Nasturtium for Optimism

Nasturtium,Tropaeolum majus

Nasturtium’s message is optimism. No one feels optimistic all the time. A full life encompasses a wide range of emotions including happiness as well as sadness, courage as well as fear, euphoria as well as depression, hope as well as despair, relief as well as hurt, love as well as hate. And while each emotion may have something to offer as we write our memoirs, we can become saddened when recounting some events in our lives. Nasturtium is there in our Memoir Garden to help restore emotional vitality and to remind us to be optimistic about our efforts even if we don’t feel a natural optimism.

Peruvian Indians used nasturtiums as remedies for coughs and colds long before the Spanish explorers carried the herb back to Europe. Modern medical research supports this use, finding the fresh leaves have an antibiotic effect that can be effective against respiratory conditions.

In my garden, nasturtiums gladly return each summer under my lemon trees. I use the leaves and flowers in salads, to flavor rice vinegars, and to decorate summer’s bountiful fruit plates where their bright colors and peppery tastes are sure to draw attention. Similarly, when we stroll through the Memoir Garden, we can look around for the nasturtium’s vibrant colors that will remind us of the message of optimism.

Visit our Writer’s Store with its products for encouragement and sharing that feature many of the herbs from our Memoir Garden.