September 5, 2024 • 26 mins
Ever wondered if those pesky dandelions ruining your pristine lawn might actually be a treasure trove of health benefits? Join me, Demetria Clark, on the Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast as we uncover the surprising medicinal and culinary uses of common backyard weeds. From the diuretic power of dandelion leaves, loaded with essential vitamins and minerals, to the liver-supporting properties of their roots, these so-called nuisances might just become your new favorite herb. You’ll also discover innovative ways to incorporate dandelions into your diet, like fresh greens in salads or roasted roots as a coffee alternative, all while gaining historical insight into how early European settlers valued this versatile plant.
But the exploration doesn’t stop there. Learn about the nutritional benefits and uses of plantain, chickweed, and nettle, each with its unique advantages. Hear personal stories highlighting nettle's nutritional value and unexpected role in alleviating carpal tunnel syndrome. Lastly, we shed light on the remarkable red clover, a traditional spring tonic known for its blood-cleansing properties. You’ll leave with a newfound appreciation for the natural remedies right outside your door, eager to embrace your backyard as a source of health and wellness. Tune in, and let's transform those unwanted weeds into your personal apothecary!
Heart of Herbs Herbal School
The Heart of Herbs Podcast with Demetria Clark! 🌿 Tune in for herbal wisdom & wellness tips!
Welcome to the Heart of Herbs Herbal School Podcast, www.heartofherbs.com where we explore the world of herbal remedies and natural health solutions. Before we dive into today's episode, If you want to enroll, use code PODCAST to save 20%.
The content provided in this podcast is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. It is always recommended to consult with a qualified healthcare professional
Learn more at www.heartofherbs.com
Let us help you find your herbal direction!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, this is Demetra Clark, the director of the Heart
of Herbs Herbal School Podcast.
So today I'm really excited, ifyou can't tell, we're going to
talk about your backyardapothecary.
And what do I mean by that?
I mean, like all the weeds andall the herbs that are
beneficial and useful that growin backyards, communities and
(00:25):
fields all over the UnitedStates.
Obviously, in some areasthey'll be easier to find than
others, but this is just ageneral kind of overview, and I
did this because I think mostpeople come to herbs because
herbs are around them and theycan find them in places that are
(00:46):
sacred and special to them.
And so often, for many people,one of the only green spaces
that you have that you can feelis yours is your backyard or
your balcony, where you haveyour plants or your farm's
fields.
These are your green spaces.
So today's episode is yourbackyard apothecary the hidden
(01:08):
power of weeds.
So hey there, fellow naturelovers and budding herbalist,
welcome to another episode ofthe Heart of Herbs Herbal School
Podcast.
This is where we are going touncover hidden gems in your
backyard today and transformwhat you think are pesky weeds
into powerful allies for yourkitchen and medicine cabinet.
(01:29):
I'm Demetria Clark and I'm yourguide today on this botanical
adventure.
Today, we're diving deep intothe world of common backyard
weeds.
These are plants that pop upuninvited and often in the most
inconvenient places.
But guess what?
They're far more than just aneyesore and a nuisance.
Many of these so-called weedshave been used for centuries in
(01:50):
herbal medicine and even in yourkitchen.
So grab your gardening gloves,your notebook and whatever
device you're listening to,because you should go outside
and listen and wander aroundwhile we're talking, because I
bet you're going to find somestuff in your yard that you
didn't really think of before asbeing a powerful plant ally.
(02:13):
I'm going to start off with anherb that is one that most
people know what it looks likeby sight, and it's one that's
often used in commercials todepict pesky weeds.
It's really the poster girl orboy or they for weeds Like they
are the one that you see whenpeople are talking about weeds.
(02:36):
This is one of the first herbsthat comes up.
So what do you think it is?
If you guessed dandelion, thenyou're probably right.
Yes, first up is dandelion,that bright yellow flower that
seems to take over our lawnevery spring.
But did you know?
Dandelion is one of the mostversatile herbs you can find.
(02:57):
This herb has a long history ofhealing and food use and wine
use.
Dandelion is super versatile.
So medicinally, dandelion is apowerful diuretic.
It helps eliminate excess waterand that's also why it's often
(03:18):
called the piss-a-bed herb.
Its leaves are rich in vitaminsA, c and K and it's loaded with
minerals like iron andpotassium.
So just medicinally, the leavesoffer so many uses.
(03:40):
So the root, on the other handright, is a fantastic liver
tonic and detoxifier.
It's used in herbal medicine tosupport digestion and liver
function and even to balancehormones and I'm so sorry I just
hit my mic because I'm floppingmy hands all over the place.
So here's some of the medicinalproperties of dandelion.
(04:00):
It's a diuretic, so dandelionleaves are known for their
diuretic properties, helping toincrease urine production and
flush excess water and toxinsfrom the body.
So this can be reallybeneficial for conditions like
edema or high blood pressure.
Liver support.
The roots of dandelion are usedas a liver tonic and detoxifier
(04:21):
and they help stimulatebioproduction, supporting
digestion and the elimination oftoxins from the body.
Dandelion root is often used totreat liver conditions such as
hepatitis and jaundice.
So remember we are not givingyou any medical advice.
I need to say this, like allthe time.
I guess this is up to you tolearn about and to explore.
(04:41):
This is not to be taken asmedical advice or legal advice,
financial advice or any otherkind of advice.
