The growing interest in herbalism is a positive step in the right direction for humanity, after so many decades and years depending on an empire of consumerism. It’s amazing to realize just how many common plants you can use for a wide variety of diseases, from eczema and depression to flu and gallstones.
The following plants and herbs should ideally be gathered fresh from the countryside or garden, although they can be dried and stored for when needed. The best time to pick them is in the early morning (after dew has evaporated) in spring or summer. Leaves should be gathered while young, and their stalks trimmed off. Flowers should also be picked when young and freshly open, before they are visited by bees and other insects. Seeds should be left on the plant to ripen before being taken (a sign that seeds are ripe is the yellowing of leaves). Roots and barks should be gathered in early Spring or Fall. Don’t pick anything that is wilted, eaten by insects, faded, old or mottled. Finally (although not easy nowadays) you must bear in mind any man-made toxins on the plants. If you can gather them from a place that is sure to be pesticide-free, do it there.
Deciding which remedies to include, I chose those which are easy to find wherever you are. If you can’t find a specific plant where you live, consider buying the seeds online or check out your local health food or Chinese medicine shop for powders, ointments or oils. A note on measurements: the exact amount isn’t quite as important in plant medicine as it is in toxic pharmaceutical drugs, so ‘traditional’ ways of describing measurements (spoonfuls, cupfuls, handfuls etc) are sufficient in herbalism. Nature is gentle, so just use your common sense (and the internet if you have any doubts).
PLANTAIN
Plantain, like dandelion, is a healthy, hardy weed as ubiquitous in the city as broken glass. You know what it looks like, but you might not have known the name.
Part of the confusion is that plantain shares its name with something utterly different, the banana-like plantain, whose etymology is a mix of Spanish and native Caribbean. The so-called weed plantain, or Plantago major, was cultivated by Native Americans. There is also the Plantain that European settlers pre-Columbus brought to the Americas.
Plantain has a nutritional profile similar to dandelion — that is, loaded with iron and other important vitamins and minerals. The leaves are tastiest when small and tender, usually in the spring but whenever new shoots appear after being cut back by a lawnmower. Bigger leaves are edible but bitter and fibrous.
The shoots of the broadleaf plantain, when green and tender and no longer than about four inches, can be described as a poor-man's fiddlehead, with a nutty, asparagus-like taste. Pan-fry in olive oil for just a few seconds to bring out this taste. The longer, browner shoots are also tasty prepared the same way, but the inner stem is too fibrous. You'll need to place the shoot in your mouth, clench with your teeth, and quickly pull out the stem. What you're eating are the plantain seeds.
The leaves of the equally ubiquitous narrow-leaf plantain, or Plantago lanceolata, also are edible when young. The shoot is "edible" only with quotation marks. You can eat the seeds should you have the patience to collect hundreds of plants for the handful of seeds you'd harvest. With time being money, it's likely not worth it.
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Burdock
(Arctium Lappa/Arctium Minus. England, Europe, some parts of northern USA)
Usually thought to be little more than a persistent weed, Burdock is revered in herbal medicine. This spiky purple plant protects against cancer and detoxifies the body. The root, herb and seeds can be used (usually as an infusion) to aid digestion and settle the stomach, and it is a great blood purifier. The root specifically heals scurvy, boils and rheumatism. Bruises, swellings and ulcers can also be cured with burdock poultices, as well as eczema, acne, scoriosis, and other dry or flaky skin problems. This amazing plant is also an effective treatment for gout, diabetes, cystitis, loss of appetite, and when used along with dandelion root it gives the liver an extra boost.
Dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale. Temperate parts of Northern hemisphere)
Another plant that most presume to be just another annoying weed, dandelions are full of healing properties, from roots to flowers. Their leaves and stems are filled with a creamy white juice, which acts as a magic medicine for a whole range of problems. Dandelion cleanses the blood by neutralizing the acids and is an excellent diuretic and kidney tonic. It is a powerful remedy for all kinds of liver disorders (especially jaundice), and the root has been known to cure gallstones, gout, rheumatism and dyspepsia. To aid these illnesses, you need to roast the roots (best collected at the end of the year) in the oven at a low temperature for several hours (until you can smell a nice aroma). You then crush them into a powder to drink with hot water, known as ‘Dandelion coffee’. Real coffee can be added to taste. Dandelion is also an effective treatment for bee stings, warts and blisters (simply apply juice until healed), and can even be taken to fight diabetes and obesity. Just six leaves eaten raw daily will make a huge difference, or an infusion if you prefer.
