hundreds of varieties of flowering plants ‘healing’ because they provide such a fantastic experience.

This list includes roses, lilies, irises, daffodils, peonies, tulips, hyacinths, and many more.

But there are two species that I find particularly special. These are the Geranium and Lilium.

Geraniums are very easy to grow and come in various colors. Liliums are also known as lily-of-the-valley, which means 'lily' and 'valley.' Both of these species are popular garden flowers.

Healing flowers are often found growing near water. They are said to bring peace and calmness to those who meditate with them.

In ancient times, people would light candles in flower petals to symbolize the sun. This way, they could honor the sun without needing to go outdoors.

Some say that when you look at these flowers, you may see angels dancing.

Is it safe to eat raw garlic?

Raw garlic contains potent compounds that could cause stomach upset. Garlic should always be cooked before eating.

Garlic is one of the oldest known medicinal plants. It has been used since ancient times to treat various ailments.

Today, garlic is still commonly used for treating colds, coughs, and other respiratory infections. In addition, garlic can increase blood circulation, boost immunity, protect against cancer, lower cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease, and reduce stress.

Do not ingest large amounts of raw garlic to avoid possible health problems. It does not harm you if you consume small amounts regularly, however. This is especially true with young children who might accidentally swallow some.

What is the difference between "regular" and smoked paprika powder?

Regular Paprika Powder (Piment d'Espelette) is an essential ingredient for our recipes. We use it for its intense flavor and color. It's also used as a spice and seasoning agent. Smoked Paprika Powder (Paprika Chorizo) adds a smoky taste and aroma to dishes. Both types of Paprika Powder come from Spain, where they grow the best peppers in the world.

Smoked Paprika Powder (Chorizo Paprika) is made from red peppers, which are dried slowly in special ovens. This gives them a rich flavor. They are then ground and mixed with salt, garlic, and spices.

Regular Paprika Powder (Espelette Paprika) is made by grinding green bell peppers without additives.

Is it okay to use dried herbs instead of fresh ones?

It is best to pick up fresh herbs whenever possible when using herbs.

Although dried herbs are convenient, they don’t provide the same benefits as fresh herbs.

Fresh herbs contain essential oils that give your food a unique flavor. These oils help preserve the nutrients within the herb.

Dried herbs lose all their flavor after drying, so they cannot replace fresh herbs.

You should only use dried herbs if you absolutely must. Otherwise, you should get your fresh herbs from the market.

Statistics

• Herbs are among the most popular and widely used medicinal remedies. According to a survey conducted by the National Institutes of Health, herbs were used by over 38% of adults in the United States.
• The herbs market is highly competitive, with over 1,000 herb suppliers and over 15,000 herbs products available in the United States alone.

External Links

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• Antioxidant capacity of 26 spice extracts and characterization of their phenolic constituents - PubMed


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• Detoxification and antioxidant effects of curcumin in rats experimentally exposed to mercury - Agarwal - 2010 - Journal of Applied Toxicology - Wiley Online Library

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• Ashwagandha | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center


• Grape Seed | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

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• Amazon.com: Starwest Botanicals Organic Bilberries Whole, 4 Ounces: Grocery & Gourmet Food

How To

How to use herbs safely?

Many people think that herbs should only be used under medical supervision because they believe that some herbs are poisonous. However, this is not true.

Many herbs have long histories of safe use. For example, garlic has been used for thousands of years to fight infections. It's also been shown to lower cholesterol levels and reduce high blood pressure.

However, if you're pregnant or nursing, avoid taking certain herbs. You should also avoid them if you suffer from allergies or sensitivities to herbs.

You can do several things to ensure you get the best results from your herbs and supplements. First, always read labels before consuming anything containing herbs or spices. Second, take the lowest dose recommended on the label. Third, don't use more than one supplement at any given time. Fourth, talk to your doctor about how to combine specific herbs and supplements. Finally, keep track of your consumption to know whether you need to adjust your dosage.

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