tarragon
(Artemisia
Dracunculus L.)
Folk names:
Fuzzy
weed, Estragon, Dragon's Mugwort, French Tarragon.
Gender:
Feminine.
Planet:
Venus.
Element:
Water.
Deity:
Venus, Pan.
Powers:
Love, Hunting.
Charlemagne,
king of Franks (768-814) and Holy Roman Emperor (800-814), liked
tarragon so much that he had it planted on all of his estates. Even today
no French cook would be caught without it. The herbs delicate licorice
taste makes it a complementary seasoning in meat, fish, and chicken dishes,
salads, dressings, and of course sauce Béarnaise. A very, very long
time ago, tarragon became medicinally classified as a "Dragon herb", the
name herbalists' give to plants, that they use as antidotes, against the
bite of venomous animals. Tarragon arrived in England from southern Europe
in the 1500's. There, as the diarist John Evelyn later disclosed, it was
recognized as a "friend to the head, heart, and liver." Records show that
by 1650 tarragon had been transported to the Dutch settlements in the new
world. It was one of 33 common plants listed there by the settlers. Tarragon
is a green, glabrous perennial shrub, that is found in sunny dry areas
in the western U.S., southern Asia, and Siberia. In modern folk medicine
herbalists' advocate the use of tarragon for alleviating rheumatism, and
arthritis. They also prescribe it to stimulate appetite, to promote menstruation,
and as a diuretic. It works well for all types of digestive problems and
catarrhal difficulties. As all diuretics will, it stimulates
the action of the kidneys. In tea form it works very well to stimulate
the appetite, especially when it has been lost due to illness. Taking the
tea before going to bed will also help to overcome insomnia. The plant
is part of the family which includes mugwort, and wormwood. It was used
by the American indians to attract love, for this purpose it was rubbed
onto the body and clothing. "Fuzzyweed" was also carried to bring luck
on the hunt, which was once an integral part of survival, for all humans.....
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