Angelica was said to have been blessed by Michael the archangel, and later used in many ancient pagan and later Christian festivals.

Anise - Put a sprig under your pillow for sweet dreams. In Roman times it was used to flavour the cake served at the end of the wedding feast.

Basil - In Tudor England basil stood for affection and respect and was given to departing guests. In India, it meant sacredness. In Italy it stood for love, and Hindus still plant it to protect both the living and the dead. In Italy and England, they say the seeds need to be sown accompanied by curses and profanity. The French called it herbe royale, and in Greek it is the word for 'king'.

Bay leaf - In ancient Greece, bay leaves were woven into crowns (laurel wreaths) for victors' the term baccalaureate degree comes from this. Tiberias and Augustus Caesar believed that lightning would not strike you if you wore it; hang a branch on a doorway and it will drive away death and evil spirits in time of sickness; burn the leaves and lovers will return; it will give you the gift of prophecy. Bay leaves are supposed to repel weevils.

Caraway seeds were once used in love potions to prevent 'straying'.

Cardamom is thought to have been discovered by the Vikings while on a voyage to India.

Chartreuse is an alcoholic drink produced by monks since l605 and contains no less than 130 herbs.

Chervil is said to prod the memory and restore youth. Pliny believed that it would cure hiccoughs.

Cinnamon quills were once considered fit gifts for kings. The Arabs made up stories about cinnamon, imbuing it with mysterious powers, to frighten off other traders. It was used in the Middle Ages as a love potion and also in Roman baths.

Cumin is meant to signify faithfulness between spouses, but in Ancient Rome it meant greed. Pliny said that if taken with bread it would stop nausea as well as inducing a 'pale complexion and studious look'. He also called it the best appetiser. The Egyptians used it as a spice to mummify the dead. In Rome it symbolised greed and was said to be eaten by misers.

Cloves are named from the French word clou or nail because of their shape. Royal courtiers sucked them to sweeten their breath. At one time, oil of cloves was used for toothache, and it is still often used in toothpastes as a perfume.

Coriander gets its name from coris an ill-smelling bug that reminded people of the unusually scented leaves, and is thought to have grown in the hanging gardens of Babylon.

Cress is also said to help the memory.

Dandelion whose name comes from dent de lion (lion's tooth) is also called pissenlit in French from the Tudor name 'piss in bed' because of its diuretic effect.

Dill - Carry a bag of dill over your heart to avert the evil eye. In early USA it was called 'meeting house seed' as it was eaten to stave off hunger during long sermons. Nordic mothers used it to treat colic in small babies and its name comes from dilla meaning to lull, because

Fennel is said to thin the overweight. It was a symbol of success in ancient Greece, and called it marathon in memory of the race. Ancients believed it would guard against unseen evil and Longfellow implied that it could help restore lost vision.

Horseradish was one of the five bitter herbs eaten at the Jewish Passover.

Lemon balm was grown by ancient Greeks to improve the taste of the honey - they even rubbed the beehives with it to prevent the bees swarming. Balm is a contraction of balsam meaning sweet aroma, and its Latin name is melissa which also means sweet. One book states that 'lemon balm wards off old age' - surely that means 'early death'!

Lovage is called the 'magi herb' because traditionally it was sought by the Wise men on the way to Bethlehem.

Marjoram , said to be feared by pigs, means 'joy of the mountains' because of its beauty when in flower. Long ago it was strewn before brides to guarantee happiness. Dedicated by the Egyptians to the sun-god Osiris, it was also used in Greek and Roman temples.

Mint will cure a hiccough, improve your voice for public speaking, or prevent milk from curdling. Or you can rub it on tables as a gesture of hospitality and welcome. Peppermint is a mild stimulant.

Mustard - The Bible calls it the greatest of herbs' and when Darius of Persia in 334BC sent a bag of sesame seeds to Alexander the Great in an attempt to show the size of his army, Alexander sent back a bag of mustard seeds to express the strength of his!

Nutmeg was used to fumigate the streets of Rome before the coronation of Emperor Henry VI in the l2th century. They say if an unmarried girl carries one she will marry a bad tempered old man. Nutmeg can cause hallucinations if eaten in large quantities.

Parsley has been connected with lust and lovemaking. Wearing a wreath of it is said to prevent drunkenness. Legend has it that parsley grew from the blood of Archemorous who was the forerunner of death, and so it was used as a garland and funeral herb. It has also been found useful in keeping fevers down.

Rosemary - Shakespeare dubbed it for remembrance, but where 'rosemary flourisheth, the woman ruleth'. It is also meant to signify fidelity which is why in l8th century England it was baked into wedding cakes. One story says that it only grows to the height that Christ was when he died, and then branches outward. It is called the 'student's herb', and Greek scholars wore garlands of it into examinations

Sage - A European proverb states 'Who has sage in his garden, shall live for aye'.

Savoury was thought to be an aphrodisiac. Some people used the crushed leaves to treat bee-stings.

Tarragon has a reputation for curing reptile bites.

Thyme indicates activity and was also used by the Greeks to fumigate buildings. The Egyptians used it to really keep smells away and used it for embalming.

Turmeric - A root of turmeric tied around a newborn's neck will ensure a charmed life for the child.