HERBS AND THEIR ORIGIN 35 



Pliny tells us that a chaplet of pennyroyal worn 

 on the head, is the best cure for headache and 

 giddiness. 



Wormwood is, with the exception of rue, the 

 bitterest herb known; but everyone must regard it 

 with interest, because of its responsibility for the 

 world-famous absinthe. 



In France, acres of wormwood are grown simply 

 for the purpose of making absinthe; the leaves, 

 eaten raw, are said to be very wholesome. 



Tansy was used in the old days for cakes and 

 puddings, in spite of the fact that tansy undoubtedly 

 ranks as one of the '' bitter " herbs. It appears 

 that tansy cakes were eaten more especially at 

 Easter-time, as some writers tell us, to correct the 

 ill-eifects of a prolonged fish diet. We have the 

 support of an old Easter carol for this belief: 



" Soone at Easter cometh AUeluya, 

 With butter, cheese, and a Tansy." 



The Verbena^ or Vervain^ was the Herb a Sacra, 



said by the Romans to cure bites from animals, 



arrest venom, and act as an antidote to many 



poisons; and feasts called " Verbanalia " were held 



annually in its honour. Then legend catches up 



the thought, and tells us how the herb was first 



found on Calvary, and staunched the wounds of 



Christ. 



" Hallowed be thou, Vervain, 



As thou growest on the ground. 

 For in the Mount of Calvary 

 There thou wast first found." 



The Spikenard of Scripture is made from a valerian 

 that grows in the Himalayan Ranges. The medicinal 



