Herbal remedies...wonderful world of plants

I love euphrasia- and as you say, so small that many just don't notice it.

Wormwood, or artemisia- is a very old cure all - as its name says, worms and all. Current research in several countries now shows that it can be very helpful with Chron's disease, and also maleria and ... covid 19. So your mum was right.

It is used to make many bitter drinks, like absinthe, Vermuth, and more.

I've long been a user of herbal and homoeopathic remedies which are my default go-to for most ailments Only if the natural remedies are ineffective do I consult a GP for allopathic treatment. To be clear: there are times when traditional, natural remedies cannot help and the intervention of modern medicine is essential. I'm a traditionalist, not a Luddite.

Referring to the OP, I regularly use euphrasia as a treatment for the recurring iritis I've suffered for close on 50 years. It's supplied in various forms by a reputable homeopathic pharmacy and just as effective in controlling the inflammation as the steroids prescribed by the hospital and an eye bath is much less distressing than sub-conjunctival injection.

Lemon balm leaves take the itch out of mosquito bites - I scrunch up a nice fresh one and rub it over the bite.

A lot of it started via nature signposting and obviously trial and error. The wise old women were called crones, which is a very respectful word in the true sense. The one that people went to in times of trouble

I also wonder how the original connections were made .
Lettuce is soporific I learned that from Beatrix Potter.
Docks for stings but stings are good for you! Bee keepers dont suffer from arthritis....
Spagnum moss was used to dress wounds on the battlefields. It is a natural disinfectant.
Comfrey, whose common name is knitbone, really does mend bones!
A herbalist friend told me how strict the Authorities were about the use of herbs like these as they are considered too powerful and are on lists of dangerous drugs.
There is a fascinating medieval hospital in the Scottish Borders where archeologists have found not only evidence of diseases but of the cures. Traces of hemlock, henbane and opium poppy seeds used for anaesthetics have been found at Soutra Aisle.
Cloves from Africa were found too.
Cloves are still evident in toothache tincture.

My mum used to say about rubbing a dock leaf when we got stung by nettles.
Echinacea is very good for colds and boost the immune system. I swear by it. I have drops and put it in fruit juice and swallow it quick. Not a very nice taste.
Valerian I take sometimes an hour or so before bed to help to get to sleep. Works most times but then, my brain doesn't switch off when I go to bed.
St Johns wort is very good for mild depression.
A WARNING though that some herbal remedies counteract with prescribed medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking.
I have a keen interest in herbal remedies.
Years ago when my eldest son had really bad acne in his teenage years, he had prescriptions from the doctor which didn't help at all and antibiotics. We had a health shop in town and I got him a pot of cream, can't remember what it was made of, something herbal and made by 'Potters' It was a miracle cure it really was.
There's Chinese herbalist that will mix up remedies tailor made.
I tried herbal cigarettes some years ago. They're horrible!

We went to a Physick Garden a couple of years ago; it was very interesting but I have a complete blank as to where it was!
It wasn't a large one, possibly a National Trust place somewhere.

We have a couple of books on the shelf about medicinal plants, I should get them out and have a browse.

When I moved into this house, I found a patch of self heal at the back of the garden. I've cut bits of it off and stuck it in the ground further into my herb garden and it's "taken" very well (possibly a little too well). Not only is it edible in salads but it can be used to stop bleeding and for healing wounds.

Callistemon - I would love to visit that garden if ever I get to the UK!

Perhaps I was a witch in a previous life. The subject fascinates me.

I have a large aloe vera plant and use the sap for bites, damaged skin etc.
My daughter was bitten badly whilst camping and was trying hard to not scratch. I split a leaf, cut off the spiky bits and she used it to rub the bites every time they itched.

chopped raw onion mixed with some honey will develop a runny liquid. strained and bottled and keeps for months in the fridge. Soothing for coughs.

Rosemary for remembrance.
I do use it in cooking, hoping it works.

I may try that rubysong, my hair certainly needs something at the moment.
I always used rosemary shampoo when I was young and in fact just ordered some from Holland and Barrett.

I currently have rosemary infusing in argan oil. This will be a hair treatment when it has had a couple of weeks in a sunny window sill.

Yes I also break a piece of aloe vera off and apply to small burns and horse fly bites. It is really soothing.

The subject fascinates me too. I suppose witches were just women who knew the properties of everyday plants and herbs. and used them for healing purposes. Many of our drugs derive from plants even now.

Jumblygran - agree about dock. Good for nettle stings - just wrap a dock leaf around it.

I'm afraid over generations we have lost this understanding

A lot of pharmaceuticals today are based on plants but I do agree that there may be more knowledge which has been lost or in fact is as yet undiscovered.

This link to the Chelsea Physic Garden might be of interest:

www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/the-garden-of-medicinal-plants

Marigold, saffron and turmeric are all good for the eyes. Made into drinks , not applied to the eye,. My optician recommends turmeric for its anti - inflammatory properties related to AMD

I use a herbalist for medicine. It is specifically formulated for me. I have been going to him for over 20 years. Does it work? I think so. I do know that garlic works wonders. I made up a cream using plain facecream with crushed garlic and used it on a sore. It cleared up beautifully. I also use Tea Tree oil on age spots. It takes a while but they do disappear eventually. My old mum in law used to swear by elderberry juice and she lived to be 94. I believe in the power of plants and suspect there are many yet to be discovered.

My mother used to tell us to rub the stalk juices from dock onto bites or stings. I do think it worked.

Well I do use a bit of aloe Vera cut off my plant to put on cuts or burns

My grandmother used to pick wormwood and steep it in boiling water and once cooled, my mother would insist on us drinking the vile stuff?. Not sure what it was meant to cure but I never once saw them drink it!