Common Calamint for insomnia, coughs and colds
Common Calamint, Calamintha sylvatica is a favorite of the taxonomists, it seems, so you may find it labeled Calamintha ascendens, C. baetica, C. officinalis, C. sylvatica ascendens or Satureja ascendens. So far as English goes, it’s Calamint or Common Calamint, which means it may get mixed up with Lesser Calamint which is also called just Calamint, but it’s no great problem, as the uses are similar. These two are closely related to each other, and also to the Showy Calamint, but not to the Alpine Calamint.
Common calamint is a hardy perennial which reaches a height of 2 feet (60cm). It will grow in light to medium soil, and is not fussy about acidity, even able to grow in very alkaline soil. it will grow in light shade, such as a woodland situation, or in full sun.
Lesser calamint and common calamint are mostly used for the same purposes, and like its Lesser (but stronger) sibling, common calamint should not be used by pregnant women. Harvest the leaves in July as the plants come into flower and use immediately or dry for later use by laying out in a thin layer somewhere dry and airy. Turn every day or so until completely dried, then store in an airtight container in the dark.
Make a standard infusion using 1oz (30g of dried leaves or 3 handfuls of fresh to 2.5 US cups (1 UK pint, 570 ml) boiling water. Allow to stand for at least 10 minutes, up to 4 hours, then strain for use.
The standard infusion can be used to reduce temperature in feverish conditions, to treat flatulence (“gas” or “wind”), depression, insomnia and painful periods. It can also be used to treat coughs and colds, particularly in combination with thyme and yarrow.
You probably won’t be surprised when I tell you that all herbs used for herbal medicine, including common calamint, should be grown organically to ensure that their active constituents are not adulterated by foreign chemicals. To find out more about growing organic herbs visit the Gardenzone.
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