On the way in the monastery garden
Medicinal herbs in Kloster Holzen
Herbal knowledge from the monastery
Unfortunately, knowledge about medicinal herbs has largely been lost over the last few decades. Many valuable helpers from the plant world can support us in maintaining health, recovery or regeneration. Medicinal plants with their diverse ingredients have a wide range of effects and applications. They can have antibacterial, antiviral, mood-enhancing, wound-healing and pain-relieving effects.
Wormwood: Lat. Artemisia absinthium
- Belongs to the composite family - perennial
- Also known as species remedy, cramp herb, stomach herb, cradle herb, worm death, absinthe, medicinal bitters
- Contains bitter substances, artemisin, absinthin, resin, tannins, essential oil, pinene, etc.
- Has a diaphoretic, diuretic, antipyretic, germicidal, anthelmintic, stomachic, haemostatic, bilious effect
- Used to make the well-known absinthe schnapps
- The whole herb is used
- In folk medicine: gastrointestinal and biliary diseases, strengthening the immune system
- Interesting fact: In ancient times, the herb was often planted in places where mice were to be kept away, e.g. in libraries, some vermouth extract was added to the ink to prevent mice from eating the books.
- Can be used as a tea, tincture, powder, liqueur ...
- CAUTION: can cause cramps or headaches if the dose is too high. Also do not use if you are allergic to composite plants! Not for children!
Yarrow: Lat. Achillea millefolium
- Belongs to the composite family - perennial
- Also known as balsam sheaf, soldier's herb, woman's thanksgiving, salvation of all the world, ribwort, hand of God or stomach ache herb
- The upper half of the plant is used, i.e. the herb and flower
- Strong wound and healing herb!
- Contains essential oil, tannins, flavonoids, bitter substances, coumarin, minerals, etc.
- Has an anti-inflammatory, stimulating, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, anti-bloating, digestive and menstrual regulating effect
- Plant is said to protect against spells of all kinds
- Considered a women's herb and panacea par excellence - comparable to camomile
- As an ointment for wounds and haemorrhoids
- As tea, oil, ointment, baths, fresh juice, compresses, facial vapour bath, facial tonic, syrup ...
- CAUTION: For children and those allergic to composite plants!
Beinwell: Lat. symphytum officinale
- Belongs to the broadleaf family - perennial
- Also known as legwort, hare's bread, healing root, heaven's bread, dog's tongue, wallwort or blackroot
- THE herb for all disorders and injuries to tendons, muscles, joints and bones
- The leaf, flower and especially the root are used
- Contains allantoin, asparagine, rosmarinic acid, inulin, mucilage, resin, silicic acid, tannins, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, etc.
- Has a tissue-forming, wound-healing, cough-relieving, haemostatic, constipating, anti-rheumatic, uric acid-dissolving effect
- As an ointment, tea, oil, tincture, balm ...
- Leaves and flowers in salads, soups etc.
- Used as a liniment, compresses ...
- Ointment made from roots from autumn to spring
- Used for broken bones, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, persistent coughs (in combination with thyme juice), tennis elbow, back pain, venous disorders ...
- Can be grown well in your own garden
- CAUTION: contains pyrrolizidine alkaloid - considered harmful to the liver, therefore comfrey should only be taken internally in small amounts or not at all
Masterwort: Lat. peucedanum ostruthium
- Belongs to the umbellifer family - perennial
- Also known as mountain orchid, bosom orchid, emperor's orchid, or magister's orchid
- The leaves are used before flowering and the root from autumn to spring
- Contains terpenes, coumarin derivatives, fats, oils, essential oils, resins, tannins
- Has a stomachic, calming, analgesic, diuretic and diaphoretic effect, stimulates the appetite, promotes milk production, cleanses the skin, inhibits cancer, lowers blood pressure
- Used as tea, wine, tincture, poultice, spice ...
- Masterwort is used in folk medicine for stomach, liver and gall bladder problems, infections, to strengthen the immune system, colds, high blood pressure, strokes, urinary retention, high cholesterol levels, bleeding gums and much more.
