Herbs Past

Avens

Avens (Geum urbanum), aka wood avens, herb Bennet or St. Benedict’s herb, is an annual herb. (In the early 18th century, it was also known as Caryophyllata.) Avens is native to northwestern Africa, Europe, Western Asia, and Central Asia. It is naturalized in the northeastern and northwestern United States.

In a manuscript roll dating to the reign of Henry VII (r. 1485-1509) and on the Fromond List (c. 1525), avens is listed among the “herbs for pottage,” i.e., an ingredient in soups and stews. It has also been used to flavor ale, see for example, The Countrie Farmer by Gervase Markham (1616).

In folklore, avens is credited with the power to drive away evil spirits. It also was said to protect people against rabid dogs and venomous snakes. The herb was co-opted into Christian theology by emphasizing that the leaves grow in threes (representing the Holy Trinity), and the flowers have five petals (representing the five wounds of Christ). In traditional medicine, roots of avens have been used to brew a tea for the treatment of rheumatism, gout, infections, and fevers.

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