Gardening Facts - Chamomile & Lavender

I am delighted to report that the wild flowers are appearing in the rough meadow area of my garden – my favourite part. The insects can be seen hovering above as the children race their bikes along the winding path. The positive effect is an increase in garden birds feeding on the insects – the downside is my neighbours cats pouncing and massacring at least two birds.

On a more positive note my poem for the week:

But Flowers distilled

Though they with winter meet

Lose but their show

Their substance still lives sweet

- Shakespeare

Last week I introduced the onion as a humble garden plant with medicinal properties. This week, two more garden favourites, lavender and chamomile.

Chamomile has been used for over 2000 years for treating nervous complaints. Its name derives from the Greek ‘Kamai’, meaning ground apple because of its fresh fruity scent. It was called ‘Maythen’ by the Saxons and was revered as one of their nine sacred herbs. It was later adopted by the Christians and dedicated to Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary. In the language of flowers chamomile stands for “Patience in adversity”. It is often known as the “Plants Physician” because it seems to improve the health of the plants within its immediate vicinity.

Lavender derives from the Roman ‘Lavare’ which means “to cleanse”. In Pagan times it was burnt as sacred protection against harmful spirits. Lavender was popular in the monastic medicinal gardens of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Gerard in his sixteenth century publication ‘Herbal Garden’ said that flowers helped to cure “lovesickness” and all pains as well as “maladies of the head”.

The Victorians lined their hats with it to ward of headaches. In the First World War it was used as an antiseptic for wounds and as a drug to ease psychological pain and and induce sleep. Lavender has also been part of the household cleaning routines particularly in the laundry area.

If you would like to know about any humble garden plants in your garden and their medicinal history email me at julie@potions.co.uk.

In the meantime here are this weeks tips:-

1. For ingrained dirt in the hands and cuticles prepare two saucers the first containing 1 teaspoonful of water, 6 drops of tea tree and 4 drops of lemon. The second containing 1 dessertspoon of table salt (fine). Dip toothbrush in liquid then into salt and gently scrub (if skin very sensitive reduce or avoid lemon). Moisturise well afterwards with gardeners hand cream.


2. For dry hands add generous layer of hand cream then place hands in the poly gloves (free at garages near the diesel pump) or sandwich bags. Wrap carefully in a towel and rest on a hot water bottle or an aromatherapy wheat bag for half an hour. Remove bag then rub in any excess. Do this once a week and in-between moisturise hands twice daily with hand cream.


3. To prevent mosquito bites drop neat citronella and geranium onto a hairbrush and brush through hair. You can also use the Insect Repellent Balm with aloe vera and citronella.


4. To repel insects add gardening clothes to the dryer onto a hankey on which geranium and citronella has been dropped so clothes are impregnated.


5. To draw a thorn mix up a paste with a tablespoonful of oatmeal (rich in vitamin E and kind to the skin), water as hot as you can bear it and tea tree. Apply to the affected area and when the paste has cooled wash off and gently tweeze out the thorn.