Rowan Remedies

bellis-perennis

Latin:Bellis perennis

Also Known As: Bruisewort, Bairnwort, Llygad y Dydd (Eye of the Day – Welsh), Flower Of Spring, Gowan, Open Eye, Day’s Eye, Banwood, Banewort, Ewe-Gowan, Little Star, Silver Pennies, Billy Button, Measure Of Love, Herb Margaret, Bainswort, Bruisewort, Child’s Flower, Field Daisy, Maudlinwort, Moon Daisy.

Family: Asteraceae

Habitat and Description: Daisies are commonly found growing in lawns and grassy verges in proliferation, and can flower extremely thickly from early spring through until autumn. The leaves lie in a flat basal rosette, with the flowers rising to a height of perhaps 3 inches from the leaves. This shape is extremely useful as it means that lawn mowers often pass straight over the top of them, much to the disgust of some gardeners who would prefer their lawns without the presence of flowers such as the daisy. The plant is also found in meadows and uncultivated pastures, as well as growing between flagstones. Most people could correctly identify a daisy.

Parts Used: Aerial parts – flowers and leaves. Roots.

Constituents: The plant contains bitters, mucilage, saponins, essential oil – around 20% polyacetylenes and tannins. The plant also contains flavones and resin – I would be interested to find out whether or not this is the same kind of resin as is found in Calendula, as this may explain the plant’s use to treat wounds and skin complaints. I’ll do some further research into this, for anyone interested. flavonoid

Planetary Influence: It is commonly agreed that the daisy is ruled primarily by Venus under the sign of Cancer and, to a lesser degree, by the Moon.

Associated Deities and Heroes: Daisies are sacred to Freya, Artemis and Thor, although some authors disagree on these last two – there seems to be some confusion between Bellis perennis and the American daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, as the latter is more often associated with the Gods of thunder such as Thor and Zeus. The daisy is used magically in spells for love and lust, so it may also be associated with Goddesses such as Aphrodite and Venus as well as with Freya. It is also associated with Alcestis, Apollo, Belenos, the dryad Belidis, Christ and the Virgin Mary in addition to Venus, Aphrodite and Freya.

Festival: The Equinoxes, perhaps especially the spring equinox and the pagan festival of Ostara.

Constitution: I have been unable to find much information on the constitution of the daisy, however given the physical uses of the plant, I would be inclined to think it cold and dry in the first degree. Many authors agree that the plant is feminine and ruled by the water element.

Spiritual and Energetic Uses: The general consensus between most authors seems to be that the Daisy is the flower of innocence, purity and steadfast love. The daisy is the flower of innocence due to its long standing association with children (remember making daisy chains as a child? I do!) as well as being a symbol of survival and resilience due to its ability to survive despite being regularly trodden underfoot. The flower remedy is used for clarity and concentration, to allow the user to bring together many threads of thought or research in order to obtain a successful conclusion. It is also used for people suffering problems associated with money, relationships or learning skills, without understanding where the problems arise from or why. Through these associations, I think that the daisy would be an excellent herb to give to those who have received large quantities of bad luck, in particular those who have lost their ability to smile at life as a result. I would also give it to patients who had lost touch with their inner child and were unable to enjoy life as a consequence. It could perhaps be compared to Chamomile in this use, as Chamomile is often used for those whose inner child has been spoiled and allowed to run unchecked and who have become petulant as a result.

Actions and Indications: Gerard states that ‘the daisy do mitigate all kinds of paines, but especially in the joints, and gout…the leaves stamped take away bruises and swellings proceeding of some stroke, if they be stamped and laid thereon; whereupon it was called in old time Bruisewort.’ Our old friend Culpeper agrees with the previous statement and also comments that it was used, in his time, to treat ulcers of the mouth and genitalia, as well as to treat inflammation associated with local wounds. He also states that ‘the juice or distilled water…doth much temper the heat of choler, and refresh the liver, and other inward parts.’

The main action of the plant is apparently astringent and tonic. It is used to treat a variety of complaints, ranging from circulatory to respiratory complaints, as well as the well known uses to treat inflammation. It is also an anti inflammatory, vasotonic alterative, antifungal and antibacterial, as well as being anti viral, and a cardiac tonic. The plant is also diuretic and diaphoretic as well as being antirheumatic, antispasmodic, anodyne and vulnerary. These uses all seem to agree with the well known uses provided by Gerard and Culpeper in their herbals. The root of the daisy is a vasotonic alterative and is excellent for cleansing the blood. This use bears out Gerard and Culpeper’s previous comments that the plant could be used to treat gout, although they seem to have been more inclined towards the use of the leaves as opposed to the roots. The plant can also be used as a circulatory tonic, improving blood supply to the peripheral circulation.

The humble daisy can also be used to treat respiratory ailments such as coughs and catarrh due to its expectorant properties, as well as being useful in the treatment of gastro-enteritis and bronchitis internally, and can be used to treat bruises, sprains, cuts and grazes, wounds, boils and skin disorders externally.

The flower can be used in an ointment around the eyes to treat inflammation and bruising.

Folklore: The simple daisy has a wide and long lasting body of folklore surrounding it. To begin with, there are several theories surrounding the Latin name of Bellis, as some authors believe it is derived from the latin word ‘bellus’ meaning ‘pretty, whereas others believe that it derives from the word ‘bello’, which is latin for ‘war’ – this association may be due to the plant’s long standing reputation as a wound herb, as well as the fact that it may well have been found growing on most battlefields. This association may perhaps partially explain the dichotomy between the assorted deities the plant is associated with.

There is also the possibility that the name derives from the myth of the water meadow nymph named Belidis, who, being pursued by the lustful orchard god Vertumnus, turned herself into a daisy in order to escape. The plant’s name has also been associated with the Celtic sun God, Belenos. The name ‘daisy’ derives from the Anglo Saxon name for the plant, ‘daeges eage’, which means ‘day’s eye’, meaning the plant’s tendency to only open during sunlit hours.

The old authors – most notably Gerard and Culpeper – believed that the root of the daisy could be used to stunt growth, and was often given to puppies to keep them small.

The folk name ‘Measure of Love’ comes from the old tradition of plucking petals from a daisy whilst saying ‘he loves me, he loves me not’, as a simple love divination charm.

Dried daisies which were picked between noon and one o’clock before drying bring success to any venture according to an old piece of German folklore.

An old Celtic belief surrounding the flower dictates that the spirits of still born children were reborn as daisies.

Dose: One tsp of dried herb to one cup of hot water can be infused and drunk up to four times a day. The recommended tincture dosage is 2-4mls of the tincture three times a day.

Contraindications: The herb should be used sparingly as the presence of saponins can prove irritant to the digestion.

Brought to you by Alex English at http://www.eldrumherbs.co.uk