Weekend of learning...

I had a very full weekend of training and informative info I wanted to share with all of you.  I attended a session today.  It was "WEEDS FOR FOOD & MEDICINE".  I learned a lot at this one.  Many weeds we see here in Alberta are very beneficial in aiding pain relief.  Here are a few...

PLANTAIN a.k.a. WHITE MAN'S FOOT

 

You can harvest the leaves and stem from this plant.  It is good for bug bites.  Put the leaves in hot water to make a tea if you have a build up of mucus, have bronchitis or other lung issues.  Also using the leaves to make a tea helps in stopping smoking.

SHEPHERD'S PURSE

Harvest the leaves and seeds from this plant.  The seeds look like a heart.  This plant is high in vitamin K.  Shepherd's Purse works for clotting blood, good for high blood pressure, good for circulation, decreases menstrual flow.  The leaves taste like spinach and the heart shape pods taste like pepper.

STINGING NETTLE

 Make sure you wear gloves and have long sleeves on when harvesting Stinging Nettle.  Harvest the leaves, roots and seeds.  Plantain (the plant we described above) usually grows very close to Stinging Nettle.  Stinging Nettle is good for respiratory and urinary systems.  It is a great antihistamine and great for allergies.  Take the leaves to use to make a lotion to use for eczema.  Stinging Nettle cleanses the blood.  It is good for urinary function, menstrual function and great for your kidneys.  Make a tea out of the leaves.  It is high in vitamin A, C and D as well as calcium.  Great for vegetarians.

WILD ROSE

Alberta's plant!  Harvest the roots, leaves and rose hips ,  Great to make a tea.  Petals are good for using as a band aid if you're outside and cut yourself.  It is a very healing.  Rose hips are great for your capillaries and for varicose veins.  Leaves are high in minerals, good for viruses and gives you energy.  Great if you are feeling run down.  Infuse the petals into drinks and foods.

RED CLOVER

Red Clover is good for nitrogen content in the soil.  Harvest only the red petals.  It is great for fertility, reducing menstrual flow, decreases cramping, good for cracked nipples if you are breast feeding, gout, rheumatism, good for psoriasis, arthritis as well as it is a mild expectorant.

DANDELION

Harvest the roots, leaves and flowers.  You can eat all of those.  Dandelions are high in vitamin D.  You can dip the heads in batter and deep fry them.  They are supposed to taste great.  You can also make Dandelion wine.  You can eat the roots like any root vegetable.  Dandelions are good for the digestive system, IBS issues, heartburn, diabetes as well they are anti-inflammatory.  The white liquid that comes out of the stems are great to get rid of warts if you apply topically.