Ordinary liver balm
Botanical name: Ageratum houstonianum
The liver balm is a beautiful annual flower that thrives best in a sunny to partially shaded location, for example on a south or west facing balcony. It forms dense cushions and reaches a height of 30 cm. Therefore, the liver balm can be used both in balcony boxes and as part of oneSummer planting for containersbe used. The fine, nectar- and pollen-rich flowers appear from May to October and are blue to purple in color.
The liver balm contains the pleasant-smelling plant ingredient coumarin, which can also be found in cinnamon and woodruff. The typical smell is most intense, especially when the plants are wilting. In 2015, two US scientists reported that coumarin and phytol are just as effective as the widely used active ingredient from the group of repellents DEET. Although the two natural flavorings are not specifically used as insect repellents in cosmetics and medical products, there is convincing evidence of their effectiveness. For example, coumarin was an ingredient in Avon's Skin So Soft products, which were later shown to have some insect-repellent properties.
