Over the years I have been trying to introduce as many homeopathic plants into my garden as possible. Homeopathic remedies are made from a wide variety of natural materials – plants being among the oldest and most well known source of remedies. Much of our understanding of the effect of plant remedies comes from the wisdom of ancient herbalists and healers. I do not use my homeopathic plants for anything other than the beauty they bring to my garden, but I never fail to marvel at the healing power hidden within these backyard beauties.

Here are a few of the many homeopathic flowering plants that readily grow in an Ontario garden.

 

Pulsatilla Nigricans

One of my favorite garden plants, this perennial flowers in early spring. It has beautiful grey-green leaves and stems covered with soft, downy hairs. The petals are deeply cut, bell-shaped, dark purple flowers that dangle. This plant is known as the small pasque flower, the meadow anemone, and the shame-faced maiden.

One of the most useful of all homeopathic remedies, this lovely plant is indicated for a wide range of pathology including allergies, colds and sinus conditions, ear and eye infections and menstrual disorders. People who need this remedy tend to be sweet-natured, gentle; the children, clingy. Their moods, like their symptoms, change readily. They are worse in stuffy rooms and better in fresh air. Their discharges tend to be copious and bland.

 

Aconite (Aconitum Napellus)

Aconite, familiarly known as Monk’s Hood, or Wolf’s Bane, has beautiful hooded violet flowers that appear in mid-summer. The plant is known for its poisonous alkaloids found in the highest degree of concentration in the roots. Historically the poisons from this plant were used as an arrow toxin.

This plant was first used as a homeopathic remedy in 1805 by the founder of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann. This remedy is especially useful for symptoms that come on suddenly after a fright or exposure to cold. Physical symptoms that develop as a result of shock, especially coughs, colds and fevers, respond well to this remedy. Aconite is a staple in any homeopathic first aid kit. It is useful for extreme fear and anxiety that comes on suddenly.

 

 

Bellis Perennis

This flowering plant is one of the most common garden flowers – the daisy.  There are many “daisies”, this one is known as the Common Lawn Daisy, or English Daisy. Its flowers open up only in the day, the petals close at night, showing their pink-tipped underside.  Traditionally, this plant is used as a cure for fresh wounds as well as various aches and pains.

Homepathically, this plant is used for illnesses  (especially chills and fevers) that come on after a plunge into extreme cold when overheated. It is also an important remedy for injuries to soft tissue – especially breasts.  Bellis Perennis is used after childbirth or surgery for internal wounds that continue to cause a sensation of bruised soreness.

 

Cimicifuga (also known as Actea Racemosa)

This is a hardy perennial that grows in the wild (as well as in my garden) throughout Canada and the northern US. It is a tall plant with deeply cut purple leaves and long, feathery white blossoms. Cimicifuga is known familiarly as Black Cohash, or Bugbane – due to its mildly medicinal smell that supposedly deters insects.

Herbally, a tincture made from the root of this plant has been used by First Nations tribes for a range of disorders including whooping cough, slow labors, diarrhea, and rheumatism.  It is said to be an antidote to the poison of the rattle snake, thus called Rattle Root as well.

Homeopathically, this is a wonderful remedy for women’s health issues. It is used in pregnancy and in labor for pains that fly around the body, and then stop. It is a wonderful remedy for menstrual cramps when the specific symptoms match correctly.

Echinacea (Purple Cone Flower)

My Echinacea is just starting to come into flower – resulting in a stunning perennial clump of purple-pink flowers with large, spiky chaffs in the center. Echinacea has been used for centuries by First Nations People to treat various ailments such as coughs, colds, toothaches, and snake bites. Recently, it has gained popularity as a herbal medication for boosting immune function and helping to prevent infectious disorders such as the common cold.

This ancient herbal medicinal plant is not as well known as a homeopathic remedy. Echincacea Angustifolia  is used in blood and immune disorders, as well as in septic conditions such as poisonous bites.  The patient needing this remedy tends to feel weak and tired in the muscles as well as sensitive to cold.

 

Ruta Graveolens

Also known as common rue, this is a strongly scented evergreen plant that thrives in poor soil and hot sun. It has bluish-green stems and yellow flowers. It as another ancient herbal medicine – used for coughs, colic, headaches, indigestion, and as an antidote to poisoning from mushrooms, wasps, poisonous spiders. Houses were sprinkled with water in which rue was soaked to rid them of fleas. Monks and painters would eat rue to relieve eye strain and weakness from overwork.

Homeopathically, we use this remedy primarily for strains and spains – often ones that are caused by repetitive stress and overuse.

 

These are only a few of the wonderful plants you can grow in your garden for beauty as well as reminders of the magic of homeopathy!

Happy gardening!!