Those who were lucky enough to reach Panagouda, the cell of Saint Paisios on Mount Athos, would find three things:
– the devotion of the elder to the “spiritual herbs” for the salvation of the soul.
– his aversion to too much food and meat eating,
– and his absolute respect for nature.
Although his health condition often forced him to visit doctors, he nevertheless tried to avoid drugs and, without resorting to alternative therapies, to support his health by eating fruits and vegetables (“carrots are good, they cleanse the blood”) and by using herbs (“mint helps help prevent or reduce the symptoms of asthma”), as he often told those who visited him.
Whether one is sharing today Herbal medicine or not, it is certain that on Mount Athos for centuries the monks had found those herbs that helped them to overcome many diseases.
Dozens of monks have occasionally referred to herbal medicine and recorded many plants that, with proper treatment, can prove to be powerful weapons in the fight against a large number of diseases.
Herbal medicine as a method with an impact inside and outside Mount Athos was developed mainly in the 19th century with therapist monks coming to safe conclusions about the healing properties of certain herbs.
Contemporary monks, based on this very theory, have focused, in addition to prayer and fasting, in nutrition and the use of herbs, while there are many monasteries that make various healing ointments or produce herbs used in food or as beverages.
In fact, in recent years, dozens of books have been written with monastic recipes which are based on centuries-old recipes and have contributed greatly to the quality of life of the monks. Some even support their contribution to longevity…
Saint Paisios is one of those monks who had highlighted nutrition and fasting as important factors for the course of every monk.
