A Pestle and Mortar

About the Item

Physicians (doctors), apothecaries and wise women all relied on herbs, flowers and minerals for their remedies.

When creating their herbal tonics and natural ointments they would use a pestle and mortar like this one to crush the ingredients into a paste.

In George Wateson’s 'A Rich Storehouse or Treasurie for the Diseased' for example, he recommends grinding together a selection of sweet smelling herbs (including lavender, chamomile and fennel) to relieve migraines and headaches.

Try This!

Click here to make a pomander to ward off bad smells and sickness.

Information

CC-BY-NC-ND Image Courtesy of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust