Started the wild plants class tonight-uses for healing

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

We began a series tonight on identifying wild plants that can be used not only for eating but for healing. Thought I'd share my notes with you:

Shepherd's Purse

Around here, it comes in early spring, from late March to the end of April. It has tiny heart shaped seed pods. You can eat it--it has a peppery flavor. But it also has a medicinal use--it stops bleeding. Old timers used to make a tincture, chop up fine, place in 1 pint jar, covering with enough live apple cider vinegar or brandy so that the leaves are just floating freely. Keep in fridge and swish around every so often. 5-10 drops twice a day helped women taper off heavy menses. For really heavy bleeding (such as what may happen after childbirth, or heavy bleeding with bleeding ulcers), 30 drops were given twice a day. It also is a smooth muscle relaxant. The instructor told of when her vet helped with a cat that was having difficulty urinating. The animal was given 3 drops every 15 minutes until it could urinate freely.

Chickweed

A good salad green, it helps with throat irritation, and repairs mucus membranes in the digestive tract. Can be eaten or used in a tea. Combined with cleevers, chickweed makes a salve that is very soothing for rashes and chapped skin. We'll be making some salve next class, so I can explain how it is done.

Plantain

This is nature's band aid. It dries wounds and stimulates skin growth. Chop up leaves and place on wound like a poultice. If you are out hiking and get a blister on your heal, chew up some leaves, put on the blister, and cover with a whole leaf-put sock back on.


I think as economic factors get more dire, it is important to know about wild plants that can be used for food or to give comfort. The instructor said there is an herbalist named Steven Foster living in Eureka Springs who is an expert on all the plants--he's written a Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs. You may wish to see if your library has a copy.