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🌼 How to Identify Ox-Eye Daisy
🔍 Key Characteristics
- Family: Asteraceae (same as chamomile, dandelion, yarrow)
- Height: 1–3 feet tall
- Leaves:
- Basal leaves: Spoon-shaped, toothed
- Upper leaves: Narrow, alternate, and clasp the stem
- Flowers:
- 1.5–2.5 inches wide
- Bright white petals (ray florets) surrounding a yellow central disc (disc florets)
- Bloom from late spring to early fall
- Habitat: Meadows, roadsides, pastures, open woods; very common across North America and Europe
🌿 Lookalikes:
- Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum): Larger, cultivated version
- Chamomile: Smaller flowers, finely divided leaves, apple-like scent
- Scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum): Similar look, but finely dissected leaves
📜 Historical Uses of Ox-Eye Daisy
🏺 Traditional European Herbalism
- Used for centuries as a mild sedative, digestive aid, and cough remedy.
- Called “Moon Daisy” in old English herbal texts.
- Employed similarly to chamomile—particularly in treating whooping cough, asthma, and nervous complaints.
You can get ox eye daisy seeds HERE on Amazon through our affiliate link.
🌿 Medicinal Benefits of Ox-Eye Daisy
🧪 1. Respiratory Support
- Traditionally used to treat coughs, bronchitis, and asthma.
- Its astringent and expectorant qualities help clear mucus and soothe airways.
🧘 2. Nervine/Sedative
- Mild calming effect, similar to chamomile.
- Used for anxiety, headaches, and insomnia.
🌼 3. Digestive Aid
- Stimulates appetite and soothes indigestion, cramps, and gas.
- Often used as a mild bitter tonic before meals.
🧴 4. Topical Use
- Infusions or poultices applied to wounds, bruises, and skin irritations.
- Historically used to reduce inflammation and swelling.
🧉 How to Use Ox-Eye Daisy
🌸 Parts Used
- Flower heads (fresh or dried)
- Leaves (less commonly used, but edible)
- Roots (occasionally in decoctions)
🍵 Common Preparations
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| Infusion/Tea | For coughs, nervous tension, stomach upset |
| Tincture | Preserved form for anxiety, asthma, digestion |
| Poultice or Compress | For wounds, bruises, skin inflammation |
| Syrup (with honey) | Calms persistent coughs |
🌼 Simple Ox-Eye Daisy Tea Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1–2 tsp dried or fresh ox-eye daisy flowers
- 1 cup boiling water
Instructions:
Steep for 10–15 minutes. Strain and drink up to 3x a day.
⚠️ Safety and Precautions
- Mildly toxic in large doses; avoid high quantities.
- Not recommended during pregnancy or for people with ragweed allergies (same plant family).
- Avoid internal use for long periods—best used in short, occasional treatments.
- Always confirm ID before wild-harvesting.
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