Daisy - (Lawn/common daisy & Oxeye daisy)

Bellis perennis & Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum vulgare

Daisy Family (Asteraceae)

Energetics: cooling, drying, astringent (tightening)

Taste: bitter, sour

When to harvest: All parts of the plant have medicinal properties, with leaves and roots being used traditionally, and flowers being used more recently. Harvest above ground parts during growing season. Roots can be harvested in spring or fall, or as a whole plant harvest during the growing season.

Identification: Both daisies grow in sunny areas and have flowers that close at night and serrated leaf edges; lawn daisy grows in grassy areas, and oxeye daisy is more of a meadow plant. Both types of daisies have white petals surrounding a yellow center. Bellis perennis, or lawn daisy, is the smaller of the two - its flower is up to 2 cm wide and sometimes has a pink tinge, and the plant can grow up to 20 cm tall if not mowed. Bellis leaves have roundish, spoon-shaped tips and grow in a rosette from a central point. Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum vulgare, or oxeye daisy, can grow up to 60cm tall and its flower can be up to 7cm wide. Its largest leaves are at the base where they are lobed, and then leaves alternate up the stem and are narrower and serrated.

Daisies have long been used to treat wounds and sprains and the plant has also been referred to as bruisewort or woundwort; traditionally, the leaves and roots were used for this and for many other ailments. The young leaf of daisy is rich in vitamin C, containing 34mg of the vitamin per 100g herb, and was one of the wild plants used for nutrition during the siege of Sarajevo 1992 - 1995 (Redzic, 2010).

Bruises, sprains, joint pain

Daisy is known for its inflammation-modulating power that helps to relieve bruises and sprains, and some also consider it useful for joint pain. Traditionally the leaves and root were used for this, but more recently flowers have been used (Howard, 2021). Homeopathically, daisy is used for injury and trauma, similarly to arnica (McIntyre, 2012).

Skin

Daisy flowers have been shown to facilitate healing of wounds and decreasing scar tissue in animal models and have been traditionally used for this (Karakas et al., 2012). It can also help with other inflammatory skin conditions, such as acne. The root can be decocted (cooked in water) and can be used internally as a detoxifier to help with eczema (McIntyre, 2012).

Digestive system

One of the traditional uses of the leaves and roots of daisy was to ease stomach or intestinal distress, to stimulate appetite and digestion, and its leaves were used as a ‘pot herb’ and added to cooking in soups and stews (Howard, 2021).

Respiratory system

Daisy has been used to support a healthy fever; expectorate or release phlegm; and alleviate sore throat (McIntyre, 2012, Howard, 2021).

Oral health

Daisy leaves can be chewed to relieve ulcers in the mouth (McIntyre, 2012).

Postpartum health

After childbirth, daisy can be applied externally to alleviate congested breasts or help heal perineal tears or wounds (McIntyre, 2012).

Oxeye daisy

Plant preparations

Internal

Infusion
Decoction of root
Vinegar
Tincture
Edible

External

Balm
Poultice
Compress

Cautions

Internal medicinal doses should be avoided in pregnancy as effects are unknown. Individuals allergic to Daisy family plants may react to daisies.