The majestic honey bee (Apis spp.) has been celebrated for thousands of years by civilizations across the world. In ancient Greece, the honey bee was a symbol of birth, death, and rebirth—transformational themes connected to the mysterious and supernatural realms. As the creator of honey, the first known sweetener in Greek antiquity, the honey bee was highly revered. Honey itself was a symbol of the honey bees’ power to transform the sugary secretions of plants into a delicious substance for human and animal enjoyment. The ancient Greeks incorporated this bee-made sweetness in religious ceremonies, kitchen recipes, and healing remedies.

Juliette de Baïracli Levy (1912-2009) was a well-known herbalist, traveler, and writer who lived on the Greek island of Kythera for ten years during the latter part of her life. Learn more about her extraordinary life and be inspired to carry on herbal traditions.

As part of the Preserving Herbal Traditions project, The Greek Herbalist participates in the annual harvest of acorns on the island of Kea with Marcie Mayer, the founder of the Acorn Oakmeal Initiative.

Olive oil has a rich and magical history in Greece, where the landscape is dotted with millions of majestic olive trees. Derived from the pressing of ripe olives picked from the Olea europaea tree, this supreme food has been used for thousands of years in the Mediterranean region, Asia, and Africa. The magic of Greek olive oil stems from a combination of rich cultural traditions, as well as its benefits and usages in both cuisine and herbalism.

As part of the Preserving Herbal Traditions project, join The Greek Herbalist on a plant walk with a local herbalist in the mountains of Corfu!

As part of the Preserving Herbal Traditions project, The Greek Herbalist visits an apiary for a honey tasting experience and a sweet buzz to explore!

Greece is a beautiful country surrounded on three sides by the Mediterranean, Aegean, and Ionian seas. Ranked as one of the sunniest countries in Europe, Greece is a popular vacation destination for visitors from around the world who seek to experience its exquisite beaches and seaside resorts. In addition to its promise of fun in the sun, this small, delightful country also provides a haven for a diversity of flora and fauna. From its seaside to its mountains, Greece is a treasure trove for exploring herbal wonders which provide an impressive display all year round.

It is a curious cultural phenomenon that while the ancient Greeks used wine regularly as medicine, modern herbal practices practically exclude this medium. Ancient authors, from Homer in the 8th century BCE to Galen in the 2nd century CE, promoted the therapeutic benefits of wine for both the body and the mind, and wine infused with medicinal herbs was recommended by many ancient physicians to heal a variety of internal and external ailments. Today, however, this practice has all but disappeared. Exploring wine as a lost medium and the herbs that were once infused in it may help uncover ancient knowledge applicable to modern herbal medicine.

As a participant in the 2nd Panhellenic Conference on Traditional Greek Folk Medicine, I explore the ancient art of botanical wine extraction. We will learn about the herbs that were commonly soaked in wine and how these herbs are used by herbalists today. Our exploration will also bring us closer to understanding ancient Greek culture, especially through the well-known doctors who wrote about ancient medicine.

Hippocrates was a renowned ancient Greek physician and teacher born on the island of Kos in the Aegean Sea. While we know him as the father of medicine today, Hippocrates may also have played an important role as an herbalist. Let’s explore how he may have been both a renowned physician and celebrated herbalist in his day.

Apollo was the ancient Greek god with a multitude of powerful associations, including the sun, music, poetry, healing, oracles, prophecy, plagues, and archery. As the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and Leto, the goddess of motherhood, Apollo was one of the twelve Olympian gods who was both revered and feared by the ancient Greeks. Apollo’s divine powers also extended into the plant world. Of interest to herbalists, there are several well-known myths that depict his associations with sacred plants.

Featured in The National Herald, the Ancient Greek Medicine Retreat with The Greek Herbalist is offered on six dates between June-October 2022 on the beautiful island of Kos.

Throughout history, humans have sought ways to ease many ailments. Some lasted through millennia. Others fell into disuse. Through surviving documents, we can examine some of the seemingly strange and curious ways to heal in ancient Greece.

Greece is an extraordinary and vibrant country in Europe. The country’s unique location in the Mediterranean region provides a haven for a diversity of flora and fauna. Ranked as one of the sunniest countries in Europe, Greece is a treasure for exploring herbal bioregionalism and the impact it has had on both ancient and modern civilizations living on this picturesque land.

Editor’s pick! From the classical myths that surround them to the medicinal value they hold, the plants of Greece have stories to tell and gifts to bestow.

Juliette de Bairacli Levy (1912-2009) was a well-known and well-loved herbalist, traveler, and writer. In July 2021, I took a ten-day trip to the Greek island of Kythera, where Juliette lived for 10 years, to meet with the locals who knew her and visit the house where she lived on the edge of a small village.

For much of human history, medicine has been based on traditional folk practices and natural remedies. Exploring both tradition and science, however, can provide a greater framework for understanding the history of herbalism and modern medicine. Let’s explore how the herbs bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) and mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) were used in antiquity and the scientific research that either proves or denies these plants’ indicated effects. Were these ancient claims true?

With a landscape brightened by vivid colors and infused with aromatic scents of ocean and mountains, the ancient Mediterranean region provided a sensational feast for the senses. Many of the historical plants that the various ancient civilizations in this region gathered for food, medicine, and religion remain in use today. Yet, the story of some of these historical plants, for various reasons, ended too soon…

Throughout history, plants have evoked the curiosities of the human imagination. Listen in to a three-part series exploring herbal motifs in the ancient Mediterranean region, featuring the sinful fig leaf, the sensual rose flower, and the good luck pomegranate fruit.

Throughout history, plants have evoked the curiosities of the human imagination. Listen in to a three-part series exploring herbal motifs in the ancient Mediterranean region, featuring the sinful fig leaf, the sensual rose flower, and the good luck pomegranate fruit.