One of the last aerial oils we are making of the season before moving into root oils is Spilanthes (Acmella oleracea). The oil we make is a wonderful anti-fungal that can be used in external lotions, ointments, or oil mixes for fungal skin infections or fungal nail infections of the hands and feet.
This very alluring native plant is recognisable by most each summer as it makes itself known along roadsides in the ditches, by streams and in wetlands across Ireland. It’s our native Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Here at Ivywood it’s found in abundance especially growing around our little lake.
Two of my favourite oils to make every summer are St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) and Marigold (Calendula officinalis) oils because of the intense red and orange colours. Working with the plants is always a feast for the senses from the aromas of the leaves and flowers to the feel of the roots and of course all the colours.
Althea officinalis (Marshmallow) is an easily grown medicinal plant that offers a wide variety of uses for any households herbal medicine chest.
We always have lots of Althea’s growing around the garden and land of different ages to ensure a good supply of seed, leaf and root.
This is a plant I love to see in flower in the garden with its delicate slim stems that reach up from a base of feathery green foliage and end in a cluster of tiny yellow flowers which each blossom for only three days! There are times I am very attracted to this plants energy and couldn’t be without this plant teacher.