It's just information about thetraditional uses of these herbs
.
So it also uses a digestive aid, stimulating appetite and aids
in digestion by increasing theproduction of stomach acid and
bile, so it can be useful forconditions like indigestion,
(05:03):
bloating and constipation.
It also works as ananti-inflammatory, so it can be
useful for conditions likeindigestion, bloating and
constipation.
It also works as ananti-inflammatory, so it can
help reduce inflammation in thebody, making it useful for
conditions like arthritis.
And it's rich in antioxidants,and antioxidants help protect
cells from damage caused by freeradicals and may support the
overall health and well-being ofyour body.
(05:24):
So culinary uses so we know youcan make wine.
You can make dandelion wine,but you can also use the greens,
much like spinach or kale.
You're going to want to usethem when they're young.
They're less bitter.
It also makes them a greataddition to salads, sautés,
smoothies, for a nutrient-packedpunch.
So I used to always put freshdandelion leaves in the food I
(05:48):
was cooking my children.
So it would be like the greenin the mac and cheese if I was
doing something like that.
Or I would use it powdered onpopcorn with nutritional yeast
and, you know, I would use it insalads or smoothies.
Kids didn't seem to mind at all.
(06:09):
The flowers can be used to makedandelion wine or jelly, and the
roasted roots often are a greataddition to coffee or as a
coffee substitute.
So dandelions are not native toNorth America.
They were brought here by earlyEuropean settlers who valued
them as food and as a medicinesource.
So the next time you see thesesunny little flowers, you may
(06:32):
want to think twice before you,you know, pour stuff on them to
eradicate them.
They definitely have uses andthey definitely could be a good
food source.
So if you're a prepper orsomeone who's worried about that
kind of stuff, there woulddefinitely be one to keep in the
yard.
Look, green lawns were not athing until we decided to make
(06:54):
them a thing.
So we can unmake them a thingtoo.
So the other one is plantain.
So the next on our list isPlantago Major.
So listen, this is not theplantain that you see in the
grocery store.
It's not the banana-like fruit.
Those are yummy, completelydifferent.
This is a low-growing broadleafplant that's probably growing
(07:16):
between the cracks of yourdriveway right now or, you know,
up along the side of yourgarden beds.
They don't mind, they'll justgrow anywheres.
The thing to remember is thatthey're coming if they have a
few different leaf shapes.
So definitely go and look thisup, because I guarantee you
probably have it in yourbackyard.
So plantain is an incredibleherb for skin health.
(07:38):
It's anti-inflammatory,anti-microbial and excellent for
soothing insect bites, cuts andrashes.
Simply crush the fresh leavesand apply them directly to the
skin as a poultice.
Internally, plantain can beused to support digestion and
heal the gut lining, making it agreat herb for conditions like
leaky gut or irritable bowelsyndrome.
Plantain leaves have a stronganti-inflammatory and
(08:02):
antimicrobial properties, makingthem excellent for treating
cuts, scrapes, insect bites andrashes.
They help draw toxins and speedup the healing process.
It is great for soothing theskin because it is soothing and
cooling, which makes iteffective for treating skin
irritations like eczema,psoriasis and sunburn.
So if you were a proper like Iwas just saying, right, plantain
(08:25):
is something that youdefinitely want to keep in your
yard.
Not only can you eat it, it hasa lot of great topical and
internal medicinal uses, so itreally packs a nice,
well-rounded punch.
It's a demulcent, so that meansit forms a soothing film over
mucus membranes, making itbeneficial and useful for
(08:46):
digestive health.
So if you are someone who campsa lot or is a prepper or goes
to a lot of festivals orgatherings where things like
Giardia and stuff like that goesaround, so plantain is going to
be one that you're going towant to know what it looks like,
because it can really behelpful for soothing conditions
(09:06):
like gastritis, ulcers,irritable bowel syndrome.
It's good for diarrhea.
It's definitely one of thoseherbs that you're going to want
to keep on hand.
It also can help sootheinflamed mucus membranes in the
respiratory system, making ituseful for conditions like
coughs, colds and bronchitis.
So you could make a syrup outof the leaves.
You know, a tea and honey areally strong tea and honey
(09:31):
could be a good, easy coughsyrup on the go that can help
with those conditions.
It also reduces inflammationinternally and externally, so
you can use it as compresses orteas to help with inflammatory
conditions.
In the kitchen, plantain leavescan be eaten raw, when they're
young and tender, or cooked likeother leafy greens.
(09:52):
The seeds can be harvested andused like a mini psyllium husk,
which is great for fiber intake.
So plantain was known as whiteman's footprint by indigenous
people in the United States,because it seemed to spring up
wherever European settlers went,due to its seeds, hitching a
ride on their shoes and theiranimals.
The next is chickweed.
(10:14):
So chickweed is that delicatesprawling plant with tiny white
star-shaped flowers.
But don't let its daintyappearance fool you this weed is
a powerhouse.
It also is one that you canpull out really, really easily
Like it does not have reallylong, strong, deep root systems.
(10:35):
It's often used in herbalmedicine as a cooling herb,
perfect for reducinginflammation and treating skin
irritations.
It's also a mild diuretic andcan be used to support urinary
tract health.
Chickweed is rich in vitaminsand minerals, making it a great
general tonic and great forboosting overall health.
