For the love of weeds

Natural Health, July-August, 1998 by Laurel Vukovic

Dandelion root tea: Simmer 2 teaspoons of dried dandelion root (or 2 tablespoons of fresh) in 1 cup of water for 15 minutes in a covered pot. Drink 1/2 cup 15 minutes before meals to improve digestion.

Fresh dandelion leaves: Eat raw in salads or sauteed as a side dish.

Personal notes: I never cared for bitter foods, but when a European friend served me a salad laced with tender dandelion leaves, I was immediately hooked by their mildly bitter, nutty flavor. I've since recommended them to other friends. One friend, a chef who loves rich foods, complained of feeling bloated and sluggish after eating. He didn't want to give up his favorite foods, so I suggested that he eat a salad of bitter greens daily and drink dandelion root tea before lunch and dinner. These remedies eased his digestive distress.

MULLEIN (Verbascum thapsus)

Description: Large, broad gray-green velvety leaves grow in a circular and are joined at the base of the stem. Like burdock, mullein (pronounced mull-in) has a two-year life span. During the second year UP a flower spike 8 feet tall covered yellow five-petaled

Part used: Leaf

Habitat: Empty lots, roadsides, seashores. Prefers sunny, open places and dry, sandy a soil.

Harvesting guidelines: Gather leaves early-to-mid summer, they turn brown.

Medicinal use: A tea made from dried mullein leave so congestion, soothes irritated respiratory passages, and helps treat respiratory infections such a and bronchitis.

How to prepare: Mullein leaf tea: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried mullein leave steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink warm, 3 to 4 cups daily, for the duration of your cold.

Personal notes: A few years ago I had a terrible cold with a cough that kept me awake at night. I made a tea from mullein leaves and drank it throughout the day; I also kept a cup by my bedside to sip during the night. The slightly thick, mildly bitter tea loosened the congestion in a my chest and eased my coughing better than any other remedy. I've found that sweetening mullein leaf tea with honey or steeping it with licorice root improves the flavor and increases the expectorant action.

NETTLE (Urtica dioica)

Description: Toothed, pointed dark-green leaves with a heart-shaped base grow in opposite pairs on a ribbed, hollow stem that grows 1 to 5 feet tall. Clusters of inconspicuous green flowers appear at the base of the leaves in late spring. Note: This plant is also known as stinging nettles because it is entirely covered with tiny hairs that cause intense stinging upon contact.

Part used: Leaf

Habitat: Riverbanks, shaded trails, woodlands. Prefers moist, shady environments and rich soil.

Harvesting guidelines: Gather in early spring, before it blooms. Do not harvest it during or after flowering because it may cause irritation to the urinary tract. Note: Wear heavy gloves and a longsleeved shirt when harvesting.

Medicinal uses: Nettle is rich in nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, vitamin C, carotenes, and amino acids. Because nettle is so nutrient-dense, it acts as a tonic, strengthening the body. (Nettles that have been freeze-dried are useful for treating allergies, but unfortunately it isn't possible to freeze dry wild herbs at home.)