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Karakas, P. Sohretoglu, D., Liptaj, T., Stujber, M., Turker, A. U., Marak, J., Calis, I. and Yalcin, F. N. (2014) Isolation of an oleanane-type saponin active from Bellis perennis through antitumor bioassay-guided procedures, Pharmaceutical Biology, 52(8):951-955. We’ve tapped into our memories with our writing. Adding a good splash of over-active imagination and incredulity to come up with the characters and plots. Other common names for the Daisy are ‘Bruisewort’, ‘Bairnwort’ (from Scotland, refering to the joy of children gathering the flowerheads to make Daisy-chains) and ‘Llygad y Dydd’ (from the Welsh for ‘Eye of the Day’). 5 Being a close relation to Arnica montana, Daisies are also sometimes called ‘Poor Man’s Arnica’. 2
Recent research has found that the traditional wound healing use of Daisies has a strong scientific basis. One study found that dried Daisy flowers, powdered and extracted in n-butanol, accelerated wound-healing and decreased scarring on skin wounds. 6 Our lives both before and after we met and married have been full of surprises, funny incidents, and bizarre situations. We have both lived through ‘interesting times.’ What has kept us going through good times and bad has been our shared ironic sense of humour and strong self-belief that there will be a path through to better days. The other use for the leaves was as a wound healer for bruises and swellings. 4 Mrs Grieves adds that it has ‘…a great reputation as a cure for fresh wounds…’ This was achieved using an ointment and applying it externally rather than taking the plant internally and this was apparently a well-known remedy in the fourteenth century. 5 Culpepper says Daisies are ’…accounted good to dissolve congealed and coagulated blood…’. 3 The last more unusual superstition associated with Daisies was that feeding a small puppy Daisy juice mixed with milk would prevent it from growing. 4, 5 I have seen this recorded in a few places but have no idea where the idea came from. Culpepper does say that an infusion of Daisy mixed with asses milk is good for consumption of the lungs, but doesn’t mention puppies! 3
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The second superstition of Daisy chains was so that Daisies could be worn by both sexes. By making the Daisies into a circle, evil spirits were prevented from passing though. This meant the children would not be stolen away by the Little/Faery Folk. Older children passed this skill onto the younger children, ensuring they all stayed safe. 2 There are many superstitions about the cheerful little Daisy flowers that grow in our lawns, but their wound-healing properties are no longer in doubt. Even better, it might be nice to gift someone a pot with planted daisies so they will last much longer. Whether they are grown at home or sourced from a florist or garden shop, daisies make a lovely gift on National Daisy Day or really any time of the year! Make Plans to Attend a Daisy Festival Amazing how real they become though once they are brought to life in a manuscript. How wonderful it would be to invite all the characters in our books to a party and have a chat and let them get to know each other!
We write comedy misadventures for those who enjoy a smile and don’t want to take life too seriously. Another event that honors this venerable flower is the Daisy Festival Outdoor Fest in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Typically taking place on the first weekend in September, this festival includes arts, musical performances, crafts and more. The festivities are located in the historic downtown Albert Lea Central Park.We are retired (except for writing books – but that’s more like a hobby and no one tells us to go to work so that doesn’t count) Helen is a freelance copy and content writer, enthusiastic about science and history. To learn more about her work visit her Linked-In profile. A wound-healer during wars, a flower to keep small children safe and something sprinkled over the Earth by God to cheer parents up when their infant died. The superstitions and stories associated with Daisies are many and varied. But do any of them hold any truth? Daisies are often seen growing in many lawns between March and October. They are often-overlooked nowadays but as Culpepper says ‘This is another herb which nature has made common, because it may be useful’. | Credit Helen Miller Although daisies originally hail from Europe, they have traveled far and wide, and can now be found all over the Americas and Asia, as well as Australia. Bruton-Seal, J. and Seal, M. (2017) Wayside Medicine: Forgotten plants and how to use them, Merlin Unwin Books, Ludlow, Shropshire, UK.
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