How did people cure different diseases in the oldest times when there were no medicines? Still in the 3rd millennium B.C. herbs were used in Ancient Egypt, Assyria, India, China. Armenia was standing apart and since the Middle Ages local physicians have known the qualities of herbs. Among the most prominent figures was Mkhitar Heratsi-the founder of Armenian Classical medicine. Heratsi created valuable works on the basis of his studies, but only some pieces of the works have been preserved and are kept in Matenadaran. Among these treasures there are the manuscripts N 1494, N 1770, N 573, N 9393. While visiting Matenadaran don’t forget to have a look at them.
The principle work of Mkhitar Heratsi is ”Jermants Mkhitarutyun” (”Relief of Fevers”). Here the herbal treatment suggested by him is essential and is firstly based on the medicinal qualities of plants. For example, he suggests using rose, violet, lily, nunufar, sorrel, watercress, basil, asparagus, among wild plants capers and thyme to cure infectious-allergic diseases etc.
The saying goes: “The higher is the mountain the better the herbs are”. As Armenia is a mountainous country, the great part of the herbs growing on a hillside is frequently used to make tea. All kinds of Herbal tea are often used in all regions of Armenia, but the absolute favorites are thyme, chamomile, pomegranate flower and rose hip teas. In fact, the latter is the highest in Vitamin C. As for pomegranate flower, it has a very strong, bitter taste, but when added some other herbs to it, a very gentle and sweet combination is achieved. But herbs have to be used very carefully. All the tea lovers know that thyme (“urts” in Armenian) is contraindicated in hypotension, because it lowers blood pressure, while mint (“nana” in Armenian) raises it. Other herbs have a lot of helpful properties as well: mint is a perfect analgesic; marjoram is used to steady nerves.
Let’s try a cup of good Armenian tea, will you?
