​Diaphoretic, expectorant, aromatic. The whole herb has a sweet, aromatic odor and an infusion of the dried leaves, collected in July, when in their best condition and dried in the same way as catmint tops, makes a pleasant cordial tea, which was formerly taken for weaknesses of the stomach and flatulent colic.

Calaminth

​ (Calamimhus officinalis)

​This old-fashioned cottage perennial, with pink flowers,
makes a good edging plant as it reaches barely a foot
in height. It seeds itself abundantly and the seedlings
should be planted out either in autumn or spring. 0r
seed can be collected in autumn and sown as soon as
ripe, or in spring, in drills a quarter of an inch deep.
Plant out a foot apart.

Calamint gets its name from the Greek kala or kalos meaning good; it is a ‘good’ mint because it was thought to have the power to drive away venomous beasts and especially the king of the serpents, the dreaded basilisk.