Urban Physic Garden

While the garden’s been open we’ve been collecting your personal recipes and remedies. Here’s a selection of herbal tips and treats that you’ve shared. Thank you!

“1tsp turmeric and 2tsp honey mixed together and eaten is the best natural antibiotic for sore throats and colds. Don’t drink or eat anything for an hour after eating it” – Caroline

“Paw paw / papaya ointment is great for burns, chapped lips, bites etc” – Sofie

“For toothache – heat honey with cloves for 15 mins in saucepan over a low heat. Place a clove over the tooth and keep there until the flavour gone. Repeat with the other cloves until pain is soothed” – Cheryl

“One can’t underestimate the reviving qualities of slices of cucumber on the eyes” – Emily

“Mint, ginger, ice and lemon” – Jill

“Chewing sage leaves works wonders for a sore throat” – Frances

“This works like an antibiotic and needs to be drunk in five consecutive days: steep dry thyme in hot water, add 1 tea spoon of black pepper and honey to taste. Drink as hot as possible, wrap up tight and go to bed. Thyme is good for respiratory infections and the pepper heats up your system to encourage sweating. I got rid of a terribly nasty bronchitis this way!” – Emel

“A few drops of geranium oil in a tub of coconut oil is a great, simple and inexpensive moisturiser and mood lifter” – Bani

“Nettle tea for cleansing” – Sally

“I have found slippery elm powder taken twice a day in water really helped sooth my painful IBS. It would shorten an attack, which was extremely painful to a few days instead of a week” – Sue

“Elderflower and oats skin cream” – Rasheeqa

“Peppermint tea for digestion” – Jen

“Chamomile tea with dried bay leaf helps against indigestion, stomach ache and cramps” – Alice

“A snail or slug placed on a burn on the skin can cool it down and the slimy helps help the wound” – Gillian

“Fresh lemon, fresh ginger, honey and hot water for a cold” – Tracey-Lee

“To get rid of the start of a sore throat – heat up Coke with lemon slices and serve HOT! It’s also a popular drink in Hong Kong cafes” – Gloria

“As a little girl, my daughter was prone to painful ear infections. A chopped up onion stuffed into a thin sock, slightly warmed up in the steam over the kettle (careful it does not get too hot) always worked wonders, especially at night” – Stephanie

“For colds the best thing is to sweat so mix a tablespoon of raw honey, 2 tablespoons of grated fresh ginger, the juice of three limes, 1 teaspoon of cardamom with hot water and drink. For mental exhaustion eat equal amounts of banana and avocado pulp first thing in the morning” – Nico

“Lavender oil for burns including sun” – Jo

“Aloe vera for sunburn and all skin allergies!” – Michelle

“1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and 8 oz of water to relieve allergies, boosts energy levels, restores inherent alkalinity of the body, clears nasal and throat congestion and increases metabolic rate for weight loss” – Joshua

“Cloves for toothache, before you get to the dentist – just bite down on a clove it numbs the pain” – Nav

“Chickweed Ointment
Bunch of chickweed
Grape seed oil
Beeswax
Essential oils
Shallow glass jar or tin with lid
Equipment
Double saucepan or glass bowl in saucepan of boiling water.
Cut a handfull of chickweed, cut into approx 2 inch lengths and put into an oven proof bowl. cover with vegetable oil (grape seed is best) and place in a warm oven. If you set it at 150 degrees, you can cook a batch of shortbread at the same time. After about an hour, remove and strain, keeping the liquid.
Method
In a double saucepan or a bowl standing in boiling water, melt some beeswax, about the size of a walnut. Add the liquid from the chickweed and allow to set. The consistency should be a soft cream. If too hard, heat again and add more oil. Too soft, heat again and add more beeswax.
When the consistency is right, re-heat to melting point and add a few drops of your choice of essential oil. Lavender is good. Stir and pour into a jar or tin.
Notes
Good for dry, irritated skin. Keep a jar by the kitchen sink to use after washing up. As this ointment contains no preservatives, make a small quantity.” – Jenny

“Fresh ginger tisane for throat infections” – Thadian

“I’m really into vintage home remedies and using herbs to create beauty / personal care products. I write a blog about it too – www.vintagesavoirfaire.com” – Amanda

These remedies have been generously donated by the public and may be anecdotal only, and as such the Urban Physic Garden cannot take responsibility for their efficacy or safety. We recommend that people see a professional medical herbalist or doctor for specialist advice. To find a registered medical herbalist, see www.nimh.org.uk or www.phytotherapists.org