Sweet Violets and Wild Cherry

Before my friend and famed Lewes herbalist Kym Murden moved to New Zealand in February, she told me where i could find Coltsfoot growing wild. I'd cycled to Barcombe a few times waiting to find the flowers, which appear suddenly and unusually before the leaves. The leaves and flowers are an exceptional lung remedy. This winter i've found Coltsfoot given simply as an infusion sometimes more effective than complicated combinations of tinctures and Linctuses. On my third visit to the spot, down Church Lane, i found a few flowers, it seems the local farmer has dug the ditch next to where they grow on the bank, and disturbed the colony. They'll be back next year i'm sure, as Coltsfoot is a tenacious plant, not easily removed from any garden or wayside.

Towering above the small flowers i noticed one other plant i had been searching for that day, a Wild Cherry Tree. Prunus avium. Cherry bark is another cough remedy, with a very specific sedative action on the cough reflex. This makes it useful in irritating coughs,and it is usual to combine it with herbs that will treat the chest infection at the same time.The bark is usually collected in mid Autumn, but In spring before budding is fine as well. Traditionally the american species Prunus serotina is used, however when in Sussex use the local variety, it seems to work just as well.
I cut carefully cut off and cut up a few small branches, and put them in my bike pannier to take home.
Coming over the style i noticed just outside the canopy of the tree a wonderful spray of Blue sweet violets Viola odorata. There really is something magic about this flower growing on masse. You only see them sparsely in towns as they don't like the pollution, but here in the country when you found them, get your head down to the ground and inhale that exquisite perfume.
I have never used Viola odorata before but ive been seeing it everywhere on my excursions out of town. So after a few minutes of reflection/ meditation with the plant and explaining my intentions to it i gathered up half the flowers and headed for home. On the way i stopped and explored a small stream running thru some woods, i came across a batch of white sweet violets with a view of the Anglo Saxon Hamsey church on its hill in the background.
Back home exploring new and old recipes, syrups seemed to be the order of the day. I'm a bit ambivalent towards syrups, sugar not known for its therapeutic qualities. For short term use however it is great for soothing remedies for the throat and lung remedies.
For the Cherry bark i peeled the bark with a knife, careful to collect the green inner bark as it hold the chemicals required. I cut it up in my blender and stuffed it lovingly into a jar, pouring over a simple syrup.The smell is of Amarretto biscuits,bitter almonds, this fragrance is the active constituents Cyanogenic glycosides, and i love it. I will let this sit for three weeks before straining. See the wonderfully comprehensive site http://theherbarium.wordpress.com for the full recipe

For the Violets i used an old recipe from Mrs Greives " A Modern Herbal". Pestling then soaking the petals for 24 hours in boiled water before straining and adding the sugar, bringing to nearly a boil then bottling in sterilised jars. I will be using it as an relaxing expectorant for bronchitis, for childrens constipation and skin conditions and for fun relaxation for stressed children. The ancients used it for many things. I felt it has an affinity for small children, those of the age who still believe in fairies.

Making this syrup was magic from start to finish because of the colour, which seemed to change at each stage from light blue to dark purple. This remedy need a clear glass bottle, to show it off.
The fragrance hasn't survived being made into a syrup, i'm not sure why, but the taste is excellent.