For centuries, humans have used the natural world as a medicine cabinet. A new book from the Chelsea Physic Garden – an incredible botanical resource located by the River Thames in London that is home to 5,000 different types of medicinal and edible plants – aims to highlight the magical and medicinal benefits of herbs, many of which can be found on our doorsteps. On a crisp autumnal walk, look out for elderberries – rich in vitamins A and C, flavonoids and anthocyanins, thought to be an ideal cold and flu preventative treatment. Research suggests that the compounds in elderberries appear to prevent viruses from attaching themselves in the nose and throat, thereby stopping infections from taking hold. But the berries should only be eaten cooked, which neutralises the emetic…
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Red UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, November 2021