- Is a mountain plant
- Interesting fact: In times of plague, an amulet made from the root was said to help against infection
St John's wort: Lat. hypericum perforatum
- Belongs to the St John's wort family
- Also called St John's wort, St John's blood, blood herb, witch's herb or hunting devil
- The upper third of the flowering herb is used for baths, tea, etc. Only buds and open flowers are used for the well-known St John's wort oil
- Contains hypericin, phytosterol, essential oil, tannins, rutin, choline, flavonoids ...
- Has an anti-inflammatory, nerve-strengthening, blood-improving, pain-relieving, calming effect ...
- Herb for all complaints that affect the nerves (pain, burns, joint problems, etc.)
- Interesting fact: According to legend, the plant's blood is used to express its disgust at the murder of John the Baptist
- Used in folk medicine to treat nervous disorders - also known as arnica of the nerves, restlessness, sleep problems, dizziness, strokes, nervous heart, stomach problems, abdominal cramps, shingles, phlebitis, wounds, sunburn and much more.
- Used as tea, oil, bath, liniment, ointment, compresses, poultices ...
- Interesting fact: Hunters should coat the barrel of their rifles with the sap of the plant and they will be absolutely accurate.
- CAUTION: the plant can be used externally without hesitation; if taken internally, please note that prolonged use may cause photosensitivity - pigmentation disorders may occur.
Coneflower: Lat. echinacea angustifolia
- Belongs to the composite family - perennial
- Also known as hedgehog's head, coneflower or sun herb
- The leaves are used before flowering and the roots in autumn
- Considered an herb for strengthening the immune system (echinacea drops)
- Contains echinacoside, flavonoids, polysaccharides, inulin, essential oil, cinnamic acid, etc.
- Has a stimulating, activating and anti-inflammatory effect on the immune system
- Is an ancient Native American medicinal plant - still plays an important role there today
- Used as a tea, tincture, ointment, etc.
- Used for immune deficiencies, arthritis, inflammation of the abdominal organs, as a blood purifier, for all inflammatory processes, suppurations, boils, psoriasis, detoxification
- Interesting fact: dyes for colouring wool and silk are extracted from the plant
- CAUTION: for children and people allergic to composite plants!
Sweetwood: Lat. glycyrrhiza glabra
- Belongs to the legume family - perennial
- Also called liquorice, liquorice root
- The main root and the extensive root system are used
- According to legend, St Cunegonde gave the medicinal herb to the town of Bamberg in the 10th century, whose people cultivated liquorice from then on.
- It is regarded as a symbol of the rod of life
- Contains mucilage, saponins, glycyrrhizin, flavonoids, coumarins, sugar, etc.
- Has an antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect
- Used as tea, juice, tincture
- Important herb for all inflammations in the body - especially in the lungs for catarrh, stomach and intestinal ulcers
- Liquorice contains substances similar to cortisone - but without its side effects
- CAUTION: Do not take over a long period of time, not during pregnancy, high blood pressure, diabetes and liver disease.
Alant: Lat. Inula helenium
- Belongs to the composite family - perennial
- It is also known as elecampane, elecampane intestinalis, elecampane noble, elecampane eye of God, elecampane breast, elecampane medicinal or Helen's herb
- According to legend, elecampane sprang from the tears of Helena. It can supposedly cure "bewitched" ailments, e.g. lumbago ...
- The rhizome, leaves and flowers are used
- Contains inulin, essential oil, resin, azelene, bitter substances, helenin
- Promotes digestion, stimulates the kidneys, promotes expectoration, is antiseptic and expectorant
- Used as tea, tincture, wine, incense, candy (candied root)
- Used in folk medicine for dry coughs, bronchial complaints, colic, congestion of the intestines, lungs and gastritis, skin blemishes and eczema, acne, sciatica and hip joint pain.
- CAUTION: Contact allergy or mucous membrane irritation may occur (composite allergy!)
