The effect of daisies

The daisy is also known as "children's arnica" due to its similarly powerful healing properties. However, while arnica is strictly protected, you can easily make tea, ointment, and tincture from daisies to treat sore muscles.

Small but mighty

Angerbleamerl, eye flower, sky flower, May flower, Mary's flower, daisy, moonflower, morning flower, Easter flower, rain flower, summer rose, sunflower, and thousand-beauty – these are all popular names for one and the same small, delicate flower: the daisy! Whether in food, tea, ointment, or tincture, the effect of this little flower is definitely greater than itself.

It is one of the first spring plants to bloom, and can be found in abundance in meadows while walking or hiking. Most of us hardly notice it. It is not treated like a "weed," but it is not really appreciated either. Except by children. They love the little flowers, which can be used to make wreaths and "bouquets" for mom. The flower heads also fit wonderfully into "children's herb soup" made from water, grass, and soil. The daisy rewards children for this attention, because it is a highly effective medicinal herb, especially for our little ones, with similar effects to arnica.

Daisies show effect

Daisy flowers can be harvested anytime and anywhere from early spring to late fall. However, they have the highest concentration of active ingredients – including saponins, tannins, bitter compounds, minerals, essential oils, and vitamin C – from April to August. The products that can be easily made from daisies have an excellent effect. Children's bruises will hurt only half as much if they can rub them with their homemade daisy oil. And your throat will no longer hurt after a few sips of daisy tea.

TIP: Collect a bunch of flowers on your next walk and get started. Our recipes are very simple, fun, cost (almost) nothing, and are good for us!

How to use daisies

Daisies make a beautiful decoration in salads and are also very healthy. They can also simply be eaten straight from the meadow. It is said that whoever eats the first three daisies they find in spring will stay healthy all year round.

How do you eat daisies?

Simply pick them from a clean natural meadow (not a dog toilet), put them in your mouth, chew and swallow. Just as green salad tastes better dressed than plain, daisies also taste better when prepared. Whether in a salad, in soup, or as a decoration on a plate, daisies can add a very special touch to food. They stimulate the metabolism, are good for the skin, and the vitamin C and minerals strengthen the immune system.

An infusion made from these little flowers works wonders against hoarseness and coughs. With its anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties, daisy tea is exactly what you need when you have a nasty cold. Vitamins A and C strengthen the immune system, and magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron help to meet the body's important mineral requirements.

How do you make daisy tea?

Pour 250 ml of boiling water over 2 tablespoons of flower heads and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy in sips.

A daisy oil extract is an excellent way to extract and preserve the active ingredients of this little miracle flower. The finished oil has a similar effect to arnica oil, so it can be used to treat blunt injuries, bruises and other minor ailments.

Are you expecting a baby? Then start by rubbing the oil regularly into your belly to prevent those dreaded stretch marks, and once the baby arrives, the oil is excellent for treating diaper rash. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and is a natural remedy for fungal infections. Simply clean the baby's bottom with fresh water, moisten a warm washcloth with the oil, and wipe the bottom again. Works wonders! For the shelf life of the oil, see below under daisy ointment.

How do you make a daisy oil extract?

On a sunny day that has not been preceded by rain, pick about two handfuls of completely dry daisy heads. Leave them to wilt for a good two hours. This allows small crawling insects to escape and reduces the moisture in the collected material. Moisture or even wetness can easily lead to mold growth in the oil, and we don't want that.

Oil extract for the patient

Pour oil over the daisies in a jam jar until all the flower parts are covered and seal. Many oils are suitable – preferably organic: jojoba oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, almond oil, and so on. Leave in a warm, dark place for 4 weeks. Shake daily to release the active ingredients and prevent mold growth. Strain and use.

Oil extract for the impatient

Pour the oil over the daisies and gently heat in a water bath to about 40 degrees Celsius. Leave to infuse at this temperature for two hours. Then seal and leave to infuse for another 2-3 days in a dark place, strain and use.

You can use daisy tincture to treat blemished skin such as acne or redness. To ensure that it is fully effective, dab it carefully onto the affected area. You can also use daisy tincture to treat minor, uncomplicated inflammation in the mouth. Add a few drops to a glass of water and use the solution as a mouthwash. Daisy tincture is traditionally used as a rub for sore muscles or tension. How does daisy tincture work? Fill a screw-top jar with fresh daisy heads – as many as will fit in the jar. Press the flowers down and pour in enough alcohol (grain alcohol or vodka with a minimum alcohol content of 40%) to cover the flowers. Leave the tincture to infuse at room temperature in a dark place for at least three to four weeks. Gently shake the jar every two to three days. Over time, the liquid will turn greenish. Strain the finished daisy tincture through a fine sieve or coffee filter and pour into a dark glass bottle. This tincture will keep for at least one year.

The finished oil can easily be processed into an ointment. This is easy to use and does not drip—unlike oil in some circumstances. It basically has the same effects as the oil extract. It is also very suitable as an eye cream for a youthful appearance.

How do you make daisy ointment?

100ml of prepared daisy oil extract
10 g beeswax

Melt the oil together with the beeswax in a jam jar placed in hot water. Beeswax melts at around 62 degrees. Avoid heating it any further if possible, as this will preserve more of the active ingredients. Pour the mixture, while still liquid, into an ointment container and leave to cool. Only close the lid once it has cooled down, otherwise condensation will form, which can lead to mold growth. The shelf life of the ointment depends on the oil used. While jojoba oil has a very long shelf life, linseed oil, for example, quickly becomes rancid. The ointment therefore has roughly the same shelf life as the oil used would have had if it had not been refrigerated.

Herbal knowledge on a hiking vacation

Want to learn more about herbs? The organized "experiences" offered by hiking hotels allow you to learn a lot about nature in a creative way and get involved yourself! Baking bread, observing animals, cooking alpine dishes, and much more await you at hiking hotels in the most beautiful locations in the Alps! Just ask at your hiking hotel.