FOR thousands of years, knowledge of the medicinal uses of plants was prized and people who held the knowledge were thought special, even magical.

Before the development of modern medicine, the sick had nowhere to turn for practical help except to the products of the hedgerow and their own garden, and some of the remedies found there were remarkably effective.

With the growth of modern Western medicine, most people turned away from these ancient remedies, eschewing tradition and folklore for the marvels of science - something they believed they could have more faith in.

Plants became prized for their beauty in the garden or dismissed as weeds as people forgot the relationship they had once shared with these common species.

Today, we are more aware that science does not have all the answers. More and more people are turning to alternatives such as herbalism and aromatherapy for gentler treatments or solutions to chronic complaints. Growth in the use of remedies such as St John's wort for depression and echinacea for colds and flu has been enormous in the past few years.

Frequently, establishment figures pop up to say these remedies are unproven, but people continue to believe in their effectiveness. While the placebo effect is very powerful, that is no reason to dismiss potentially life-altering remedies.

Historically, some plants were thought to have beneficial effects on parts of the body they were said to resemble, such as pulmonaria officinalis or lungwort, whose spotted lung-shaped leaves were used for chest complaints.

Scientists have investigated many plants used in traditional medicine to extract components which can be marketed as drugs. For example, the common foxglove is the source of the powerful heart drug digitalis and aspirin derives from the bark of a type of willow tree. Other plants have been less well researched and it is not known whether one component or a combination produce the beneficial effect.

Without realising it, many people are growing a mini pharmacy in their own gardens. Here are some common garden plants with many uses beyond the aesthetic.

Marigold calendula officianalis

THIS hardy annual has many uses and has been an important herb for centuries because it has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Both leaves and flowers can be used to make an infusion, ointment or lotion. Juice from the leaves can be applied directly to the skin and you can also drink it as tea. Marigolds can be used to treat conditions as varied as gum disease and haemorrhoids.

Dandelion taraxacum officinale

A COMMON garden weed named for the shape of its leaves, which are said to resemble lions' teeth. The dandelion's country names give more away about its uses. Known as a 'pee the bed' or one of many similar names, the plant's best-known use is as a diuretic but it is also very nutritious when eaten in salads. It is claimed that it can help with dyspepsia, liver disorders and rheumatism.

Lavender lavendula species

GROWN for its scent and attractive spikes of purple flowers, this herb has several uses. Its flowers can be used in salads, the leaves crushed to release oil which acts as an insect repellent and it is a gentle sedative, aiding restful sleep. To obtain the benefits, either soak a few stalks in your bath or place a lavender bag under your pillow.

Clary sage salvia sclaria

ANOTHER name for this attractive plant is clear eye, which may indicate its use to remove objects from the eye. A gummy substance produced by the soaked seeds would lubricate the eye to do this, as well as soothing an inflamed eye.

Evening primrose oenothera biennis

INTRODUCED to these shores from America, this plant is best known for its oil, which many women take for menopausal symptoms. Its young leaves can be used in salads and the roots can be grated and eaten raw in the plant's first year before they become too stringy.

Common mallow malva sylvestris

THIS spectacular plant well deserves its place as an ornamental species but if you suffer from boils, it could be useful too. All kinds of mallow can be used to draw infection from boils or to soothe inflamed skin.

Feverfew chrysanthemum

parthenium

HERE the name gives the game away. Feverfew could well have been used to treat fevers in the past but it is more commonly used to treat migraine and other headaches. An infusion can also be drunk to improve digestion and act as a general tonic.

l Peter Barron is on holiday and Dad at Large will return with your bogey memories in two weeks.