Herbals

Research and text by David Silvernail

A relatively high percentage of Colonial New Englanders were literate, since many Protestant sects encouraged direct knowledge of the Bible. Religious texts were by far the most common publication in New Netherland; but herbals, books that record the uses of various plants, were also important for colonists there. These herbals can teach contemporary Americans much about life in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. New England’s Rarities Discovered by John Josselyn (London 1672) details many indigenous flora and fauna of the region and he describes how to prepare many of these plants.

The birch entry is an excellent example of the information the book provides: “the bark of birch is used by Indians for bruised wounds and cuts, - boyled very tender, and stampt betwixt two stones to plaster the wound; and also to fetch the fire out of burns and scalds.” The information is concise but vital for colonists. 

The first medical text published in the colonies was The English Physician by Nicholas Culpeper in 1708. From a contemporary perspective, it highlights how different medical customs in the colonies were to modern-day practice. Colonial physicians relied on systems of knowledge that are no longer used, including astrology and the four humors.In his book,  Culpeper carefully outlines which planet governs each plant; for instance, goldenrod is claimed by Venus. However, the book also contains plenty of practical, medicinal uses for plants. In reference to goldenrod again, Culpeper claims it prevents kidney stones. For these reasons, herbals were considered to be essential sources of knowledge in Colonial America. Even so, it is important to acknowledge the inherent limitations of these sources. Despite the broad use of indigenous plants and knowledge imparted by Native Americans, herbal books were almost solely written by European men. Josselyn often makes reference to his sources in vague terms, without providing direct credit. 

While herbal books are important records of the medical knowledge and practices of the period, they do not represent much of its daily application. Even though herbals were quite popular, religious texts were such a high priority that many colonists would not have owned any other type of book. Medical advice was still primarily communicated orally and it was women who were expected to have enough general knowledge to make effective use of common herbs. These aspects cannot be contained within the books that contemporary readers are prone to view as authoritative. We will explore these critical pieces of herbal history later in our series. 

For further reading: The English Physician New England's Rarities