Silphium - Wikipedia Silphium (also known as laserwort or laser; Ancient Greek: σίλφιον, sílphion) is an unidentified plant that was used in classical antiquity as a seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac, and medicine [1][2]
Silphium, The Ancient Miracle Plant Rediscovered In Turkey Silphium was used by the Romans as a form of herbal birth control They used it so often, in fact, that the plant went extinct before the fall of the Roman Empire — or so we thought As of 2022, a scientist in Turkey claims to have rediscovered the ancient miracle plant
The mystery of the lost Roman herb - BBC Legend has it that silphium was first discovered after a “black” rain swept across the east coast of Libya over two and a half millennia ago From then onwards, the herb spread its broad roots
Silphium, The Ancient Contraceptive Herb Driven To Extinction Some of these contraceptives or abortifacients were herbal remedies that were consumed as a drink, like silphium or pennyroyal, made into a mixture and used as a pessary, like honey, oil, and lead
On the hunt for the mystery herb | Kew Nearly 2000 years ago, the city of Cyrene in Northern Africa (modern day Libya) had one plant to thank for its status as one of the richest cities in the land It was known as silphium, and had almost countless uses The stems were roasted, the roots eaten with vinegar
The Intriguing Disappearance of Silphium - When a species becomes . . . Silphium had disappeared by the time Linnaeus (1707–1778) developed the binomial system of nomenclature It was, however, later given the name Silphion Gr and thought to be a member of the Apiaceae (a k a Umbelliferae) plant family
Silphium: Health Benefits, Potent Medicinal Properties, Essential . . . Silphium is an extraordinary herb steeped in ancient lore and reemerging as a modern natural remedy Praised for its impressive health benefits, this botanical marvel offers a robust spectrum of active compounds that bolster immunity, reduce inflammation, and support digestive well‐being
The Mysterious Silphium Plant | The Reading Room Silphium, or silphion, as it is sometimes called, seems similar to today’s celery plant It was generally believed to be a gift from the god Apollo and was valued in ancient times as a food source, a seasoning, and a medicine that could cure all sorts of ills
Ancient Greek Miracle Plant Rediscovered The plant, which the Ancient Greeks called silphion (silphium), was a golden-flowered plant It was once the most sought-after product in the Mediterranean even before the rise of Athens and the Roman Empire