582. A Pompeian Herbal, Jashemski.- Summary

582.  A Pompeian Herbal, Jashemski.  Author begins with Pliny the Elder singing the praises of Nature and all of the wonders she has to offer.  Not only does Nature offer us beauty and grace but also Nature presents a host of plants which provide remedies for people.  All this at no cost.  For Pliny remedies grew just out the back door. 
Jashemski  learned apparently for the first time that local plants were used to cure ailments.  She relates this to the mural which shows Venus bringing dittany to heal the wounded Aeneas.
Much of the Hippocratic Corpus was written during the 5th and 4th centuries.  Much of value has come from careful reading of this text.  Something like 400 plants are named in this.  In fact she suggests that the major construction of the Sanctuary of Asclepius at Cos followed somewhat on the heals of works such as this.  The scientific approach to healing recommended by Hippocrates gave form to the Sanctuary.  I bet my barn that foeniculum vulgare, hordeum, chamomilla, hypericum, etc. grew in abundance around this place. 
Pliny was friends with Antonius Castor who maintained a garden teeming with every plant he could find.  The modern equivalent of this has been a find of great importance:  a pile of carbonized hay found at a villa rustica at Oplontis.  128 different species of plants. 
As excavations progressed she learned from workers that Romans planted rows in much the same patterns as those around modern day Pompeii.
Her Herbal begins:

Adiantum capillus-veneris  (maiden-hair fern). 
use: ornamental, cause abortion, prevent hair loss
Alcea rosea (hollyhock).
use:  boiled to make cough medicine, boiled with apple to cure stomach ailments
good for:  intestines, bladder

Artemisia absinthium  (common wormwood).
use:  boiled for colitis, flavor wine, must be careful- it is a poison
Sorranus:  abortion vaginal suppository
treat worms in children
Calamintha nepeta (calamint Savory).
use:  abortion
Castanea sativa (European chestnut).
use:  food, boiled with foeniculum and laurel for digestion, prop in vineyard (slow rotter)

Centranthus ruber  (red valerian). 
use:  infusion for sleep, narcotics, sedative, Vallium name comes from valerian
Chamomilla recutita  (camomille).
use:  for sleeplessness, with laurel for digestion, aromatic, chaplets
Cichorium intybus (chicory).
use: stomach
Citrus limon (lemon)
use: mouthwash, clean wounds, very beautiful wood for furniture
Cyclamen hederifolium  (cyclamen).
use: head infection, chaplets
Pliny strongly urges every house to grow it.
Cynodon dactylon  (bermuda grass)
use: stop loose bowls, bleeding, prevent vomiting, stimulate circulation
Delphinium halteratum   (larkspur).
use: stop hemorraging after child birth, oil used as insecticide, rid head of lice,
Diplotaxis tenuifolia  (wall rocket)
use:  salads, clean blood, source of vitamin c, aphrodisiac, many uses.
Eucalyptus camaldulensis  ( gum tree).
new comer to Italy
Ficus carica  (fig).
use:  food, remove warts, relieve sunburn, laxative, suppository of dried figs for a contraceptive
Foeniculum vulgare (common fennel).
use:  aromatice, stomach ailments, eye medicine, flatulence
Marathon is the Greek name for it- interesting
Hordeum vulgare  ( six rowed barley).
use:  handful of barley in water
Hypericum perforatum  (St. John’s Wart).
use:  cleanse system, Mithridates used to stop poisons
Juglans regia  (English Walnut).
use:  not a favorite food, oil used for mange, headaches
Lactuca sativa  (lettuce).
use:  gum inflammation
laurus nobilis (laurel, bay laurel).
use:  aromatic, cooking, ancestral images adorned with it, power of prophesy from chewed leaves
Lobularia maritima  (sweet alyssum).
use:  not mentioned in ancient source, but found everywhere
Malus domestica  (apple).
use:  diuretic, diarrhea
Sorranus: upset stomach during pregnancy
Malva sylvestris  (common mallow)
use:  tooth ache, cough, aphrodisiac, food
Mentha suaveolens  (apple mind).
use:  very sweet scent, used to stuff cushions, scent tables
Myrtus communis  (myrtle).
sacred to Venus
use:  indigestion, put in cradle to give sweet smell, wine, oils in sausage
Parietaria officinalis  (wall pellitory)
use:  bruises
herba parietaria- nickname Constantine gave to Trajan for all the buildings he put his name on
Petroselinum crispum  (parsley).
use:  contraceptive as suppository in vagina, abscesses, diuretic
Plantago major  (plantain)
use:  dysentery, eye, poultice, infant diarrhea
Polygonum aviculare  (knotgrass).
use:  digestive ailments, stop bleeding (juice is rich in tannin and gallic acid which are powerful astringents)
Portulaca oleracea  (purslane).
use:  eye, ear ache, headaches, food
Rubus ulmifolius  (wild blackberry)
use:  for intestinal problems, spleen ailments, dysentery, diarrhea
Ruta graveolens  (rue).
use: abortion, if woman eats it
Sambucus nigra   (elderberry).
use:  laxative, hair dye
verbascum sinuatum  (mulberry)
use:  looseness of bowels
Verbena officinalis  (verbena).
use:  cure all, dining couch sprinkled with water in which plant was soaked for merrier entertainment.
Fetiales carried to enemy when war was declared
Table of Jupiter wiped with it on his feast days
homes cleaned with it
held in high esteem