Calendula officinale

Today I picked some to the calendula flowers that I have been growing in my allotment.

I spread them out on a clean cloth on the table to dry

and added them to the already drying flowers.

When they are dry I will add them to some sunflower seed oil, packing as many of the bright orange petals in as possible and leave them to infuse into the oil.

I will strain the oil through clean muslin when it has become bright orange and I may warm it and add a little beeswax to make a healing ointment.

Calendula has anti-bacterial properties and will speed up the healing of wounds.

It's very easy to grow calendula and each plant makes a multitude of seeds.

The Romans brought calendula seeds with them when they came to live in Britain. 

Plantain

 

Plantain, Plantago major leaves contain soothing mucilage, and tannins which speed up the blood clotting process as well as the wound-healing allantoin. The leaves also contain antibiotic compounds, so a tea made from the leaves will soothe an irritating cough. You can also make an ointment from the leaves by steeping them in hot (but not boiling) oil, straining through muslin, then mixing with beeswax .

Yarrow

Marigold

Vervain

Mallow

Horse tail