There's also Hairy Madwort / Hoary Madwort / False Madwort which is a different plant and is not Alyssum or true Madwort.
Madwort (Alyssum) is a beautiful flower grown in many cottage and moon gardens. I believe it's native to the Mediterranean but it grows well in many areas of the US. It's medicinal uses have been lost and forgotten over the years but, it's not only medicinal, it's also edible.
Madwort is a calming herb, which is how it got it's name. It has been used to treat madness and even rabies at one time or another. It's also used to treat asthma and is a diuretic. But it's best use, in my opinion, is as a nerve tonic. A strong tea of Madwort, sweetened with a bit of honey works very well for hysteria. Madwort and Damiana are a good combination and with a pinch of Valerian it can make a strong sleep tonic.
For the table, flowers, leaves and stems are edible. They have a pungent spicy flavor and can be eaten cook with greens, added to soups and stews, or eaten raw in salads.
Madwort is also very high in vitamin C, adding to the reasons that make it a good addition to any medicinal or edible garden.
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