Eat Your Weeds Improve Your Health

A weed is really just a matter of opinion, an unwanted planted to someone trying sculpt their yard. If you read 'Get Rid of Those Pesky Weeds and Heal Your Body' you now know that those horrible weeds, like the dandelion, do have a great healing purpose beyond messing up your perfect landscape. If you are still stuck with other weeds you don't think have any purpose, here are a few more herbal healing weeds.

Burdock (Arctium lappa, Arctium minus)

Parts Used: Roots, seeds, leaves

The seeds of this so called pesky weed have a habit of clinging tightly and taking a free ride on clothes and animal fur. This nuisance can be seen as minor when you know of this plants healing powers. Burdock is an over all tonic. It has been used for skin disorders, to promote the function of the kidneys and help organs to filter blood. It is also a diaphoretic, meaning it can induce sweating, to reduce fevers and other conditions.

Boil the roots, add to soup or season and eat alone. The roots can also be made into beer. The leaves can be eaten raw in a salad and the stalks can be peeled and eaten like celery. For a tea steep 2 teaspoons of dried or fresh burdock in hot water for at least 10 minutes. Use in a poultice or compress for skin problems.

Chickweed (Stellaria media, Stellaria pubera)-

Parts Used: Leaves

Like dandelion, chickweed is often known as a nuisance weed found on lawns or throughout yards. As an herb, chickweed is an anti-inflammatory. It has been shown to work similar to cortisone, without the side effect, when used externally on rashes, rheumatic pains and wounds. As a food it is high in nutrients especially ascorbic acid (vitamin C.)

It can be used in salads and as a quick cooking vegetable green. Use as a medicinal tea fresh or dried. 1 tablespoon dried or double the amount for fresh herbs, with 1 cup of hot water. Use as a poultice or compress for joint inflammation, rashes and other skin problems.

Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

Parts Used: Leaves

Ground Ivy can help relieve mucus congestion from colds and flus. It has anti-inflammatory properties and was used for eye inflammation in ancient Greece. It has also long been use for kidney disease and indigestion.

The herb can be gathered year around and dried to store. It can be used raw in salads, made into a tincture, poultice or made into a tea. Take as a tonic or during a cold or flu.

Use as a medicinal juice, by pressing out juice and taking the juice in teaspoon doses a few times a day. This is effective during colds and flus. As a tea combine 2 teaspoons with 1 cup of hot water, let steep for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)

Parts Used: Leaves, flowers, roots

Kudzu is a non-native plant that has infested the southeast of the United States. Many states have programs to eradicate the plants, but with little success as it grows rapidly and it is hard to completely kill the massive taproots. Many studies have been done on its ability to reduce alcohol cravings and reduce hangovers. It has also been shown to reduce migraines and cluster headaches and is full of nutrients.

The flower blossoms can be made into jelly. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked as a vegetable, to take advantage of it high nutrient content. It can also be made into a tea.

Violets (Viola odorata)

Parts used: Flowers, leaves

Precautions: Eat these only when they are in flower, for best identification, since there is a poisonous plant with similar leaves.

It is hard to see how such a pretty flowering plant can be considered a weed, but it is, to some. This weed has been used to soften cancerous masses, to treat dry coughs and sore throats and used as a mild laxative.

The flavor is sweet and pleasantly bitter. The flowers can be crystallized to make candy. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. To make a tea steep 1/4 cup of herb to one cup of water. To make a syrup add 1 cup of violet flowers and leaves to 1 cup of boiling water place a lid on the container and let sit for 24 hours. After 24 hours, in a pan add 1 1/2 cups of sugar to the flower mixture and bring to a boil, till it thickens. Take 1 Tablespoon medicinally.

Take care when you consume herbs. Know the plant you are consuming and make sure the plant has not been sprayed with chemicals or located near high polluting areas. When using herbs for medicinal purposes, consult a knowledgeable Dr. or a trained naturopath if your health is not well or your are taking prescription medication. Most of all don't stress about the herbal weeds that pop up in your yard. See them for their healing properties and take full advantage.

Sources:

Michael Tierra, L.Ac., OMD 'The Way of Herbs'

Pamela Forey, Cecilia Fitzsimons 'An Instant Guide to Edible Plants'

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE51162Y20090202