Beautiful Day! Amazing healing plants! Homeopathic spotlight ….

What a great weekend it’s been for getting some jobs done in the garden!! Clearing up the debris from the recent bad weather, has given me the opportunity, yet again, to marvel at Mother Nature’s fortitude and resilience. I have been privileged to be joined by bumble bees, ladybirds and I’ve had fleeting glances of some butterflies. I have been visited by a wonderful array of birds. A pair of Jackdaw’s building their nest in a neighbours chimney and were quite noisy during their construction work! In stark contrast a Robin serenaded me from the trees above where I was working. I believe he was frustrated that I was turning over lots of tasty bugs and he couldn’t get them while I was in the way! Even a (not so) shy Jay made an appearance at one point. I have a regular pair of visiting ducks who dropped in briefly on their way to the village pond  and a coot who decided that there was too much activity in the garden for his liking. Blackbirds, sparrows, dunnocks, tits of various types, doves, pigeons, magpies, seagulls and some starlings were amongst others who passed by. 

Not only do many of our plants offer so much in the way of nutrition for us and other species, they also possess astounding healing properties, many of which have, sadly, been forgotten or overlooked by mainstream allopathic medicine. Plants and trees have been used curatively by our forebears to great effect, both in their natural state or prepared into other forms,  maybe as essential oils, tinctures or creams and, of course, they have been prepared for use homeopathically.  It shouldn’t be forgotten that plants and trees also possess great spiritual healing powers, too.

The main focus of my commentary today is about the Homeopathic use of some of these plants. Whilst appreciating the wonderful abundance in my garden, (both planned and unplanned) I have been thinking about how some of the plants are used medicinally from a holistic homeopathic viewpoint. I don’t want to go into the actual process involved in making homeopathic remedies or explain in great detail how homeopathy works – that may be a topic for another day! I simply wish to highlight some of the healing properties of some of our more common garden plants that are contained in the Homeopathic Materia Medica.

I have some beautiful Hellebores plants in full flower. Hellebores (sometimes known as the Christmas or Lenten rose) are perennial garden plants that enjoy shady spots and flower in late winter and early spring.  

Homeopathic preparations of this plant are made from its root and have been used effectively for a range of conditions, primarily affecting the brain. These include coma, concussion, meningitis, night-blindness, epilepsy, depression and headaches. I would not suggest that this is a ‘First Aid’ homeopathic remedy for home prescribing but under the guidance of a professional homeopath, it can be very effective in alleviating symptoms in these often serious and debilitating conditions.

As I surveyed the grass that was once a lawn and contemplated getting the lawn mower out, I marvelled at the numerous daisies and wild violets that were intermingled amongst the grass and moss. The vibrant display of colour and their almost palpable energy made it impossible for me the cut them down in their prime. The lawn mower stayed in the barn!!

The common Daisy, better known to homeopaths as the remedy Bellis Perennis, is a widely known and well used remedy with many, many healing properties. It is often regarded as a deeper acting Arnica and complementary to Calendula. The old name for the daisy is ‘Ground-wort’ or ‘Bruise-wort’.  The daisy is a flower that is repeatedly trodden on but always comes up ‘smiling’!! Deep bruising is one of the most common reasons it is prescribed.

Bellis Perennis is very useful in helping with deep bruising to soft tissue, including damage caused from surgical interventions. The clinical uses include; aches perhaps from overworked muscles, sprains and strains, swellings, tumours and cysts, varicose veins, giddiness in elderly people, gout and boils.

The wild Violet, that is prolific at this time of year, also has some wonderful healing properties. It is part of the Viola family which, when homeopathically prepared, is used for a range of conditions including  ear problems, headaches especially those caused from tension, worms in children, carpal tunnel of the wrists and rheumatism.

There are so many plants that I could mention, but for today, I will conclude with a comment about the majestic yet dazzling spring flower, the Daffodil which is known homeopathically as Narcissus Poeticus. The word comes from the Greek ‘Narkao’ – ‘to be numb’ and this plant has amazing narcotic properties. This remedy is particularly useful for chronic coughs, especially of a nervous origin. It is useful for bronchitis, convulsive whooping cough, headaches. Be warned that it is not advisable to eat this plant, particularly the bulbs, as they can be poisonous in their raw state and can cause a nasty reactions.

It has been fun to pick out a few garden plants and share a brief insight with you about their homeopathic uses.  There are so many to explore and learn about but right now, it’s time to enjoy some more of the glorious sunshine. Adieu until next time.