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Apothecary Now!

April 2024

Plants have provided medicinal use through the centuries, with the dispensing of naturally derived formulations being adopted as a profession by apothecaries as early as 2400 BC. Natural medicine declined in popularity during the Renaissance period but has recently enjoyed renewed interest due to an increasing desire for naturally focused health and wellbeing. Hippocrates said “Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”.

The Apothecary Now! border seeks to showcase plants with proven medicinal properties and demonstrate their accessibility to all. Some are familiar plants such as common sage (Salvia officinalis) which can help ease upset stomachs, can be used in a tea with honey to soothe sore throats and is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Sage can also aid memory function. Other recognisable plants include purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) which can be used to treat the common cold and skin problems including the treatment of acne. The roots and flowers can also be used to make an Echinacea tincture that can boost immunity and speed up recovery from cold and flu symptoms. Lavender can also be commonly found in domestic gardens. It has stress and anxiety relieving properties, aids relaxation and alleviates sleep disturbance.

The border also highlights other less well-known medicinal plants, that can be easily included in domestic gardens, such as the Shield Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas). The root stalks of the Shield Fern are anodyne, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, astringent, febrifuge, vermifuge and vulnerary. The root contains an oleoresin that paralyses tapeworms and other internal parasites and has been used as a worm expellant. It is not advised that untrained people prepare and administer the root internally, however externally, the root can be used as a poultice in the treatment of abscesses, boils, carbuncles and sores. Another less well-known species is the Ginger Lily (Hedychium), which can be used for treating nausea, halitosis, vomiting, diminished appetite, bronchitis, pain relief, hiccups and local inflammation. Like lavender its essential oil can also have a very calming and soothing effect.

The focal point of the Apothecary Now! border is a woven willow structure representing a Caduceus (the staff with winding serpents symbolising medicine) offering height within the design. Willow, in particular, Salix alba is an important medicinal plant as historically it has been used as a natural analgesic and is related to the synthetic development of aspirin. Another point of interest is a butcher block with some plant materials that have been prepared as infusions and powders to contextualise the design further in relation to the concept and message.

This is Apothecary Now!

Rhubarb

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Rheum x hybridum - Rhubarb
A good source of vitamin K, which is essential for wound healing and bone growth. Rhubarb is rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins (which give it its red colour) and proanthocyanidins. These antioxidants have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties.

Willow

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Salix - Willow
Willow bark has been chewed as a natural painkiller for centuries. The bark contains salicin, which is broken down by the body in to acetylsalicylic acid, the active ingredient in asprin.

Santolina chamaecyparissus - Lavender cotton

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Santolina chamaecyparissus - Lavender cotton
Santolina has been used medicinally for centuries. The plant was traditionally used to treat stomach aches and colic in infants. It was also believed to have antispasmodic and sedative properties. Today, Santolina is still used in traditional herbal medicine.

Salvia officinalis - Common Sage

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Salvia officinalis - Common Sage
S. officinalis has been used for the treatment of different kinds of disorders including seizure, ulcers, gout, rheumatism, inflammation, dizziness, tremor, paralysis, diarrhea, and hyperglycaemia. Sage has been shown to have antimicrobial effects that aid in killing plaque. Sage has been used as a traditional medicine to reduce menopause symptoms.

Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower

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Echinacea purpurea - Purple Coneflower
Echinacea is used across the world to relieve the symptoms of the common cold. One study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science in 2010 found that the echinacea purpurea cream and gel were effective in improving skin hydration and reducing wrinkles.

Hedychium coronarium - Ginger Lily

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Hedychium coronarium - Ginger Lily
It is used in treating nausea, halitosis, vomiting, diminished appetite, hiccups and local inflammation. The rhizomes are powdered and used as an antiseptic agent for various aches and pains. Ginger lily is also helpful in treating liver complaints, indigestion and poor circulation due to thickening of the blood. The rootstalk is used in treating bronchitis and alleviating pain.

Lavandula angustifolia

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Lavandula angustifolia
Lavender contains an oil that seems to have calming effects and might relax certain muscles. It also seems to have antibacterial and antifungal effects. Some studies suggest that consuming lavender as a tea can help digestive issues such as vomiting, nausea, intestinal gas, upset stomach, and abdominal swelling.

Cortaderia selloana - Pampas grass

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Cortaderia selloana - Pampas grass
Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) is primarily ornamental but has also been used in traditional medicine for its potential anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies suggest its extracts may possess wound-healing and antimicrobial effects, though more research is needed to confirm its medical benefits. Additionally, caution is advised as the grass can cause allergic reactions in some individuals.

Laurus nobilis - Bay tree

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Laurus nobilis - Bay tree
The bay tree has a long history of folk use in the treatment of many ailments, particularly as an aid to digestion and in the treatment of bronchitis and influenza. Bay leaves are used mainly to treat upper respiratory tract disorders and to ease arthritic aches and pains. The leaves are antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emetic in large doses, emmenagogue, narcotic, parasiticide, stimulant and stomachic.

Trachelospermum jasmanoides - Star Jasmine

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Trachelospermum jasmanoides - Star Jasmine
The leaf is restorative and tonic and the flowering stems are anodyne, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-rheumatic, antispasmodic, depurative, emmenagogue, febrifuge, resolvent, tonic and vasodilator. Jasmine is used on the skin to reduce the amount of breast milk, for skin diseases, and to speed up wound healing. Jasmine is inhaled to improve mood, reduce stress, and reduce food cravings.

Rosmarinus officinalis L

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Rosmarinus officinalis L
Rosemary is a rich source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which are thought to help boost the immune system and improve blood circulation. According to research outlined in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, the aroma from rosemary can improve a person’s concentration, performance, speed, and accuracy and, to a lesser extent, their mood.

