Herbs in History: Elderberry & Fennel

• By: AHPA
• On: 12/15/2022 05:52:41
• In: AHPA News

In an effort to preserve and share the fascinating histories of medicinal plants and herbs that have been used around the world for ages, the AHPA Foundation for Education and Research on Botanicals (AHPA-ERB Foundation) is honored to partner with Alain Touwaide, Ph.D., and Emanuela Appetiti of the Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions to tell the stories of Herbs in History.

We close out 2022 with entries on elderberry and fennel. Preview the entries below and visit Herbs in History online to read more.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.)

Simple, Yet Valuable

Black Elder (Sambucus nigra L., Adoxaceae) is an easy-growing multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree typical of the North-central European landscape, close to farms and farmhouses, in gardens, and in hedges, with fetid leaves, aromatic late-spring flowers, and clusters of glossy black edible fruits in late summer. It is native to Europe, southwestern Asia, and northern Africa, growing in temperate to subtropical regions, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, with some populations in parts of Australasia and South America. | Read more...

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Snake's Sight

When athletes run a marathon (26.2 miles), they re-enact the exploit by the Greek soldier Pheidippides who ran from Marathon to Athens in 490 BCE to announce the victory of the lightly armed Athenian troops on the heavy infantry of the Persian king Darius I, who was trying to invade and conquer Greece. Marathon runners probably do not know that the battle took place in a region where fennel (marathon in ancient Greek) grew abundantly, giving its name to the area as the fennel field. | Read more...

About the Project

Herbs in History is made possible by funding from the AHPA-ERB Foundation, as part of the nonprofit foundation's mission promote education and research on medicinal, therapeutic, and health-promoting herbs. Tune in monthly for thoughtfully detailed historical accounts of herbs you know and love, and learn more about the origins of medicinal plants that have stood the test of time.