Brenda 
There is nothing better in my mind than going for a walk along the sea in the morning. Even better is to do this while collecting herbs. The sea sparkled before me, and the sun warmed my head while herbs beckoned me closer. It is like going to the market, with all the bounty laid out before me, and all I have to do is choose what medicine I need for today.
The island of Amorgos is a veritable old-world pharmacopeia of herbal delights. On my first walk upon arriving here, I found Wormwood, Greek Horehound, Sage, Nettles, Aloe Vera, and lemons. I think there were probably more, but my eyes were overwhelmed with nature’s bounty. I am already being taught what the unfamiliar herbs are by Greek women who have lived on this island for generations. They gather plants daily, boil them, and serve them with olive oil and lemon. They also drink the water the plants were boiled in. This is called xorta (horta). It is nutritious and delicious.
I am able to show them some of my knowledge of herbalism, so it’s a lovely exchange. One of the ladies is low in iron, so I made her some nettle tea with lemon and honey. She loved it. The other is struggling with a cough, so I’m making my delicious cough remedy with some Greek horehouse, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, orange and lemon peels, and juice. I make this into a strong decoction and then add an equal amount of honey to make a yummy syrup.
Amorgos is a gift to a person with a passion for herbalism. I don’t have to walk far to find all the medicine and nutrition I could want for myself and my family. On top of that is the medicine for my soul. The gorgeous views of the mountains, the sea, and the white houses set into the mountainside and nestled around the bay. That is a soothing kind of medicine for a soul that the modern world and stress have buffeted.
Gratitude isn’t hard to find here. We are busy preparing for tourist season, but all the while, we are surrounded by beauty and peace. It helps to bring balance to the heart. I am finishing up my Practical Herbalism, and I can’t imagine a better place to practice all of my knowledge and prepare for my final thesis project. I will choose one of
the herbs of the island, probably Ballota acetabulosa, Greek Horehound, as it has quickly become my go-to for coughs and lung congestion. When I first arrived in Greece, I caught a nasty bug and couldn’t stop coughing. I couldn’t find my typical herb, mullein, so I went looking for a local equivalent. That’s when I was introduced to Horehound. I made a lovely syrup and, within a couple of days, was on the mend.
Horehound Cough Syrup
Large bunch of fresh Greek Horehound (Ballota acetabulosa) or White Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
2 cinnamon sticks
6 cloves
1 tablespoon fresh orange peel
Juice of one orange
1 tablespoon fresh lemon peel
Juice of one lemon
You can add 2 tablespoons of marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis)
for a thicker syrup and to help with a sore throat
Approx 500 ml of water
Decoct for 20 minutes or until water has been reduced by at least a third. Once strained, measure the liquid and add the same amount of honey. Mix well and store in the fridge for up to three months.
Dose: Take 30-60 ml dose as needed up to 4 times per day.