It's anti-inflammatory.
(10:55):
It helps to reduce inflammation, making it useful for treating
skin conditions like eczema,rashes and insect bites.
So chickweed and plantain aregreat for insect bites and
they're really easy to usebecause you could just mash them
up and put it right on the biteand it'll start soothing it
right away.
It has demulsant properties,soothing mucous membranes and
(11:17):
irritated tissues bothinternally and externally.
It also works as a milddiuretic, helping to support the
elimination of excess fluidsthroughout the body, which can
be helpful for reducing swellingand edema.
Chickweed is also known for itsability to promote the healing
of wounds and sores when appliedtopically.
(11:38):
So chickweed and plantain Imean, can you see how these two
things could just work togetherand be dynamos?
Traditionally, tickweed also hasbeen used to support weight
loss and metabolism.
Though the evidence on this islimited, there are a lot of
traditional herbalists whoreally believe that this is
(11:58):
something that really works forthem and their clients.
So it is one of those things itis not going to hurt you to try
if that's something that youwant to do.
It's also great culinarilybeing added to food, so it's
pretty easy to incorporate itinto your diet because you can
use it in salads, sandwiches,smoothies, pastos, garnishes
(12:21):
they can be added to so manydifferent things to make your
experience better.
So definitely, like you know,do not hesitate to bring that
into your life.
Obviously, with any herb thatwe talk about, if you have any
kind of interaction or reaction,stop using immediately.
(12:44):
Or if you were allergic to theplant family that that herb is
from, do not use it.
There's no such thing as ahealing crisis.
Chickweed has been usedtraditionally as a remedy for
lots of different things overthe years, and it is definitely
one that you're going to want tokeep an eye on and incorporate
into your life.
So the next is nettle, one thatyou're going to want to keep an
(13:06):
eye on and incorporate intoyour life.
So the next is nettle, and itcan be about as fun as its name.
Sometimes Nettle is notoriousfor its sting, but once you get
past its prickly exterior,nettle is one of the most
nutritious plants you can find.
The great thing about nettle,too, is if you harvest it when
it's really young, there aren'tas many prickly, spiny, thorny
things on it that causeirritation.
But I will tell you, years andyears ago, before I really even
(13:30):
knew what carpal tunnel syndromewas like it wasn't even in our
lexicon I was pregnant with myfirst child and I had one of
those really old, like bankersoak chairs to use at my desk,
because I had one of the veryfirst computers out for like
mass production, because I wasgoing to go back to school, and
so I was sitting at my desk allday long writing papers and
(13:56):
didn't realize that when you'repregnant, you're more
susceptible to carpal tunnelsyndrome.
Number one and number two, thatI wasn't sitting in a good
chair, I wasn't sitting with youknow right posture and all this
other stuff, because nobody wastalking about that.
This was in the early 90s andso I had our mid-90s.
I had no idea what the way Iwas sitting and the way I was
(14:19):
working was really bad for mybody, and so I developed carpal
tunnel syndrome.
Long story short, what I didaccidentally discover along the
way maybe about two, two and ahalf years later, I accidentally
moved my arm.
I was pregnant with my secondchild by then and my carpal
(14:40):
tunnel had been acting up and Imoved my arm through some
stinging nettle and so I got abunch of stings on my left arm
and the pain went away.
And so for years I would go getstung by stinging nettle about
once a year to help keep mycarpal tunnel at bay.
I would joke that it was likealong the same lines as a you
(15:03):
know something like bee venomtherapy or something.
But it worked and I I currently, um, I currently, to this day
think that just getting you know, a bunch of stings on my arm, I
don't know, reset something inthere and and my and my arm
stopped bugging me.
Now I'm not saying go and rollaround and get stung by stinging
(15:24):
nettle.
I'm just sharing a fun littlestory and why I like it so much.
Nettle is a nutritiouspowerhouse herb.
It's rich in iron and calciumand calcium, magnesium, vitamin
A's and C.
It's used as a tonic to buildblood, support kidney function
(15:49):
and alleviate allergies.
Thanks to its naturalantihistamine properties, nettle
is also an excellent herb forpromoting healthy hair and skin.
So just another little fun fact.
Well, I don't know if it's a funfact for you or not, or if I'm
just rambling, but I have a dogthat gets really, really bad
allergies in the spring.
We moved to a new place and onour new little farm something is
(16:11):
causing him allergies in thespring, and the first year we
were here it was so bad Iactually thought he got attacked
by an animal because he hadbeen scratching his face so hard
.
And so now I, just in thespringtime, I incorporate a
little bit of dried nettle intothe dog food mix-ins that I make
, and it seems to help him justa little bit to help him with
(16:35):
handling some of his allergies,because I don't want to put him
on a bunch of drugs that slowhim down and that he doesn't
like.
If I don't have to, obviouslyI'll do whatever I need to to
make sure everyone's healthy wholives in my environment.
But if I can hit it withsomething natural first, I'd
definitely do 110%.
So nettle is also an excellentherb for promoting healthy hair
(16:58):
and skin.
It's nutrient rich, so we'realready saying that it has tons
of you know iron, calcium,magnesium, vitamins A, c and K.
It's also often used in ageneral tonic to support overall
health and vitality.
You'll also see it in a lot ofPMS formulas and pregnancy
(17:18):
formulas.
