The ancient Egyptians relied on the annual flooding of the Nile to fertilise and irrigate the land and were skilled farmers. They developed irrigation systems which are still used today and were able to cultivate a large range of plants and raise livestock.
They ate very well compared to other ancient civilisations, according to HistoryHit and there’s lots of evidence about what they ate from the artwork in their famous tombs. Staple foods included beer and bread, alongside vegetables and fruits, fish and meat. They loved garlic and spring onions, for taste and medicinal purposes and ate wild and cultivated vegetables. Red meat was considered a luxury, most poultry was hunted and fish caught to supplement their diet. They flavoured their foods with herbs and spices, although as spices were mainly imported, they were only used by the wealthy and influential in the society.
Herbal medicine in ancient Egypt
Herbal medicine was an important part of the health and wellbeing practices promoted and supported by the pharaohs. In fact, a lot of the complementary medicine used today can be traced back to this ancient civilisation. Thanks to the records kept in medical papyri, historians can look back and study their highly developed knowledge and medical practices including massage, manipulation and therapeutic herbs and foods.
Common plants and herbs which were used in herbal medicine according to N. H. Aboelsoud in his review of herbal medicine in ancient Egypt include; cumin, fennel, caraway, aloe, safflower, glue, pomegranates, castor and linseed oil. The Ebers Papyrus shines a light on what they were using to make medicine and shows that herbs played a big role in these remedies. This document mentions many herbs and plants including myrrh, frankincense, fennel, cassia, senna, thyme, henna, juniper, aloe, linseed and castor oil. Garlic was very important for flavour and medicine as we can see from it being found in the tomb of Tutankhamen and several temples.
The resin Frankincense was used as a painkiller and to treat throat and larynx infections, stop bleeding, reduce phlegm, help with asthma and stop vomiting.
Myrrh was also used to stop diarrhoea, relieve headaches, soothe gums, toothaches and backaches and in fact became so popular that Queen Hatshepsut planted trees in her temple gardens. These trees were used to create Egyptian myrrh oil, which was valued for its disinfecting and expectorant properties.
Herbs and Incense in rituals
Alongside herbal medicine there was healing through prayer and ritual, as diseases were linked to gods, demons and spirits. Healers were initially priests, then developing into dedicated doctors who were highly skilled, had an excellent knowledge of anatomy and tested and logged the effectiveness of remedies.
They worshipped gods with complex rituals such as offering food and clothes to statues of the gods every day in sanctuaries dedicated for their worship. An important part of these rituals was burning incense and there were many different types used and recorded. There’s evidence that frankincense was used during the reign of Ramesses III and according to Plutarch, the Ancient Egyptians burned frankincense in the morning, myrrh at midday and Kyphi (Kapet) in the evening. They were typically ground down and added to hot coals to create heady smoke to accompany their rituals to honour the Gods. The incense was predominantly imported from areas such as Yemen, India and Somalia and used to inspire prayer and meditation.
Today, as in ancient Egypt, myrrh and frankincense remain popular incense for religious purposes and in the home. Our customers love to burn myrrh for its uplifting and energizing qualities. Its smoke is also cleansing because of its anti-microbial properties and so it’s great to burn if you’re feeling unwell.
Frankincense is also a permanent fixture in world religions and ayurvedic medicine. Customers love its woody, spicy fragrance and use it for purification and to centre the mind, body and spirit. According to ScienceDaily, it has been shown that it activates the brain to lift the mood and alleviate anxiety and depression, so it’s great to burn if you’re feeling down.
Sirius Herbal sources the best quality herbs, incense and dyes, and ships it to your door wherever you are in the world. Please browse our shop or contact us for recommendations.