Lynn Smythe
St. Gall Monastery
January 16th 2008 19:41
Plan of St. Gall
St. Gall, although never built as planned, was thought to be the idea layout for a Benedictine monastery. A copy of the plan was found preserved in the library at the Abbey of St. Gallen in Switzerland thus the plan is referred to as St. Gall. The plan was addressed to Gozbert who was abbot of St. Gall from 816-836 AD.
Medicinal Garden
The medicinal (AKA Physic) garden of St. Gall was divided into 16 individual plots and included the following plants:
Cornflag
AKA yellow flag, the leaves were used as a strewing herb while the dried roots were used for chest complaints. Detailed information regarding strewing herbs can be found in the article Strewing Herbs; Ancient Aromatherapy Technique.
Cumin
Beneficial to the digestive system especially to sluggish digestion.
Fennel
The seeds of this plant helped to alleviate hunger and were especially useful during the long fast of Lent. Fennel also helped to relieve indigestion and gas and improve liver function.
Fenugreek
The seeds, when soaked in water, helped sooth the stomach and digestive tract.
Kidney bean
Monks were forbidden to eat the flesh of four-footed animals (cows, pigs, sheep etc.) although this rule was not strictly enforced in the later Middle Ages. Peas and beans became a staple part of the monks daily diet. Because beans were known to cause gas, any herbs that helped to relieve gas were employed for their medicinal uses. Often times these gas relieving herbs such as savory and fennel were cooked right along with the beans.
Lovage
Used for urinary trouble, jaundice and stomach disorders.
Pennyroyal
This herb was used as a cold remedy and it was also thought to work as a blood purifier and helped alleviate stomach disorders. Pennyroyal was also used as a flea repellant.
Peppermint
This herb helped to relieve gas, diarrhea and stomach disorders. Mint was also useful as a cold remedy and breath freshener. It was also used as a strewing herb because of its fragrant aroma.
Rose
The rose hips, which are the fruits of the plant, are very high in vitamin C. Rose hips and petals were used by monks to make a variety of medicinal jams, jellies and syrups. These rose remedies helped to relieve scurvy, diarrhea and sore throats and were also thought to be able to restore ones strength.
My complete article, St. Gall; The Plan for a Medieval Benedictine Monastery Design, can be found on the Associated Content website.
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