The Herbs of General Washington

Western herbalism reached its zenith at the end of the 18th century.  As General Washington and his troops fought bravely throughout the Hudson Valley, they relied on the local flora to provide the foods and medicines needed to continue their military campaign. The first Materia Medica of North America (a list of the medicinal properties of each plant) was commissioned by General Washington’s order so his field generals could safely carry on their war effort.  Based on the healing remedies created by the colonial goodwives when England cut off shipments to the New World, this was how our colonial great-great-grandmothers and field generals valiently carried on concurrently with standing up to the British restrictions. 

The herbs and foods of the Hudson Valley forest, the needs of the Continental Army, colonial medicine, colonial gardens, and colonial foraging will all be discussed. Real recipes included.