Hospitality, Friendship, Encouragement

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Four Plants Found In The Wild


This one is Burdock.  The root is a good blood cleanser,  liver tonic and a mild diuretic.  You can use the leaves cut and layered on cuts, has anti bacterial properties.  It also is used as a digestive stimulant and blood purifier.  It is considered a very gentle and cleansing herb.  The leaves can be used on burns.



This is what the flowers look like.


You can buy the root in a tea form.



This is Purslane.  It grows everywhere around here!  It is mild to the taste and was a great addition to the wild salad we ate today!  It is the best leafy source of Omega 3, 6, 9.  It is also high in beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium. It is surprisingly high in carbohydrates as well as protein.  It has a high iron content.  It is high in all the nutrients that prevent cataracts.  You can eat it raw in salads or saute lightly and put it into soups and stews.



I am delighted to have found out about Jewel Weed.  It grows very well here and is an antidote to poison ivy and poison sumac, probably all the 'poison' plants.  In the spring you can split the stems and apply to the affected area.  Or you can make a "tea" of the leaves and use it to soak the affected area.  Also you can drink the tea and it will be a protection against getting poison for 24 hours.



This is Stinging Nettle.  Don't touch it with your bare hands.  It hurts...I would buy it in tincture form while a novice at this herb stuff.  It is super nutrient rich, it supports the body in times of trauma and provides minerals etc, to aid in healing and rebuilding tissue and bone.  It's cleansing and stimulating effect benefit the whole body.  It is good for fatigue and exhaustion, liver, gallbladder and spleen disorders, headaches, anemia, blood disorders, colds/flu, allergies, faulty circulation, eczema, blood cleansing and building, stimulates the bowel and urinary tract, helps the pancreas.

It does a lot and it seems as if that is crazy, but so many of these issues are tied to the same type of need - cleansing the body of toxins and building it up to strength.

We learned about many more plants on our Wild Herb Walk at an Amish farm today.  I will share more in the up coming days.

I just am reminded every week of what Genesis 1:29-31 - "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed , which is upon the face of the earth,...And God saw everything that He had made and behold, it was very good."  

God gave all these wonderful plants he made to us for food and for nourishment to our bodies.  He is so wise and so awesome!


images:Google images

2 comments:

  1. If it would not be too much trouble, could you share the titles of some of your books used in your teas and tonics? I am very interested in gaining some information about this. I so agree with you. God made this earth with everything we need to sustain our lives. We need to all return to His plan! I love your pictures, Have a great weekend. Enjoy the cool weather...I hear a hot spell is on the way! :)

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  2. You are learning so much!

    I've never used any of these plants but I think my uncle talks about having cooked burdock when he was younger. I don't know what part they ate-stalk or root-but it seems like he said it reminded him of artichoke?

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