Because of the nutrition.
It's also an anti-inflammatory,making it useful for conditions
like arthritis, joint pain andmuscle aches.
It has lots of naturalantihistamine to help you with
allergy relief, such as hayfever, seasonal allergies and
(17:38):
other allergic type reactions.
Obviously, listen, if you'regoing into like anaphylaxis or
you have a really, really severeallergy that could kill you, do
not reach for a nettle first.
Do the protocol that you needto do to keep yourself healthy
and well.
It also works as a diuretic tohelp promote urine production
(18:02):
and can be used to supportkidney function and treat
urinary tract infections.
Because it's high in iron.
It's also used in many formulasthat help support healthy blood
production and anemia.
Nettle is also used to supportrespiratory health and can help
with conditions like asthma,bronchitis and eczema.
(18:23):
In the kitchen, nettle can beused much as the same way as
spinach, just make sure you cookit first to neutralize the
sting.
Nettle soup, pesto and tea arejust a few ways to incorporate
this herb into your diet.
You could do powdered nettleand bread, or you could add
nettle tea to smoothies, or theliquid and items that you are
(18:45):
cooking soups, stews, the liquidand breads.
You can do all kinds of thingswith it.
So fun fact and you may haveseen this person on the
interwebs.
I don't know their account name, but I watched them for a
little bit and then I lost thembut basically they were using
nettle fibers to make cloth andI was like that's so great.
(19:09):
There's so many things like if Ihad the time and I plan on like
doing when I retire and this ison my list I want to grow my
own fabric.
If you know me, you know I lovelinen.
You know I.
This is on my list.
I want to grow my own fabric.
If you know me.
You know I love linen, you knowI love natural cotton, so this
is just like this to me would belike next level.
I would just love it.
I've always wanted to make myown fabric.
(19:29):
I'm not sure where that camefrom, because I can't sew, so I
would have to learn how to sewtoo.
And I've tried to learn how tosew and it didn't go well.
But I'm thinking, as I getolder and I come from a long
line of quilters, maybe I canlearn how to do this.
So it's definitely somethingthat is a fun thing to add to
(19:51):
your just fun fact file aboutnettle.
It's just so cool that you canalso use it to make fabric, and
that they did during the secondworld war, when things like
linen, linen and hemp were inshort supply.
Nettles are also used as asubstitute um in Germany for
cotton during the First WorldWar.
(20:13):
So that's definitely somethingto you know.
There were times in our historywhere we used lots of different
things in our lives and they'vegone out of style, but it could
be something that's reallysustainable, and so to me that
just sounds really cool.
It's something that I'd like tolearn more about.
All right, so last but not theleast is red clover, and red
(20:37):
clover is found all over theplace.
It's beautiful.
You've probably gotten it in abouquet if you have children.
It's a beautiful flower andit's a favorite of bees and it's
(20:58):
a favorite of bees, so I alwayslove it.
When I drive by like a largefield of just wildly occurring
red clover, I just think it's sobeautiful and you can see just
like the haze of the bees justbuzzing around, so I love red
clover.
Red quail over is well known forits phytoestrogen content,
making it a popular choice forsupporting women's health,
particularly during menopause.
It's also used as a bloodpurifier and to support
(21:20):
lymphatic drainage.
It can be helpful for skinconditions like eczema and
psoriasis.
Red clover contains isoflavones, which are plant-based
compounds that mimic estrogen,making it particularly useful
for managing menopausal symptomssuch as hot flashes and
(21:41):
hormonal imbalances.
It's also an herb that Isuggest people take when they
are getting their bodies readyto get pregnant.
It seems to be really helpfulfor people who are experiencing
some forms of infertility.
Of course, I'm not a fertilitydoctor.
(22:01):
I'm just sharing what I haveshared with clients over the
years and success stories.
It also is called a bloodpurifier, but I don't really
like that word, because what itdoes is it just helps build our
blood back up and to really aidour bodies in removing toxins
(22:24):
from the body.
It's believed to help improvecirculation and support the
lymphatic system.
Red clover has anti-inflammatoryproperties, which can be
beneficial for conditions likearthritis and other inflammatory
disorders.
It's also used to relievecoughs and respiratory
conditions such as bronchitisand whooping cough due to its
(22:46):
expectorant properties.
So we already have two herbsthat we could turn into a nice
cough syrup.
See how this works.
They can all work together.
We also have a few herbs thatwe can turn into a nice cough
syrup.
See how this works.
They can all work together.
We also have a few herbs thatwe can apply topically to treat
skin conditions like eczema,psoriasis and rashes, because
they're soothing, and red cloveris one that is great for that
(23:08):
also.
The flowers of the red clovercan be added to salads, soups or
teas.
They have a slightly sweet,grassy flavor and are rich in
vitamins and minerals.
You can also put the blossomson cakes and pastries and in
bread.
Red clover is a soothing,nutritive drink that can be
enjoyed daily.
(23:29):
So the great thing with redclover is that it tastes
delicious and so it's reallyeasy to get young ones to drink
because it almost tastes fruityand lots of kids like it.
Red clover is a traditionalspring tonic in many cultures,
so it's thought to cleanse theblood and renew the body after a
(23:50):
long winter, and so it'ssomething that lots of different
cultures use in their springrenewal tonics.
