The Medicine Gardens in Tranekær welcomes visitors to an exciting and educational encounter with medicinal plants.
The Medicine Gardens is a botanical garden for medicinal plants. 25-30 pct. of modern medicine has its origin in plants and Langeland’s fertile soil and mild climate was the starting point for developing the knowledge and history of medicinal plants in The Medicine Gardens. The Medicine Gardens has become a popular green tourist attraction on Langeland. The history of medicine is an exciting story that stretches from the magic of prehistoric times to the science of today.
The line between the area of medicine and food has become blurred. Modern research has revealed that some vegetables contain large amounts of bioactive agents with medicinal characters. For example, broccoli reduces the risk of certain types of cancer.
The gardens are maintained by 50 volunteers, who meet and work every Tuesday. All administrative work is also performed by volunteers. When completed, The Medicine Gardens will consist of six separate gardens, each with their own theme and sub-theme. Each garden consists of an area of 800 square meters. Between the gardens there are trees representing more than 100 species, each having medicinal value. The individual gardens are for:
Respiratory and cardiovascular systems. This garden features plants that are, or have been, used in the treatment of asthma, tuberculosis, heart disease and circulatory ailments. Examples of such plants are angelicas, digitalis, willows and pines. The sub-theme of this garden is fragrance plants.
Urinary and reproductive systems. Some of the plants here contain agents that are used in modern cancer treatments. The sub-theme is love plants, meaning plants that either reduce og increase sexual desire. Here you will find the Bishop’s Hat, also known as Horny Goat Weed, that has demonstrated a Viagra-like effect in animal experiments.
Digestion, metabolism and nutrition. Langeland has a tradition for fruit farming and this garden has a number of old apple varieties from the region. We also grow old varieties of carrots, kale, beet roots, white cabbage and celery. Scientific research has proved them efficient in treating patients with type 2 diabetes. In this garden you will also find herbs that are used to flavour “snaps” (schnapps), the Danish aquavit, which for many years was thought to have medicinal characters.
Nervous system and musculoskeletal system. This garden contains an area for meditation. The plants in this garden contain agents that combat, among other ailments, nervousness and depression as well as immobility. The garden has a little pond and stream with medicinal aquatic plants.
Infections and Hildegard’s Garden. The sub-theme in this garden is Hildegard of Bingen. Hildegard of Bingen lived from 1098 to 1179 and was a German Benedictine abbess, doctor, physician writer, composer and philosopher. She is considered to be the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.  A small wooden fountain shaped like a pinecone and created by a local artist is placed in the centre of this garden.
The five senses. We will start working on this garden in 2021. The sub-theme is edible plants.
How to find us: Medicinhaverne i Tranekær, Botofte Strandvej 2 A, 5953 Tranekær.