A garland of goodness: Pick a peck of wild chrysanthemums and use it to cure your ills

摘要

Plagued by sore eyes, poor vision or headaches? The humble chrysanthemum may be the solution. While many gardeners value chrysanthemums for their vibrant colour and reliability in the flower bed, these blooms have been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat ailments as diverse as hypertension, headaches, fevers, colds, flu, inflammation, liver and lung disorders, tinnitus, vertigo, vision problems, indigestion and coronary heart disease. Legendary Chinese ruler Shen Nong even suggested that protracted use would slow ageing.However, before you get too excited about using your common hybridised garden plant for medicinal purposes, note that it's the wild chrysanthemum (both Chrysanthemum morifolium and Chrysanthemum indicum) that's used.