Herb: Little Dragon
I discovered something about an herb as I was concluding my research for my lecture on Saturday. I hope you find this as interesting as I did.
Once an impoverished village in the south of France suffered the depredations of a dragon who'd taken up residence in a nearby lake. The dragon was called the Tarasque and he liked to feast on the tender flesh of maidens. In desperation a delegation of villagers went to the King and his court to ask for aid in destroying the dragon. Because they had no riches, no one would help... until then St. Martha happened by. They told her of their plight and she agreed to help if every villager would pray for her for three days.
She approached the lake singing hymns of praise. The Tarasque came forth from the waters entranced by her song. She sprinkled him with holy water, and he became even more docile. St. Martha gently placed her girdle around the dragon's neck and he suffered her to lead him to the village. When she arrived at the village, they killed the dragon and then burned it. The ashes were thrown into the lake. In memory of the event the village changed it's name to Tarascon.
St. Martha is the patroness of homemakers, cooks, innkeepers, domestic servants, and those whose work centers around hospitality. She is most often shown in art working in the kitchen (usually with her sister and Jesus in the foreground), at the tomb of Lazarus, crossing the sea on her way to France, or with a dragon at her feet or on a leash.
Her symbols are the aspersory and/or aspergillum used to infuse the holy water she sprinkled on the dragon, the dragon itself, a broom, and a girdle. Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus sativa), or "estragon" in French, grows in the region where St. Martha lived in France. The Latin botanical name for this herb means "little dragon."
Tarragon is the most powerful of the four herbs that make up "fines herbes" -- the Classic French mixture of equal parts of fresh chervil, chives, parsley and tarragon, chopped finely and added to dishes at the last minute. Fines herbes go well with eggs, salads, vegetables, chicken, and fish. Perhaps an omelette aux fine herbes, or a chicken tarragon dish would be a nice reminder of dear St. Martha. Her feast day is July 29th.
Chewing on tarragon leaves is a very ancient cure for toothache, and tarragon tea is said to help with sleep, menstrual cramps, and digestion.
Tarragon Tea
1 tsp. dried tarragon
1 tsp. dried peppermint
1 cup hot water
Steep tarragon and mint in water and cover for five minutes. Discard herbs and sip warm or slightly chilled, as needed.