For the love of weeds

Natural Health, July-August, 1998 by Laurel Vukovic

How to prepare: Both drying and cooking nettles neutralizes the stinging compound. Never ingest raw nettles.

Nettle tea: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried nettle leaves and steep for 10 minutes, then strain. Drink 3 cups daily, as often as desired.

Fresh nettle: Steam rinsed leaves for 5 to 10 minutes in a heavy pot with a couple of tablespoons of water. Season with olive oil and lemon.

Personal notes: I was introduced to fresh nettle while living in Europe, where gathering nettle is a spring ritual. An old Serbian villager assured me that if I approached the plant correctly, I wouldn't get stung. Evidently, I didn't have the magic touch, because for a day afterward I had a burning rash on my hands and arms and felt as though I had been stung by an army of red ants. Now I arm myself with heavy gardening gloves and a long-sleeved shirt when collecting nettles. I even wear thick rubber gloves when washing them before eating them. But they are definitely worth the trouble. Fresh nettle is delicious in the early spring, and dried nettle tea is one of my favorite nourishing winter drinks.

PLANTAIN (Plantago major, Plantago lanceolata)

Description: Both species grow in a circular cluster, with leaves that are joined at the stem and have distinct parallel veins. P. major has broad, oval leaves that he close to the ground; it sends up a slender central stalk in midspring that is densely covered with tiny white flowers. P. lanceolata has long, narrow lance-shaped leaves that stand upright, with a slender flower stalk and a short, cylindrical flower head.

Part used: Leaf

Habitat: Backyards, empty lots, fields, meadows, parks, roadsides. Grows in full sun or partial shade.

Harvesting guidelines: Gather at any time of year.

Medicinal uses: Plantain leaves have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and contain natural chemicals that stimulate wound healing. The crushed leaves made into a poultice are excellent for treating bug bites, stings, and minor cuts and wounds.

How to prepare: Plantain leaf poultice: The plant must be thoroughly mashed, and the easiest way to do that is to simply chew the leaves into a paste. If you chew the leaves, be sure they haven't been sprayed with chemicals and rinse them to remove dirt. Apply directly to the affected area and cover with an adhesive bandage. Replace the poultice every 15 to 30 minutes as needed. To keep plantain readily available for poultices, puree fresh leaves with a small amount of water in a blender, freeze in ice cube trays, and thaw individual cubes as needed.

Personal notes: I've had plenty occasions to use plantain on insect bites and stings and have never seen it fail to bring quick relief. On a recent camping trip a friend stumbled into a nest of yellow jackets, and I treated his many stings with tiny plantain poultices. He looked a bit odd covered with bits of green goo, but was happy to have the pain eased.

RED CLOVER (Trifolium pratense)

Description: Oval leaves grow in groups of three with distinctive white "V" markings in the center. Thimble-size pink to purplish-red flower heads appear in early spring. Plant can grow up to 18 inches tall.