Introduction: Did you know.

Those who know me know I have a love of history. From my fascination with 70's pop culture to the first cave drawings created by the earliest of men; Anything that acts as a window in time is of interest of me.

In all those windows I have opened, throughout time spanning back before writing and in all corners of the earth, we see a connection with man and plants. I have read of cultures who do not engage in war. I have seen those who will not eat meat. Some without writing and others without anything we would recognize as society. 

All humans - from those who first stood upright to those who stood on the moon have all been connected with plants. We eat them, we build with them, and we heal with them. No matter how hard we seem to try as a species to separate ourselves from nature none of us could live without our life giving symbiosis with plants.

I have taken a particular interest in seeing how they were used in healing and ritual over the years. Some you may know by name like Frankincense and can think of examples from history. Others are more obscure like silphium who's use was so popular they drove it to extinction. 

We can also find other uses for popular plants and oils. Take, for example, our old friend Myrrh. Today we may use it commonly for a cut or get rid of unwanted bacteria, Tiberius though used it as an aphrodisiac.

Who knows what forgotten uses we may find for our favorite plants as we look back. Like how quickly we have forgotten that the settlers brought dandelions over to the Americas as medicine and a food. 

The Did you know series will be my attempt to share interesting and useful information I have found while poking around in the past that I hope you find as interesting as I do.

Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for cool did you know facts and check back on the blog next weekend for the 1st installment of the series.

Be well!

Robert