Medicinal Weeds Growing in Your Yard

Hello & Welcome to my world!   Medicinal weeds are interesting and most of us remove them from our lawns with poisonous pesticides. Do you do this? I am guilty of using bonus S twice a year and I know I shouldn’t, but if I don’t the yard looks like crap. Please read and let me know your thoughts about this as it is so important for our environment…

Medicinal Weeds Growing in Your Yard

We need to become more self-reliant in our use of natural medicines. That’s why I’ve started an exciting new project to help people learn more about growing or foraging for wild medicines and food: FoodHouseProject.com. To help get you started, here are some of my favorite wild medicines growing in most peoples’ yards or gardens.

CHICKWEED

Often used by herbalists for stomach ailments or to improve your bowel

regularity;  chickweed is also rich in vitamin C and found in many peoples’ lawns. It can be eaten fresh in your salads or made into a tincture by packing plentiful amounts of the herb into an alcohol like vodka and then steeped in a dark, cool place for 2 weeks.

CLEAVERS

Used to treat your urinary tract infections and promote your kidney health,

cleavers can often be found in your lawns or gardens. The herb can be dried upside down and then made into tea using a teaspoon of the dried plant matter in a cup of boiled water and steeped for at least 10 to 15 minutes, strained and drunk.

DANDELION

You won’t have trouble identifying dandelion but you may not be aware that

this much-hated weed is also a great liver regenerator, fat burner, blood sugar balancer, kidney and liver support, and anti-cancer powerhouse.

According to research published in the medical journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, cancer cells began to die off after 48 hours of exposure to dandelion extract. The study also found that dandelion was effective on cancer cells that were resistant to chemotherapy. The young leaves can be eaten raw or you can sautée them like spinach. The flowers can be added to your salads, and the roots can be roasted, ground and then steeped in water like coffee.

MULLEIN

You won’t find the soft, downy leaves of this plant in every lawn but it is

worth grabbing when you do. That’s because it is an amazingly-medicinal plant that can help you with a host of breathing issues, including: allergies, asthma, respiratory infections and even tuberculosis. It is easiest to spot in lawns that haven’t been cut for a while since mullein will grow to around 5 feet tall and yields a seed head of yellow flowers. Research in the journal Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that mullein is rich in compounds that seem to be particularly effective at the bacteria in the lung disease tuberculosis. Hang the plant upside down. Once dried, you can break up the leaves and add to a glass jar with a lid. Use one to 2 teaspoons of the herb per cup of boiled water. Let steep for 10 to 15 minutes then strain and drink up to 3 cups daily.

NETTLES

Most known for their ability to alleviate your allergies and build strong

bones thanks to their rich supply of nutrients like calcium;  nettles may also be beneficial in your treatment of diabetes.

Research in the journal Neuroscience Letters found that nettles reduced high blood sugar levels, reduced your symptoms of excessive thirst, improved your body weight, regulated insulin levels;  reduced the pain of neuropathy, and even improved your memory and cognition in those with the disease. Pick while wearing gloves then add the leaves to soups or stews for a delicious and medicinal addition to your meals.

I must say that I have a love hate relationship with nettles as I have been stung countless times and it takes a good 24 hours to go away. So, generally, I stay away from nettles, which seem to pop up in my yard every year. They have pretty flowers on them too, but beware. Handle with caution!  And a good pair of heavy gloves. If you wear thin garden gloves, they will sting through the gloves. I know from first hand experience…

RED CLOVER

If you ever scoured your lawn as a child in search of 4-leaf clover, you’re

probably already familiar with this plant. Although most have three leaves, there are occasional 4-leaved ones to be found. If you suffer from hot flashes or osteoporosis you’ll agree that this plant is lucky. That’s because red clover can sometimes help you restore low estrogen levels linked to hot flashes. The herb contains natural estrogenic substances known as isoflavones that can help boost low levels of estrogen in your body.

Additionally, research published in the medical journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that formononetin found in red clover was able to help you prevent the development of osteoporosis in animals. A typical dose is 2 to 3 cups of red clover tea daily.

YARROW

The leaves, stems and flowers of this plant make an effective remedy for

cleansing your kidneys, thereby helping to regulate high blood pressure which is actually managed largely by your kidneys. Yarrow is also helpful for bringing down high fevers. Many herbalists recommend the herb to restore your menstruation when it is absent. Usually one teaspoon of the dried herb or two of the fresh are steeped in a cup of boiled water to make a tea, then strained and you drink up to 3 cups daily.

Always make sure you’ve found the correct herb. Work with a qualified herbalist if you are unsure. Consult your physician prior to using these herbs if you have a health condition;  And discontinue use after 3 weeks.

I find this to be extremely useful information about medicinal herbs that may already grow in our yards…

Have a great healthy day!