As we tend our gardens vigorously and gently this season, don’t forget that your weeds can be plant allies too! Yes, they are often aggressive and take up valuable soil space, but I invite you to take a closer look at the uninvited plant guests in your yard or garden.
Dandelions
Dandelions are notorious for invading well-manicured lawns or creeping into gardens, but can they do more good than harm? Pollinators need an early spring food source, and bright dandelion flowers provide just that. That’s why it’s important to wait before digging up those pesky plants. (This is also the idea behind it No mow May!) I’m waiting for the flowers to show their colors and my perennials to emerge for the season. Who knows, you might even enjoy watching the honey bees gracefully hover over your area.
Dandelion is one of the most valuable medicinal plants, because you can use its leaves, roots and flowers! Dandelion flowers can be found in salads at many farm-to-table restaurants because they are delicious and upgrade any dish!
In herbal medicine we cherish dandelion leaf, or Taraxacum officinale, due to its ability to move excess water in the body and supply large amounts of potassium. Dandelion roots support optimal health and are a great coffee substitute when used in hot tea. An important plant compound found in the carrot is inulin, an important source of soluble fiber for optimal health. The root also contains high amounts of vitamins such as A, C, niacin and choline, especially during spring harvests.
Traditionally, dandelion is prepared fresh from the garden in early spring, when your body needs the most nutrients after a long cold winter. You can make a delicious hot tea infusion or simply lightly roast the delicious roots.
Here’s an easy DIY dandelion root tea recipe to drink your weeds:
- Harvest your dandelion root in the spring.
- Wash your carrots thoroughly.
- Cut off the leaves and set aside.
- Cut the carrots into cubes.
- Roast the carrots at 200 F for 30 minutes, until they turn dark brown!
- Make your hot tea infusion in a French press or glass jar. Note: If using a mason jar, strain the root material.
- Enjoy your coffee substitute with milk and honey or drink as a herbal tea!
Wild Lettuce
I find that plants with thorns or spines can be the most useful for our health. Take Rose, for example: its thorns hurt, but are highly prized around the world for its intoxicating aromatics and health benefits.
Wild lettuce, or Lactuca virosa, has small points on the mature stems and the leaves are also extra serrated. That’s why it’s best to pull the bottom of the stems in late spring before the points become super sharp! When you break open the stem or mature leaves, you will find a white, milky liquid that can be freshly squeezed onto burns or taken internally in very small amounts with some hot water. The dried milky white substance (or latex) of wild lettuce is known as Lactucarium and is traditionally prepared in dried rectangular red-brown cakes. The cakes were largely made in Europe; However, some were imported into the US. During this time, Wild Lettuce became known as ‘Little Opium’ as it was popular for its non-addictive, sedative properties.
Modern pharmaceuticals have taken the place of those little cakes, but you can still find Wild Lettuce in traditionally crafted liquid formulas like Serious Relaxer. Drink your weed with Serious Relaxer by adding the right amount to sparkling water, kombucha or your favorite evening tea. Wild Lettuce supports moments of calm and a healthy inflammatory response, making it useful for those sore muscles after pulling weeds in the garden.
Marshmallow root
Here in the Southwestern United States we pick large quantities of marshmallow root from the local garden! It is similar to the Marshmallow root, or Althaea officinalis, often used in herbal formulas such as Hoarse Whisperer, an herbal throat spray for hoarse voices. Althea is larger than your typical garden marshmallow root and resembles hollyhocks. The softening or slimy nature is due to the polysaccharides (plant substances) found mainly in the roots.
Our local garden Marshmallow root here in Colorado likes to establish similar roots and overcrowd most gardens. It takes special tools to uproot it, just like Dandelion.
Soaking plant material containing polysaccharides in water is best because this plant component is water soluble. For example, soaking a tablespoon of chia seeds in the refrigerator overnight can help support digestion if drunk in the morning, and the same goes for marshmallow root. It can be chopped, steeped and/or used as a hot tea infusion.
Weeds are sustainable
If the health benefits of our weeds aren’t enough, perhaps exploring their sustainable nature can sway your opinion about uninvited plant guests. Here at WishGarden Herbs we believe it is important to source sustainable medicinal plants, so it makes sense to use easy-to-grow plant companions such as dandelion, wild lettuce and marshmallow root in our formulas. After all, plant biodiversity must be respected, because plants sustain our way of life – including weeds!
Lauren Ann Nichols-Sheffler attended the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism and received her certificate in Medical Herbalism. She owns it Blue yarrow herbs also known as Herbal Vice, an herbal product company that practices bioregional herbal medicine by growing plants and sourcing locally. Lauren loves educating and advocating for plant sustainability. She is the purchasing and sourcing manager for WishGarden Herbs.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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