So I think that going over thesefive was just so much fun, and
I hope that you learned a lotabout these five amazing guests
in your garden, and next timeyou're out in your backyard,
(24:15):
take a closer look at theseso-called weeds.
You might find your next herbalremedy or gourmet ingredient
right under your nose.
Thank you so much for joiningme on this journey into the
world of your backyardapothecary.
I hope you're inspired toexplore the natural pharmacy and
kitchen garden right outsideyour door.
Don't forget to subscribe andshare our podcast.
(24:38):
Every little bit helps.
It really does.
We want to be able to bring ourstudents and the herbal world
at large more fun informationand to give herbalism more of a
voice throughout the world, andyou help by doing that, by
sharing and listening andsending us questions.
(24:59):
So thank you so much.
Don't forget to subscribe anduntil next time, happy foraging,
and may your weeds always begreen.
Hi, this is Demetra Clark, the director of the Heart
of Herbs Herbal School Podcast.
So today I'm really excited, ifyou can't tell, we're going to
talk about your backyardapothecary.
And what do I mean by that?
I mean, like all the weeds andall the herbs that are
beneficial and useful that growin backyards, communities and
(00:25):
fields all over the UnitedStates.
Obviously, in some areasthey'll be easier to find than
others, but this is just ageneral kind of overview, and I
did this because I think mostpeople come to herbs because
herbs are around them and theycan find them in places that are
(00:46):
sacred and special to them.
And so often, for many people,one of the only green spaces
that you have that you can feelis yours is your backyard or
your balcony, where you haveyour plants or your farm's
fields.
These are your green spaces.
So today's episode is yourbackyard apothecary the hidden
(01:08):
power of weeds.
So hey there, fellow naturelovers and budding herbalist,
welcome to another episode ofthe Heart of Herbs Herbal School
Podcast.
This is where we are going touncover hidden gems in your
backyard today and transformwhat you think are pesky weeds
into powerful allies for yourkitchen and medicine cabinet.
(01:29):
I'm Demetria Clark and I'm yourguide today on this botanical
adventure.
Today, we're diving deep intothe world of common backyard
weeds.
These are plants that pop upuninvited and often in the most
inconvenient places.
But guess what?
They're far more than just aneyesore and a nuisance.
Many of these so-called weedshave been used for centuries in
(01:50):
herbal medicine and even in yourkitchen.
So grab your gardening gloves,your notebook and whatever
device you're listening to,because you should go outside
and listen and wander aroundwhile we're talking, because I
bet you're going to find somestuff in your yard that you
didn't really think of before asbeing a powerful plant ally.
(02:13):
I'm going to start off with anherb that is one that most
people know what it looks likeby sight, and it's one that's
often used in commercials todepict pesky weeds.
It's really the poster girl orboy or they for weeds Like they
are the one that you see whenpeople are talking about weeds.
(02:36):
This is one of the first herbsthat comes up.
So what do you think it is?
If you guessed dandelion, thenyou're probably right.
Yes, first up is dandelion,that bright yellow flower that
seems to take over our lawnevery spring.
But did you know?
Dandelion is one of the mostversatile herbs you can find.
(02:57):
This herb has a long history ofhealing and food use and wine
use.
Dandelion is super versatile.
So medicinally, dandelion is apowerful diuretic.
It helps eliminate excess waterand that's also why it's often
(03:18):
called the piss-a-bed herb.
Its leaves are rich in vitaminsA, c and K and it's loaded with
minerals like iron andpotassium.
So just medicinally, the leavesoffer so many uses.
(03:40):
So the root, on the other handright, is a fantastic liver
tonic and detoxifier.
It's used in herbal medicine tosupport digestion and liver
function and even to balancehormones and I'm so sorry I just
hit my mic because I'm floppingmy hands all over the place.
So here's some of the medicinalproperties of dandelion.
(04:00):
It's a diuretic, so dandelionleaves are known for their
diuretic properties, helping toincrease urine production and
flush excess water and toxinsfrom the body.
So this can be reallybeneficial for conditions like
edema or high blood pressure.
Liver support.
The roots of dandelion are usedas a liver tonic and detoxifier
(04:21):
and they help stimulatebioproduction, supporting
digestion and the elimination oftoxins from the body.
Dandelion root is often used totreat liver conditions such as
hepatitis and jaundice.
So remember we are not givingyou any medical advice.
I need to say this, like allthe time.
I guess this is up to you tolearn about and to explore.
(04:41):
This is not to be taken asmedical advice or legal advice,
financial advice or any otherkind of advice.
It's just information about thetraditional uses of these herbs
.
So it also uses a digestive aid, stimulating appetite and aids
in digestion by increasing theproduction of stomach acid and
bile, so it can be useful forconditions like indigestion,
(05:03):
bloating and constipation.
It also works as ananti-inflammatory, so it can be
useful for conditions likeindigestion, bloating and
constipation.
It also works as ananti-inflammatory, so it can
help reduce inflammation in thebody, making it useful for
conditions like arthritis.
And it's rich in antioxidants,and antioxidants help protect
cells from damage caused by freeradicals and may support the
overall health and well-being ofyour body.
(05:24):
So culinary uses so we know youcan make wine.
You can make dandelion wine,but you can also use the greens,
much like spinach or kale.
You're going to want to usethem when they're young.
They're less bitter.
