{"id":8732,"date":"2022-11-14T17:10:37","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T17:10:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/masterparfums.com\/?p=8732"},"modified":"2026-10-28T11:12:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T11:12:48","slug":"aromatic-plants-medicinal-gardens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/masterparfums.com\/en\/aromatic-plants-medicinal-gardens\/","title":{"rendered":"Aromatic Plants in Medicinal Gardens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cSimples\u201d\u2026 but what are they?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since ancient times, \u201csimples\u201d have been plants used for their medicinal properties. They were believed to possess divine powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it was during the Middle Ages that what are known as \u201cherbal gardens\u201d began to be established in convents and monasteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The herbal garden included not only medicinal plants but also a carefully arranged blend of aromatic and culinary herbs, which were also believed to possess therapeutic properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These plants were cultivated by monk herbalists, who possessed a deep knowledge of pharmacology, plants, and their medicinal properties. The monk herbalist, who had studied the properties of all these plants, was highly respected. He served as both the village apothecary and physician. He advocated the use of plants in the form of powders, poultices, herbal teas, and other decoctions to heal and purify. Belief in the protective and purifying powers of aromatic plants was so strong that they were burned at the entrances to villages to ward off epidemics such as the plague.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These aromatic herbs were called \u201csimples\u201d to indicate that a single plant, used on its own, could treat a specific ailment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, white mallow was recommended for coughs. Mugwort for menstrual cramps. Thyme as an antiseptic. Chamomile to soothe, mint for stomachaches, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These were referred to as \u201csimple medicines\u201d as opposed to \u201ccompound medicines,\u201d which involved mixing several plants to create potions or elixirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, every convent or monastery had its own secret recipe. Some are still used today, such as the Carmelites\u2019 Lemon Balm Water or Chartreuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spiritual Dimension of the Herb Garden<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Herb garden at Milly-la-For\u00eat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Plants have always fascinated and healed people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a long time, this knowledge of therapeutic properties was the exclusive domain of monks, who used them for their medical practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why a \u201cmedicinal herb garden\u201d is organized in the same way as in a monastery or convent: with thematic and geometric spaces, arranged in regular, square, or rectangular beds of trimmed boxwood\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between the squares, paths are laid out in a cross pattern (and this is no coincidence) to allow the gardener to move about and to facilitate drainage and irrigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These gardens were meant to symbolize the perfection inherent in God. References to Christianity are everywhere: boxwood symbolizes immortality, a well or fountain in the center of the garden symbolizes the resurrection, and sometimes a bench provided a place for contemplation and meditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cultivated Aromatic Plants and Their Properties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to see that the cultivation of these plants has returned to the forefront of wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In private and community gardens, as well as on balconies, the French have developed a passion for creating and maintaining herb gardens since the multiple lockdowns caused by the recent pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, it has become more of a hobby than a practice for medicinal purposes; however, in the collective unconscious, it\u2019s always a good idea to nurture a little piece of nature at home\u2014whether from a religious perspective or not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plants<\/strong><\/td>Properties<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Lavender<\/td>For better sleep<\/td><\/tr>
Rosemary<\/td>Stimulates and regulates liver function<\/td><\/tr>
Thyme<\/td>An antiseptic for colds<\/td><\/tr>
Lemon balm<\/td>For nervous sleep disorders<\/td><\/tr>
Sage<\/td>For digestive discomfort<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Check out our full video on the Jardin des Simples<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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