Discover Lavender

The distilled water of Lavender smelt unto, or the temples and forehead bathed therewith, is refreshing to them that have the Catalepsie, a light migram, and to them that have the failing sickness and that us to swoune much.

The floures of Lavender picked from the knaps, I meane the blew part and not the husk, mixed with Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Cloves, made into powder, and given to drinke in the distilled water thereof, doth helpe the panting and passion of the heart, previaleth against giddinesse, turning or swimming of the brain, and members subject to the palsie. French Lavender hath a body like Lavender, short and of woodie substance, but slenderer, beset with long narrow leaves, of a whitish colour, lesser than those of Lavender, it hath in the top bushe or spikie heads, well compact or thrust together, out the which grow forth small purple flowers or a pleasant smell. The seede is small and blackish: The roote is harde and woodie.

—Herball, John Gerard - 1597

Stoechas grows in the islands of Galatia over against Messalia, called ye Stoechades, from whence also it had its name, is an herb with slender twigs, having ye haire like Tyme, but yet longer leaved and sharp in ye taste, and somewhat bitterish, but ye decoction of it as the Hysdsop is good for ye griefs an ye thorax. It is mingled also profitably with Amtidots.

—Dioscorides, 60 A.D.