DANDELION
Dandelion is one of the healthiest and most versatile vegetables on the planet. The entire plant is edible. The leaves are like vitamin pills, containing generous amounts of vitamins A, C and K — far more than those garden tomatoes, in fact — along with calcium, iron, manganese, and potassium.
The leaves are most tender, and tastiest, when they are young. This happens in the spring but also all summer along as the plant tries to rebound after being cut or pulled. You can add them to soup in great abundance. Or you can prepare them Italian style by sautéing with a little olive oil, salt, garlic and some hot red pepper.
You can eat the bright, open flower heads in a lightly fried batter. You can also make a simple wine with the flowers by fermenting them with raisins and yeast. If you are slightly adventurous, you can roast the dandelion root, grind it, and brew it like coffee. It's an acquired taste. You might want to have some sugar on hand.
Dandelion Greens
The yellow-topped flower is happily shunned and sprayed, but did you know it is one of the most healing herbs for the liver and kidneys? Dandelion (the flower and greens) is a diuretic, contains potassium, alleviates arthritis and intestinal disorders, and is even thought to regulate blood sugar levels. Used topically, it also has use to treat skin disorders such as Eczema.
Elder
(Sambucus Nigra. Europe, Britain, some parts of Northern America)
Elder is a hedgerow shrub that is sacred to many, and has such a potent healing properties it’s been known to cure blindness (by repairing nerve damage, for example during a bomb blast). Every part of the bush can be used for many purposes, from bark to roots. Elder encourages perspiration and eliminates toxins, The root can be washed and soaked to treat all lymphatic ailments. The bark is a strong purgative and can be made into a tincture (more information here) to relieve asthma and croup. For epilepsy, elder bark can be dried and powdered (remove from the inner side, powdered and drunk with wine either daily to reduce fits, or every quarter hour when a fit is imminent). The leaves are full of medicinal properties and can be made into green elder ointment to treat bruises, sprains, itches, ringworm, haemorrhoids, and skin conditions. They can be used as an infusion. Elderflowers can be distilled or dried, the water used to treat eye problems. As an infusion, elderflowers are a gentle laxative. The tea can also be used to treat coughs, colds and flu, and it purifies the blood. Making a poultice from the flowers is an effective treatment for wounds, scalds and burns, and also cures chapped skin and chilblains. Elder has a reputation for being a fantastic aid to beautiful and healthy skin and hair.
Golden Seal
(Hydrastis Canadensis. Eastern USA, Canada)
This bitter herb increases circulation to the uterus and has been used for centuries to ease labor pains and heavy periods (but don’t use for prolonged periods if you are pregnant, and avoid if you have diabetes, glaucoma or heart disease). Golden Seal acts as an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory to also treat indigestion, constipation and help to regulate periods. It stops colds and sore throats if taken when the first signs appear, and it can cure bronchitis, sore sinuses and respiratory conditions. An all-round wonder ‘drug’, Golden Seal can be taken dried and powdered, as a tincture or an infusion, to strengthen the immune and digestive systems for a whole range of ailments. Native Americans used it as a dye for their clothing, and as a remedy for bad digestion and sore eyes. The root of Golden Seal eases constipation, sickness and vomiting.
Fennel
(Foeniculum vulgare. India, Middle East and Europe)
Fennel water is used as an ingredient in common tonics to settle babies’ stomachs and relieve colic. The leaves, hearts, roots and seeds are all beneficial, used as distilled water or an essential oil, made from crushed leaves. Fennel is an anti-depressant and also boosts the flow of milk in breastfeeding mothers. It can aid a wide range of ailments: arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, wind, anxiety and melancholy, cellulite, nausea, indigestion, cramps, urinary tract infections, gum disease, and detoxification of the body. Fennel is believed to give long life when taken regularly (fennel tea bags are easy to find).
*The information on this Blogsite has been put together for general information, education, reference, Spirituality Current Events, and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any specific condition. Ask your doctor for his professional advice before making radical changes in your diet and lifestyle.
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