Nettles are easy to grow and will reseed easily! They will also sting you – so beware. (Yes – some plants do like to fight back!) Gloves might be a good idea when harvesting. Unless you like tall plants – like 6 feet – you may want to cut them back. Uses include treatment of painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia, urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH), for urinary tract infections, for hay fever (allergic rhinitis), or in compresses or creams for treating joint pain, sprains and strains, tendonitis, and insect bites.
Dandelion may not be the preferred cut flower to display on your kitchen table – BUT it IS one of the most multipurpose herbs there are! The spring leaves are great in salad and the blossom can be fried in the bud stage as a delicious side dish. The root can be dried and ground as a substitute for coffee. As a medicinal plant, the uses are loooong and continue to increase! Prevent or cure liver diseases, such as hepatitis or jaundice; act as a tonic and gentle diuretic to purify your blood, cleanse your system, dissolve kidney stones, and otherwise improve gastro-intestinal health; assist in weight reduction; cleanse your skin and eliminate acne; improve your bowel function, working equally well to relieve both constipation and diarrhea; prevent or lower high blood pressure; prevent or cure anemia; lower your serum cholesterol by as much as half; eliminate or drastically reduce acid indigestion and gas buildup by cutting the heaviness of fatty foods; prevent or cure various forms of cancer; prevent or control diabetes mellitus; and, at the same time, have no negative side effects and selectively act on only what ails you. A weed you say??? Better rethink that!
Calendula is an important addition to a healer’s garden; in particular, Calendula Officinalis. It is a beautiful orange so doubles as an attractive complement to may other less colorful herbal plants. Calendula appears to fight inflammation, viruses, and bacteria, and helps wounds heal faster. The dried petals of the calendula plant are used in tinctures, ointments, and washes to treat burns, bruises, and cuts, as well as the minor infections they cause. Calendula also has been shown to help prevent dermatitis or skin inflammation in breast cancer patients during radiation therapy. Its gentle nature often lands it as an ingredient in diaper salves and other baby related skincare items. This is another easy ‘reseeder’, so if you operate an infant daycare center, you’re in luck! Look for plants that are sticky with resin, for this is the medicinal quality that you need. I am envisioning cute little babies hiding among these beauties – how sweet is that!
Burdock is a common herb that, like the dandelion, has numerous health benefits and has been used for centuries. It has been traditionally used as a “blood purifier” to clear the bloodstream of toxins, as a diuretic (helping rid the body of excess water by increasing urine output), and as a topical remedy for skin problems such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, burdock is often used with other herbs for sore throat and colds. It contains inulin, a natural dietary fiber, and has also been used for digestive disorders and appears to possess prebiotic properties that could improve health.
Chamomile is a sweetly scented, light tasting herb. Its small and lovely white flowers can add a wispiness and sense of etherealness to any gardener’s plot or container. Yet another long list would be necessary to enumerate the uses of chamomile, but the most common applications are for the treatment of anxiety, insomnia, vertigo, gastritis, colitis, teething, conjunctivitis, inflamed skin, bronchitis and laryngitis.
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If you would like to contribute to this feature with your own nerdy thoughts, please write me at patty@littleacornmedia.com with herb nerd as the subject. *Disclaimer – this information is not intended for the use of diagnosing any disease, condition or prescribing any treatment whatsoever. It is offered for informational use only.