Nantwich Museum would like to thank Nantwich in Bloom (community volunteers working proudly together to keep our town looking lovely) for looking after the planters outside our museum.
In the John Gerard planter (by the museum entrance) in 2021, they focused on herbs for health and wellbeing, to coincide with Nantwich Museum’s Ouch! Summer Exhibition. John Gerard is a famous Elizabethan herbalist, who was brought up in Nantwich and wrote some hugely influential guides to plants. For more information about John Gerard, please click here.
These are the herbs that they put in The John Gerard 2021 Herb Bed:
Important:
Herb descriptions given here are for general information only, and not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician regarding treatment for any ailment, panicularly if you are, or think you may be, pregnant. Similarly, if using herbs for their cosmetic properties always consult a qualified practitioner.
Calendula can help to soothe and heal damaged inflamed skin including grazes, rashes, acne, eczema, sunburn and other minor burns.
Its anti-inflammatory properties reduce pain and swelling. It can used to soothe cold sores and chapped skin or lips.
Chamomile has been used for its calming and anti-inflammatory properties for hundreds of years. It is also believed to soothe tired and sole muscles and is therefore sometimes added to bath water. Chamomile is also said to aid digestion and to help relaxing sleep. A salve made from the herb can be useful in helping to soothe dry or sensitive skin. Its cosmetic uses include as a hair conditioner; it can also enhance the colour of fair hair.
Hyssop is a plant with ancient uses and mythical qualities such as religious purification and embalming. Today it is sometimes used to treat catarrh and coughs.
Lavender flowers have long been valued for their scent and anti-insect properties. The oils produced from lavender are useful as a relaxant, in massage to relieve muscular pain and tenderness, as a sting treatment and in oil burners to help purity the air (the volatile oils are effective in fighting airborne bacteria).
Lemon Balm has long been used in traditional medicine as both a sleep aid and a digestive tonic. It has antibacterial properties and can help reduce inflammation.
Ginger Mint. Please note the above illustration from Gerard shows Spear Mint. John Gerard described mint as having a smell that “rejoyceth the heart of man”. It is used also as a herbal tea infusion.
Parsley has been used medicinally over the centuries as an aid to digestion and was also at one time used to help eradicate head lice.
Pennyroyal tea was frequently used to treat colds, headaches and giddiness and was also believed to be valuable in clearing lungs. The dried herb was used as a flea deten-ent in bedding and household linens.
Oregano is a close relative of marjoram. It is a magnet for bees and other pollinators. Oils extracted from the plant have powerful anti-bacterial properties and have long been used to treat a variety ofbacterial and fungal infections.
Sage is a very important herb which over time has been credited with almost magical healing potential. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to be useful in treating bacterial, viral and fungal infections. More recently it has been used under medical supervision to relieve some menopausal symptoms.
Thyme is a naturally powerful antiseptic. It has traditionally been used as an external treatment for infected wounds, and internally to treat coughs, colds and other respiratory infections as well as digestive disorders.
Nantwich Station
Nantwich in Bloom planted up the station sleeper beds with herbs and flowers to honour the work of John Gerard.
Lemon Balm or Chamomile tea
A soothing beverage can be made at home from these herbs. Fresh flowers/leaves may be difficult to source, but most health food shops sell the dried version.
You will need the following:
• a tea infuser
• either two teaspoons of fresh chamomile flowers (one teaspoon dried flowers) or 10-12 leaves fresh lemon balm, rinsed and chopped (One teaspoon dried leaves)
• a mug of water brought nearly to boiling point put the flowers/leaves into the tea infuser – about 3/4 full is good.
Place the infuser in your mug and pour the nearly boiling water over.
Allow to stand for 6 to 7 minutes.
Remove the infuser from the mug before enjoying your drink.
If you like your tea a little sweeter, stir in a teaspoon of honey.
Webinar on John Gerard
Nantwich Museum ran a webinar about John Gerard, please click here for more information.