Thyme: Lat. thymus vulgaris
- Belongs to the labiate family - perennial
- Also called bee herb, garden thyme, gundelkraut, sausage herb
- Thyme wreaths are said to protect against lightning strikes
- The upper half of the flowering herb is used
- Contains thymol, essential oil, tannins, bitter substances, resin, saponins, iron
- Has an antiseptic, expectorant, expectorant, anthelmintic, antispasmodic, antidiarrhoeal, nervine, tonic and other effects.
- Used as a tea, bath, liqueur, spice, wine, cough syrup, cough honey, liniment (with olive oil)
- Used in folk medicine for dry cough, whooping cough, bronchitis, activation of the immune system, tonic, infectious diseases of the lungs, intestines and kidneys, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
- CAUTION: Do not give too high a dose for too long - but can also be given to children
Sage: Lat. salvia officinalis
- Belongs to the labiate family - perennial
- Also known as garden sage, royal sage, motherwort or toothwort
- "He who builds on sage hardly sees death" - old saying
- The above-ground herb is used
- Contains bitter substances, tannins, essential oil, resin, starch, protein, saponins, acids, glycosides
- Has an anti-inflammatory, expectorant, germicidal, antispasmodic, anti-diarrhoeal, bile-stimulating, wound-healing, antiperspirant, anti-bloating, stomachic, disinfectant effect
- Used in the form of tea, wine, liqueur, juice, decoction, tincture, spice, incense
- Used against excessive sweating, for sore throats, bleeding gums, to strengthen the immune system, kidney and liver problems, etc.
- CAUTION: do not use internally during pregnancy (gargling is possible)
Eibic: Lat. althaea officinalis
- Belongs to the mallow family - perennial
- Also called medicinal root, cough herb, velvet poplar, mucilage root
- One of the major cough herbs alongside ribwort, coltsfoot, mallow and mullein
- The root, leaves and flowers are used
- Contains tannins, asparagine, mucilage, essential oil, sugar, minerals, etc.
- Has a calming, soothing, cough-relieving, laxative, anti-inflammatory, emollient effect
- Used as tea, powder, ointment, tincture, syrup, bath etc.
- Used in folk medicine for respiratory diseases, expectoration, hoarseness, coughs, bronchitis, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract diseases, boils and pimples, cosmetics
Sea radish: Lat. armoracia rusticana
- Belongs to the cruciferous family - perennial
- Also known as horseradish, horse radish, farmer's mustard, throat cleaner, spicy root
- Searadish and nasturtium used to be considered the "farmers' antibiotics"
- Eating searadish is said to be a reminder of the bitter suffering of Jesus Christ - which is why it is blessed and eaten by the church on the first day of Easter
- The root is used (autumn to spring) Leaves (spring/summer)
- Contains mustard oils, vitamin C, amino acids, asparagine and arginine, essential oil, minerals, etc.
- Promotes digestion, stimulates blood circulation, irritates the skin, stimulates the metabolism, loosens mucus and reduces flatulence
- Used as a fresh spice, poultice, tincture, wine, honey, in vinegar, butter, etc.
- Used in folk medicine for colds, strengthening the immune system, coughs, inflammation of the urinary tract, blood pressure regulation, rheumatism, gout, freckles, etc.
- CAUTION: During pregnancy and if kidney function is impaired
Lady's mantle: Lat. alchemilla vulgaris
- Belongs to the rose family - perennial
- Also known as lady's mantle, lady's herb, lady's comfort, maidenhair, rain canopy, sundew, milkweed or lady's smock
- Plant was consecrated to the Virgin Mary and became a symbol for all those seeking protection (leaves look like the protective cloak of the Virgin Mary)
- Drops of water in the leaves are not dew, but drops of guttation
- Leaves and flowering herb are used
- Contains tannins, essential oil, bitter substances, salicylic acid, resin, saponins, tannins, etc.
- Has a wound-healing, constipating, stomachic, anti-inflammatory, blood-purifying, lactation-promoting, diuretic effect, etc.
- Use in the form of tea, baths, steam baths, tincture, poultice, in the kitchen
- Used in folk medicine for all women's ailments, fever, diarrhoea, suppuration, varicose veins, blemished skin, fungal diseases, tendency to miscarriage, wounds, toothache, etc.