Celebrating St. Hildegard of Bingen with Parsley Wine

Saint Hildegard was a 12th-century German Benedictine nun who was a visionary, poet, composer, naturalist, scientist, herbalist, theologian and one of the greatest figures of the 12th century. She wrote theological and botanical texts,  two books on medicine and herbal cures and was a true pioneer in the field of natural medicine and a healthy lifestyle. Her many works explored not only the spiritual dimension of humanity but also emphasized the importance of harmony between body and mind.
←​ Photo: Strona Zdrowia

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 ← Her life story was available in print in Poland by 1640 and her teachings are still widely read and promoted by organizations such as Polskie Centrum Św. Hildegardy Alfreda Walkowska, i.e., the Polish Center of Saint Hildegard Alfreda Walkowska and Polskie Towarzystwo Przyjacioł Św. Hildegardy, the Polish Society of Friends of Saint Hildegard.

 Saint Hildegard's found favor in Poland primarily through her wholistic approach to a healthy lifestyle. She regarded nutrition extremely important for human health. Her diet recommendations were based on the consumption of spelt, an ancient grain and a type of wheat (Triticum spelta), said to improve digestion, metabolism and lower cholesterol. She urged eating vegetables, fruit, and moderate amounts of meat. While this is common knowledge in today’s modern scientific era, one can’t help but be impressed that Hildegard was so ahead of her time during the 12th century!  Her healthy lifestyle also included natural healing methods through the use of herbs.

     Popular in Poland is Wino Pietruszkowe Św. Hildegardy,  St. Hildegard’s Parsley Wine, which was purported (and still is according to Polish websites) to be a natural remedy for heart problems, circulation and rheumatic ailments.

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←Flat leaf parsley from my garden

Fresh parsley was always readily available in Polish herb and kitchen gardens. Finely chopped  parsley was sprinkled on a batch of new potatoes. It was added to soups and vegetables and meats of all kinds and made into Hildegard's  medicinal wine.

To make St. Hildegard's health-giving parsley wine, you needed:

 10 stalks fresh parsley
 1 liter of red wine
 3-5 tablespoons of honey
 2 tablespoons of wine vinegar
Bring the wine, parsley, and wine vinegar to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Then add the honey and simmer for another 5 minutes. After cooling, pour the resulting
mixture into bottles. Drink 1 glass 3 times a day after meals.

Hildegard died on September 17, in the year 1179. 

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​←Photo:Catholicsaintmedals.com

Her theological and scientific writings, which included accounts of her mystical visions, her detailed works on medicine and natural science as well as leading a life of virtue led her to be added to the list of saints of the Roman Catholic Church.  She was also declared to be a Doctor of the Church. This made her the fourth female Doctor in the history of the Church, following St. Catherine of Siena, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and St. Teresa of Ávila.

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 Sources:https://blog.ogrodyhildegardy.pl/pl/wino-pietruszkowe-sw-hildegardy
                https://swiat-orkiszu.pl/blog/166_WINO-PIETRUSZKOWE-%C5%9AW--HILDEGARDY
                 Polish Herbs, Flowers and Folk Medicine. Hippocrene Books, Inc.  
   https://www.hippocrenebooks.com/store/p467/Polish_Herbs_Flowers_and_Folk_Medicine.htm