It also makes them a greataddition to salads, sautés,
smoothies, for a nutrient-packedpunch.
So I used to always put freshdandelion leaves in the food I
(05:48):
was cooking my children.
So it would be like the greenin the mac and cheese if I was
doing something like that.
Or I would use it powdered onpopcorn with nutritional yeast
and, you know, I would use it insalads or smoothies.
Kids didn't seem to mind at all.
(06:09):
The flowers can be used to makedandelion wine or jelly, and the
roasted roots often are a greataddition to coffee or as a
coffee substitute.
So dandelions are not native toNorth America.
They were brought here by earlyEuropean settlers who valued
them as food and as a medicinesource.
So the next time you see thesesunny little flowers, you may
(06:32):
want to think twice before you,you know, pour stuff on them to
eradicate them.
They definitely have uses andthey definitely could be a good
food source.
So if you're a prepper orsomeone who's worried about that
kind of stuff, there woulddefinitely be one to keep in the
yard.
Look, green lawns were not athing until we decided to make
(06:54):
them a thing.
So we can unmake them a thingtoo.
So the other one is plantain.
So the next on our list isPlantago Major.
So listen, this is not theplantain that you see in the
grocery store.
It's not the banana-like fruit.
Those are yummy, completelydifferent.
This is a low-growing broadleafplant that's probably growing
(07:16):
between the cracks of yourdriveway right now or, you know,
up along the side of yourgarden beds.
They don't mind, they'll justgrow anywheres.
The thing to remember is thatthey're coming if they have a
few different leaf shapes.
So definitely go and look thisup, because I guarantee you
probably have it in yourbackyard.
So plantain is an incredibleherb for skin health.
(07:38):
It's anti-inflammatory,anti-microbial and excellent for
soothing insect bites, cuts andrashes.
Simply crush the fresh leavesand apply them directly to the
skin as a poultice.
Internally, plantain can beused to support digestion and
heal the gut lining, making it agreat herb for conditions like
leaky gut or irritable bowelsyndrome.
Plantain leaves have a stronganti-inflammatory and
(08:02):
antimicrobial properties, makingthem excellent for treating
cuts, scrapes, insect bites andrashes.
They help draw toxins and speedup the healing process.
It is great for soothing theskin because it is soothing and
cooling, which makes iteffective for treating skin
irritations like eczema,psoriasis and sunburn.
So if you were a proper like Iwas just saying, right, plantain
(08:25):
is something that youdefinitely want to keep in your
yard.
Not only can you eat it, it hasa lot of great topical and
internal medicinal uses, so itreally packs a nice,
well-rounded punch.
It's a demulcent, so that meansit forms a soothing film over
mucus membranes, making itbeneficial and useful for
(08:46):
digestive health.
So if you are someone who campsa lot or is a prepper or goes
to a lot of festivals orgatherings where things like
Giardia and stuff like that goesaround, so plantain is going to
be one that you're going towant to know what it looks like,
because it can really behelpful for soothing conditions
(09:06):
like gastritis, ulcers,irritable bowel syndrome.
It's good for diarrhea.
It's definitely one of thoseherbs that you're going to want
to keep on hand.
It also can help sootheinflamed mucus membranes in the
respiratory system, making ituseful for conditions like
coughs, colds and bronchitis.
So you could make a syrup outof the leaves.
You know, a tea and honey areally strong tea and honey
(09:31):
could be a good, easy coughsyrup on the go that can help
with those conditions.
It also reduces inflammationinternally and externally, so
you can use it as compresses orteas to help with inflammatory
conditions.
In the kitchen, plantain leavescan be eaten raw, when they're
young and tender, or cooked likeother leafy greens.
(09:52):
The seeds can be harvested andused like a mini psyllium husk,
which is great for fiber intake.
So plantain was known as whiteman's footprint by indigenous
people in the United States,because it seemed to spring up
wherever European settlers went,due to its seeds, hitching a
ride on their shoes and theiranimals.
The next is chickweed.
(10:14):
So chickweed is that delicatesprawling plant with tiny white
star-shaped flowers.
But don't let its daintyappearance fool you this weed is
a powerhouse.
It also is one that you canpull out really, really easily
Like it does not have reallylong, strong, deep root systems.
(10:35):
It's often used in herbalmedicine as a cooling herb,
perfect for reducinginflammation and treating skin
irritations.
It's also a mild diuretic andcan be used to support urinary
tract health.
Chickweed is rich in vitaminsand minerals, making it a great
general tonic and great forboosting overall health.
It's anti-inflammatory.
(10:55):
It helps to reduce inflammation, making it useful for treating
skin conditions like eczema,rashes and insect bites.
So chickweed and plantain aregreat for insect bites and
they're really easy to usebecause you could just mash them
up and put it right on the biteand it'll start soothing it
right away.
It has demulsant properties,soothing mucous membranes and
(11:17):
irritated tissues bothinternally and externally.
It also works as a milddiuretic, helping to support the
elimination of excess fluidsthroughout the body, which can
be helpful for reducing swellingand edema.
Chickweed is also known for itsability to promote the healing
of wounds and sores when appliedtopically.
(11:38):
So chickweed and plantain Imean, can you see how these two
things could just work togetherand be dynamos?
Traditionally, tickweed also hasbeen used to support weight
loss and metabolism.
