Another Roadside Attraction - Herbal Sampler By Monika Dery It's actually mind boggling what medicinal uses there are of bedding plants, roadside growth and underbrush. Even the lowly quackgrass, or couchgrass has medicinal properties. Here are some more of the plants that you may or many not know are helpful in the medicine cabinet or in the kitchen. Alfalfa Also called lucerne, urple medic and Buffalo herb, this plant which has been cultivated and used as animal feed for centuries, has many medicinal uses. It is a diuretic, emollient and soothes irritated tissue, wounds and burns. It can even be used as a gargle for sore throats and even an eyewash. Internally, it apparently can heal viginal irritation. It eases coughs and lung congestion, and conversely helps with digestive and urinary problems. A very versatile weed, indeed. Marsh Mallow The original marsh mallow, where the infamous marshmallow originates, has many medicinal uses, and is found in marshes, land fill sites and hollows across North America. There are two strains, Malva Sylvestris which more vertically than Malva rutndifolia, a creeping plant, also found in these locations. Both are used as astringents, stomach, throat, bronchial airway soothers. People with laryngitis and lung problems found it to be very effective in years gone by. Externally, it can be applied to skin inflamations and scrapes, and internally for soothing enemas in the case of intestinal inflammation. Who would have thought that campfire marshmallows originated in these healing plants. In fact, the first mallow candies were made to make medicine more palatable for children, and developed from there. A restaurant in Vancouver is using mallow to make their own original "marsh mallows" and have them on their gourmet menu as an unusual dissert item. It makes sense when we think of the heavy food we eat in restaurants. why not make dessert medicinal? Alpine Cranberry I just discovered that we have alpine cranberries right in our back yard, so to speak, when I read an article on it. These smal white berries which later turn red are also called red bilberry, cowberry and whortleberry. They grow in higher altitude woods around the world and deliver leaves and berries for medicinal concoctions. The leaves are used as a diuretic, antiseptic and the berries are cooling and atringent. Teas from the leaves make excellent therapy for bladder inflammations. If the leaves are boiled long and hard...a decoction...they are apparently good for gout and rheumatism, and are high in vitamin C, as is the cultivated cousin. Birch The ubiquitous birch tree is a veritable treasure trove of medicines as well as a wonderful syrup, extracted in the same way as maple syrup. American natives have known about birch syrup for hundreds of years, but we are just now finding out how tasty and healthy it is. The problem is that it takes much longer to extract than maple, and is therefore much more expensive to buy. Of the tree itself, the young leaves and bark contain the medicinal properties, as a diuretic, diaphoretic and as an astringent. A strong tea made from the leaves can help eliminate kidney stones while the same formula used on the skin as a wash clears up rashes and eruptions. The inside of the bark can be boiled in a decoction to extract the oil which is used on sore muscles and in the bath. Buttercup The buttercup that our children run home with in big bunches from the fields that actually glow yellow, for your information can be used as an antispasmodic and for skin problems. It is poisonous in it's fresh form if eaten, so be sure that children do not think it's something to eat! Purchased forms of buttercup in homeopathic preparations clear up skin problems, arthritis, rhinitis and even rheumatism. Some say that it alleviates sciatic pain as well. This is not a plant that a person should bring home and make teas and tinctures from. Great care should be taken to avoid toxic reactions. To give you an idea of how toxic it is, fresh buttercup extract has been used throughout history to remove warts! Calendula I have a flowerbox full of calendula this year and it's a very bright, rewarding flower to have. On top of this, it's medicinal purposes are well documented. It is also called pot marigold, marigold, holigold, and Mary bud. The flower petals make an excellent digestive tea and relieves ulcers, cramps, colitis and other intestinal disorders. It is an antispasmodic and soothes the tired tummy. It has been helpful for vomiting and diarrhea, and if ground and made into a salve, is great for bruises, strained muscles and sores. It has even been recommended for menstrual pain in a tincture. This flower, whether just the petals are used or the whole flower head, is best used fresh or in a tincture. Final report next week....September 14..... Back to the Writing Index