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Weleda garden notebook
········································································································································ Accolade for Weleda – the essential beauty buy
The Essentials awards scheme was launched in 2007 and last year Weleda’s fragrant Wild Rose Body Lotion was voted Best No–Guilt Eco–Chic Body Lotion. This year, recognising increasing interest amongst
Infolink: Essentials is an established glossy monthly women’s magazine that has been published since 1988, with a loyal readership of bright, practical, real women living real lives. Aimed at women aged 28–45, Essentials is about what’s do–able and relevant to women now, offering a feel–good factor with its affordability and realism all delivered in a vibrant style. It is not hard to understand why a genuine, inspirational brand, such as Weleda is a firm favourite with readers. ········································································································································
Chamomile matricaria recutita annual. Profile: Chamomile, a wonderful plant of air and light
The names of Chamomile are very confusing: It is most frequently given to Chamaemelum nobile [also called Anthemis nobilis], a creeping downy perennial herb common in Western Europe. This can be upright, albeit straggly, growing from one to two feet, or a dwarf non–flowering cultivar [Treneague] bred for making lawns or seats. The ‘chamomile’ used in homoeopathy is an annual plant, also known as Scented Mayweed or sometimes German Chamomile, and has the medicinal name Chamomilla recutita, whilst the approved botanical name is Matricaria recutita, although some people also know it as Chamomilla matricaria. However, what is certain is that this one is instantly distinguishable from all the others by having a hollow flowerhead. It is fairly common in Northern Europe in arable fields and waste ground, favouring sandy soils. The two plants share similar properties medicinally but the annual plant has a gentler action. This can be sown in spring or in autumn but the finest, bushiest plants come from an autumn sowing, especially if the plants have not run to flower in the winter, for harvesting in June. The seeds are very fine and need light to germinate. They also need to be trodden in, as we discovered when the best plants were growing in the paths rather than the beds. They do prefer well–compacted soil. The virtues of Chamomile have been recognised since Antiquity. The Egyptians considered it a valuable remedy for fevers and dedicated it to the sun god Ra; the Greeks likened its scent to fallen apples and they gave it the name ‘khamaimelon’ from ‘kamas’ – the ground, and ‘melon’, an apple, and Dioscorides mentions it for fevers.
Chamomile contains a beautiful blue volatile oil consisting of azulenes from the flowers. These are very soothing and have a wonderful anti–inflammatory effect on the skin and help to repair tissues. So it is a popular skincare ingredient, and commonly used in babycare products. In homoeopathy the whole plant is used when flowering. Constitutionally, it is for people with a low pain threshold, who are often bad–tempered and complaining, impossible to please, while it can be indicated for earache, toothache, sleeplessness and pains associated with heavy periods. It is renowned for its calming properties and another remedy made from the roots is a gentle soother for babies’ colic and teething pains. The annual Chamomile is a wonderful plant of air and light with its finely divided leaves and radiant yellow flower centre that holds a little dome of air inside, while dispersing a glorious scent across the fields. If we could dig up the plant very carefully with all its very fine rootlets, then we would see that the plant below ground is a mirror of the growth above, constantly dividing, holding itself in a perfect balance crowned by the flowers.
Infolink: Weleda [UK] Ltd has manufactured natural remedies and bodycare products since 1925. Advice on natural remedies can be obtained from Weleda’s pharmacy. Weleda [UK] Ltd, Heanor Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire DE7 8DR. Tel: 0115 9448200. Email: info@weleda.co.uk. Website: www.weleda.co.uk. From your browser | Email the page | Email the page link | Print the page | Add page to favourites Handy guide to wellbeing series | For you, family and friends
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by Michael Bate, who leads the Weleda [UK] Ltd gardening team in growing some 300 different plant species used in Weleda remedies and bodycare, using Demeter–standard biodynamic methods. Michael also manages production of the plant tinctures.
Original green beauty pioneer Weleda has been voted Best Eco–Friendly Range in the 
their readers for natural and environmentally–friendly products, Essentials introduced the new Eco–Friendly category.