Though the evidence on this islimited, there are a lot of
traditional herbalists whoreally believe that this is
(11:58):
something that really works forthem and their clients.
So it is one of those things itis not going to hurt you to try
if that's something that youwant to do.
It's also great culinarilybeing added to food, so it's
pretty easy to incorporate itinto your diet because you can
use it in salads, sandwiches,smoothies, pastos, garnishes
(12:21):
they can be added to so manydifferent things to make your
experience better.
So definitely, like you know,do not hesitate to bring that
into your life.
Obviously, with any herb thatwe talk about, if you have any
kind of interaction or reaction,stop using immediately.
(12:44):
Or if you were allergic to theplant family that that herb is
from, do not use it.
There's no such thing as ahealing crisis.
Chickweed has been usedtraditionally as a remedy for
lots of different things overthe years, and it is definitely
one that you're going to want tokeep an eye on and incorporate
into your life.
So the next is nettle, one thatyou're going to want to keep an
(13:06):
eye on and incorporate intoyour life.
So the next is nettle, and itcan be about as fun as its name.
Sometimes Nettle is notoriousfor its sting, but once you get
past its prickly exterior,nettle is one of the most
nutritious plants you can find.
The great thing about nettle,too, is if you harvest it when
it's really young, there aren'tas many prickly, spiny, thorny
things on it that causeirritation.
But I will tell you, years andyears ago, before I really even
(13:30):
knew what carpal tunnel syndromewas like it wasn't even in our
lexicon I was pregnant with myfirst child and I had one of
those really old, like bankersoak chairs to use at my desk,
because I had one of the veryfirst computers out for like
mass production, because I wasgoing to go back to school, and
so I was sitting at my desk allday long writing papers and
(13:56):
didn't realize that when you'repregnant, you're more
susceptible to carpal tunnelsyndrome.
Number one and number two, thatI wasn't sitting in a good
chair, I wasn't sitting with youknow right posture and all this
other stuff, because nobody wastalking about that.
This was in the early 90s andso I had our mid-90s.
I had no idea what the way Iwas sitting and the way I was
(14:19):
working was really bad for mybody, and so I developed carpal
tunnel syndrome.
Long story short, what I didaccidentally discover along the
way maybe about two, two and ahalf years later, I accidentally
moved my arm.
I was pregnant with my secondchild by then and my carpal
(14:40):
tunnel had been acting up and Imoved my arm through some
stinging nettle and so I got abunch of stings on my left arm
and the pain went away.
And so for years I would go getstung by stinging nettle about
once a year to help keep mycarpal tunnel at bay.
I would joke that it was likealong the same lines as a you
(15:03):
know something like bee venomtherapy or something.
But it worked and I I currently, um, I currently, to this day
think that just getting you know, a bunch of stings on my arm, I
don't know, reset something inthere and and my and my arm
stopped bugging me.
Now I'm not saying go and rollaround and get stung by stinging
(15:24):
nettle.
I'm just sharing a fun littlestory and why I like it so much.
Nettle is a nutritiouspowerhouse herb.
It's rich in iron and calciumand calcium, magnesium, vitamin
A's and C.
It's used as a tonic to buildblood, support kidney function
(15:49):
and alleviate allergies.
Thanks to its naturalantihistamine properties, nettle
is also an excellent herb forpromoting healthy hair and skin.
So just another little fun fact.
Well, I don't know if it's a funfact for you or not, or if I'm
just rambling, but I have a dogthat gets really, really bad
allergies in the spring.
We moved to a new place and onour new little farm something is
(16:11):
causing him allergies in thespring, and the first year we
were here it was so bad Iactually thought he got attacked
by an animal because he hadbeen scratching his face so hard
.
And so now I, just in thespringtime, I incorporate a
little bit of dried nettle intothe dog food mix-ins that I make
, and it seems to help him justa little bit to help him with
(16:35):
handling some of his allergies,because I don't want to put him
on a bunch of drugs that slowhim down and that he doesn't
like.
If I don't have to, obviouslyI'll do whatever I need to to
make sure everyone's healthy wholives in my environment.
But if I can hit it withsomething natural first, I'd
definitely do 110%.
So nettle is also an excellentherb for promoting healthy hair
(16:58):
and skin.
It's nutrient rich, so we'realready saying that it has tons
of you know iron, calcium,magnesium, vitamins A, c and K.
It's also often used in ageneral tonic to support overall
health and vitality.
You'll also see it in a lot ofPMS formulas and pregnancy
(17:18):
formulas.
Because of the nutrition.
It's also an anti-inflammatory,making it useful for conditions
like arthritis, joint pain andmuscle aches.
It has lots of naturalantihistamine to help you with
allergy relief, such as hayfever, seasonal allergies and
(17:38):
other allergic type reactions.
Obviously, listen, if you'regoing into like anaphylaxis or
you have a really, really severeallergy that could kill you, do
not reach for a nettle first.
Do the protocol that you needto do to keep yourself healthy
and well.
It also works as a diuretic tohelp promote urine production
(18:02):
and can be used to supportkidney function and treat
urinary tract infections.
Because it's high in iron.
It's also used in many formulasthat help support healthy blood
production and anemia.
Nettle is also used to supportrespiratory health and can help
with conditions like asthma,bronchitis and eczema.
