My 5 Favorite Medicinal Weeds (Page 5) Me-dic-i-nal: of, or having the properties of medicine. —Webster’s New World Dictionary Some people call them weeds, while others bow in respect to these plants that have been used as medicine long before the pharmaceutical industry attempted to copy their properties in synthetic form. Each spring I look forward to finding my favorite plants bursting to life in my lawn and garden. I have come to know these plants for the nutrients they provide my body, as tonics after a long winter and as medicines I can use to heal whatever might ail me. At the moment these so-called “weeds” are coming in strong and healthy and a good thing too, because the young plants are perfect for moving my kidneys out of winter hibernation and welcoming liver energy for spring.
DIY Medicine Cabinet: Grandma's Remedies (Page 3) By Sarah Irani, EcoSalon via Divine Caroline Is the economy beating you up? It’s time to get creative. Next time you have an ache or pain, forget about a costly trip to the drugstore and test drive some of your grandmother’s remedies instead. It’ll save money and be gentler on your body and the environment. Recessionistas (and Gents), welcome to the DIY medicine cabinet. Indigestion and Heartburn It almost goes without saying–but consider why yoe’re getting heartburn in the first place. Sore Throat Sore, scratchy throats are usually a sign of a cold or flu coming on, so you don’t want to ignore this symptom, but you can relieve the pain by gargling with warm salt water a few times a day and then drinking a soothing honey-lemon tea.
Sore Muscles and Bruises After a hard afternoon of rowing with a friend, I resigned myself to a few days of burning muscles and soreness. Your Likes in Alternative Health. Medicinal Plants-Search By Ailments/Uses. 8 Weeds You Can Eat. If you think everything in your yard that isn't grass must be a nuisance, you're missing out—on a free lunch. Those pesky weeds invading your lush green patch of paradise are actually valuable foods, loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and protein, sometimes even more nutritious than what you'll find at the grocery store. Things like dandelions and clovers are commonly found in American lawns, and if you pick them early, you'll get an incredibly sweet, nutritious addition to your next meal.
Here are some suggestions for finding free munchies in your backyard. Just remember to ID them with a credible source if you’re not plant-savvy—there's even an app for that! If you've got a smart phone, download the Wild Edibles app created by Steve Brill, a botanist known for giving edible-plant tours of New York City's Central Park. Dandelion Perhaps the most familiar lawn weed of them all, the dandelion may also be the weed that’s most known to be edible.
Photo: (cc) digital_image-fan/flickr.