Mentha spicata Mint

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Mentha spicata Mint
Peppermint oil contains a compound called menthol, which is thought to help alleviate IBS symptoms through its relaxing effects on the muscles of the digestive tract. Mint may also be effective at relieving other digestive problems such as upset stomach and indigestion. One study including 144 young adults demonstrated that smelling the aroma of peppermint oil for five minutes prior to testing produced significant improvements in memory.

Pulsatilla vulgaris - Pasque flower

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Pulsatilla vulgaris - Pasque flower
Based on traditional use, pulsatilla is used for a range of complaints from period pain to conjunctivitis. Pulsatilla is also used for tension headache, hyperactivity, trouble sleeping, boils, asthma and other lung diseases, earache, migraines, nerve pain, general restlessness, disorders of the gastrointestinal , and disorders of the urinary tract.

Matricaria chamomilla - Chamomile

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Matricaria chamomilla - Chamomile
Some early research suggests that chamomile may be about 60% as effective as certain doses of hydrocortisone cream for eczema. Chamomile is also used as a mild sedative to improve sleep. Tea is the most common way to use the herb. Many people drink a cup after a meal to aid digestion and soothe stomach troubles. When applied to your skin, chamomile is thought to ease swelling and help stop germs from growing.

Allium ursinum - Wild Garlic

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Allium ursinum - Wild Garlic
Extracts of wild garlic leaf have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory properties, to lower blood pressure, decrease insulin sensitivity, lower cholesterol, inhibit platelet aggregation and increase membrane fluidity, all of which are beneficial in cardiovascular disease. Extracts from leaves, stems and flowers have also been founds to inhibit the proliferation of human cancer cell lines.

Nandina domestica - Sacred Bamboo

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Nandina domestica - Sacred Bamboo
A decoction is used in the treatment of fever in influenza, acute bronchitis, whooping cough, indigestion, acute gastro-enteritis, tooth abscess, pain in the bones and muscles and traumatic injuries. The root is antirheumatic. Nandina leaf extract has been shown to inhibited the growth of bacteria in lab conditions. Nandina leaf extract alleviates allergies and asthma in animals.

Papaver - Oriental poppy ‘Brilliant’

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Papaver - Oriental poppy ‘Brilliant’
While primarily grown for its striking crimson flowers, it also contains alkaloids such as morphine and codeine, which possess analgesic properties. However, its medicinal use is highly regulated due to its potential for addiction and abuse.

Calluna vulgaris - Common Heather

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Calluna vulgaris - Common Heather
Traditionally used to treat urinary tract infection and inflammatory disorders. C. vulgaris has been used in ethnopharmacology as an antiseptic, antibacterial, cholagogue, diuretic, expectorant, antirheumatic and anti-inflammatory agent. The plant is often macerated and made into a liniment for treating rheumatism and arthritis, whilst a hot poultice is a traditional remedy for chilblains. An infusion of the flowering shoots is used in the treatment of coughs, colds, bladder and kidney disorders, cystitis etc.


Dryopteris filix-mas Male fern

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Dryopteris filix-mas Male fern
Used in the treatment of inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers and wounds. Effective treatment for tapeworm. The root stalks are antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and astringent.

Corylus avellana ‘Scooter’ Corkscrew hazel

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Corylus avellana ‘Scooter’ Corkscrew hazel
Leaves stimulate circulation and bile production, and are used for liver disorders. The oil extracted from seeds has emollient properties.

Achillea millefolium Common yarrow

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Achillea millefolium Common yarrow
It is used in treating nausea, halitosis, vomiting, diminished appetite, hiccups and local inflammation. The rhizomes are powdered and used as an antiseptic agent for various aches and pains. Ginger lily is also helpful in treating liver complaints, indigestion and poor circulation due to thickening of the blood. The rootstalk is used in treating bronchitis and alleviating pain.

Helichrysum italicum ‘Korma’ - Curry plant ‘Korma’

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Helichrysum italicum ‘Korma’ - Curry plant ‘Korma’
In Mediterranean traditional medicine different parts of the plant have been used to treat inflammation of the skin, muscles and joints, acne, colds and allergies. Essential oils from the plant have also been used in wound healing and skin conditions such as sunburn. Current studies are underway to identify uses of Helichrysum italicum in the pharmaceutical industry.

Primula veris - Native cowslip

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Primula veris - Native cowslip
Cowslips have a long history of medicinal use and are used to boost the immune system against viral respiratory infection, allergies lung fibrosis, cold, and flu. The plant was traditionally used to treat sleeping problems as it is said to have a sedative quality, as well as the flowers being used to help treat coughs.

Leucothoe axillaris - Dog hobble ‘Curly Red’

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Leucothoe axillaris - Dog hobble ‘Curly Red’
Leucothoe axillaris, has been traditionally used in folk medicine for its potential medicinal properties. It's believed to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial qualities. These properties suggest it may help with conditions like arthritis, skin irritation, and infections. Some also use it for wound healing and pain relief.

Juniperus squamata - Flaky juniper ‘Blue Star’

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Juniperus squamata - Flaky juniper ‘Blue Star’
Juniper berries contain essential oils with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, potentially aiding in skincare. Additionally, these berries have a diuretic effect, useful for managing conditions like bloating and urinary tract infections.

Chaenomeles speciosa - Japanese quince

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Chaenomeles speciosa - Japanese quince
Japanese quince contains antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation and lower the risk of chronic diseases. The plant has been utilized in traditional medicine for treating gastrointestinal issues and promoting digestive health.