(18:23):
In the kitchen, nettle can beused much as the same way as
spinach, just make sure you cookit first to neutralize the
sting.
Nettle soup, pesto and tea arejust a few ways to incorporate
this herb into your diet.
You could do powdered nettleand bread, or you could add
nettle tea to smoothies, or theliquid and items that you are
(18:45):
cooking soups, stews, the liquidand breads.
You can do all kinds of thingswith it.
So fun fact and you may haveseen this person on the
interwebs.
I don't know their account name, but I watched them for a
little bit and then I lost thembut basically they were using
nettle fibers to make cloth andI was like that's so great.
(19:09):
There's so many things like if Ihad the time and I plan on like
doing when I retire and this ison my list I want to grow my
own fabric.
If you know me, you know I lovelinen.
You know I.
This is on my list.
I want to grow my own fabric.
If you know me.
You know I love linen, you knowI love natural cotton, so this
is just like this to me would belike next level.
I would just love it.
I've always wanted to make myown fabric.
(19:29):
I'm not sure where that camefrom, because I can't sew, so I
would have to learn how to sewtoo.
And I've tried to learn how tosew and it didn't go well.
But I'm thinking, as I getolder and I come from a long
line of quilters, maybe I canlearn how to do this.
So it's definitely somethingthat is a fun thing to add to
(19:51):
your just fun fact file aboutnettle.
It's just so cool that you canalso use it to make fabric, and
that they did during the secondworld war, when things like
linen, linen and hemp were inshort supply.
Nettles are also used as asubstitute um in Germany for
cotton during the First WorldWar.
(20:13):
So that's definitely somethingto you know.
There were times in our historywhere we used lots of different
things in our lives and they'vegone out of style, but it could
be something that's reallysustainable, and so to me that
just sounds really cool.
It's something that I'd like tolearn more about.
All right, so last but not theleast is red clover, and red
(20:37):
clover is found all over theplace.
It's beautiful.
You've probably gotten it in abouquet if you have children.
It's a beautiful flower andit's a favorite of bees and it's
(20:58):
a favorite of bees, so I alwayslove it.
When I drive by like a largefield of just wildly occurring
red clover, I just think it's sobeautiful and you can see just
like the haze of the bees justbuzzing around, so I love red
clover.
Red quail over is well known forits phytoestrogen content,
making it a popular choice forsupporting women's health,
particularly during menopause.
It's also used as a bloodpurifier and to support
(21:20):
lymphatic drainage.
It can be helpful for skinconditions like eczema and
psoriasis.
Red clover contains isoflavones, which are plant-based
compounds that mimic estrogen,making it particularly useful
for managing menopausal symptomssuch as hot flashes and
(21:41):
hormonal imbalances.
It's also an herb that Isuggest people take when they
are getting their bodies readyto get pregnant.
It seems to be really helpfulfor people who are experiencing
some forms of infertility.
Of course, I'm not a fertilitydoctor.
(22:01):
I'm just sharing what I haveshared with clients over the
years and success stories.
It also is called a bloodpurifier, but I don't really
like that word, because what itdoes is it just helps build our
blood back up and to really aidour bodies in removing toxins
(22:24):
from the body.
It's believed to help improvecirculation and support the
lymphatic system.
Red clover has anti-inflammatoryproperties, which can be
beneficial for conditions likearthritis and other inflammatory
disorders.
It's also used to relievecoughs and respiratory
conditions such as bronchitisand whooping cough due to its
(22:46):
expectorant properties.
So we already have two herbsthat we could turn into a nice
cough syrup.
See how this works.
They can all work together.
We also have a few herbs thatwe can turn into a nice cough
syrup.
See how this works.
They can all work together.
We also have a few herbs thatwe can apply topically to treat
skin conditions like eczema,psoriasis and rashes, because
they're soothing, and red cloveris one that is great for that
(23:08):
also.
The flowers of the red clovercan be added to salads, soups or
teas.
They have a slightly sweet,grassy flavor and are rich in
vitamins and minerals.
You can also put the blossomson cakes and pastries and in
bread.
Red clover is a soothing,nutritive drink that can be
enjoyed daily.
(23:29):
So the great thing with redclover is that it tastes
delicious and so it's reallyeasy to get young ones to drink
because it almost tastes fruityand lots of kids like it.
Red clover is a traditionalspring tonic in many cultures,
so it's thought to cleanse theblood and renew the body after a
(23:50):
long winter, and so it'ssomething that lots of different
cultures use in their springrenewal tonics.
So I think that going over thesefive was just so much fun, and
I hope that you learned a lotabout these five amazing guests
in your garden, and next timeyou're out in your backyard,
(24:15):
take a closer look at theseso-called weeds.
You might find your next herbalremedy or gourmet ingredient
right under your nose.
Thank you so much for joiningme on this journey into the
world of your backyardapothecary.
I hope you're inspired toexplore the natural pharmacy and
kitchen garden right outsideyour door.
Don't forget to subscribe andshare our podcast.
(24:38):
Every little bit helps.
It really does.
We want to be able to bring ourstudents and the herbal world
at large more fun informationand to give herbalism more of a
voice throughout the world, andyou help by doing that, by
sharing and listening andsending us questions.
(24:59):
So thank you so much.
Don't forget to subscribe anduntil next time, happy foraging,
and may your weeds always begreen.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!