Conscious Choice: An Herbal Weed Walk

July 2001 | Herbs for Health

An Herbal Weed Walk

by Meg McGowan

I admit it. I make assumptions about people I haven’t met yet. And I make assumptions based on only a little information. And I sometimes make assumptions based on preexisting notions. I try not to, but I know I do it anyway. It’s often unconscious, and it sometimes surprises me to catch myself mid-thought (usually in an unpleasant manner, but let’s not add judgment upon judgment here). I will further admit that when people insinuate themselves into my life, showing up unexpectedly in inconvenient places or at inopportune times or behaving in ways that I wish they would not, I am more likely to assume the worst. It is the same with plants. Unknown, uninvited plants can be quickly dismissed as weeds. Sometimes our intuition can be right-on. But sometimes first impressions can be deceiving if they are based on incomplete information or previously accepted, though erroneous, information. Learning more about some of the "weeds" I’ve found in my yard and adjoining fields over the years has made me think twice about my snap judgments. Let me introduce my new friends to you.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a member of the mint family. It is a rather tenacious perennial, though it grows in clumps and spreads aggressively via seeds rather than by its roots like spearmint or peppermint. As with all its mint family relatives, catnip can be identified by its square stems. Both the stems and leaves of the catnip plant are lightly furred. Wan pink or spotted white flowers appear through summer and fall. Catnip which has naturalized in the landscape grows to about three feet in height. A gentle herb, catnip is a particularly appropriate choice for treating childhood maladies including colic, fevers, and diarrhea — though it can help to settle adult stomachs as well. Most frequently administered as an infusion or tea, catnip is also known to restore regular menstrual flow, and should, therefore, be avoided during pregnancy.

Cleavers (Galium aparine) is hard to miss, as it will literally reach out and grab you with the bristly hooks that edge its leaves. Later in the year, its round, furry fruit can often be found clinging to your pants legs if you have passed it by. Its delicate whorls of lance-shaped foliage closely resemble those of its relative, sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), a familiar perennial groundcover. Cleavers, however, grows on elongated stems that can reach four to six feet, clinging to other plants for support where it can or hugging the ground in a dense mat. Cleavers is a cooling herb and can be used to treat fevers and urinary tract infections. Juice from the fresh plant can soothe skin afflictions such as burns, acne, and poison oak. Cleavers is also considered a tonic for the lymphatic system.

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is a beautiful native perennial that is sometimes included in gardens for its ornamental qualities. Clusters of tiny white flowers rise in profusion over its coarse pointed leaves in late summer and early fall. The stems appear to pierce or perforate the leaves, hence its species name, perfoliatum. Preferring sites with moist soil, boneset will grow up to five feet tall in sun or partial shade. Generally taken as a tea or tincture, it has a very bitter taste. It can, however, be extremely effective for treating congestion and coughs as well as the body aches and fever associated with flu when sipped in a warm drink. Boneset has a mild laxative effect when taken as a cold infusion.

Yellow dock (Rumex crispus) is named for the yellow interior of its root not for the flower color, which is green. The name indicates what part of the plant is most valued — the golden-yellow, stripped inner root. The same plant is sometimes called curly dock due to its wavy-edged leaves. This name provides a way to identify the visible parts of the plant. In winter it is easy to spot the erect stems of yellow dock still standing in the field holding seed-heads dried to a reddish-brown. Yellow dock root helps to cleanse toxins from the body. A decoction works as a gentle laxative. Dock also acts as a blood cleanser, improves the flow of bile, and helps to alleviate various skin afflictions that arise from a toxic overload.

To find violets (Viola spp.), also known as heart’s ease, you may not have to look any farther than your own backyard. A low-growing perennial, violets have often been used as a groundcover for shady spots, and sometimes they pop up of their own accord. Violets are easiest to identify when they bloom in late spring with sweet-whiskered faces of five petals over heart-shaped leaves. They appear in shades of white, blue, purple and, occasionally, yellow. If you can’t locate violets in your lawn or garden, various species can be found at the edge of a woodland, along the roadside or in moist meadows. Like catnip, violet works gently. It can soothe away headaches and mental stress. Susun S. Weed in Wise Woman Herbal Healing Wise (Ash Tree, 1989) recommends a violet leaf infusion for treating breast soreness as well as cancer — especially breast cancer. She notes that violets may be used to relieve the excruciating pain associated with cancer. Poultices made from fresh violet leaves can be applied to the skin to alleviate numerous afflictions. Weed also praises the superb nutritional value of violet leaves, which contain high amounts of vitamin A and ascorbic acid. The leaves are tasty enough to be munched on their own, or they can be tossed into salads.

Plantain (Plantago spp.) may also be residing in your backyard —though it is unlikely that it was intentionally planted there. Growing low to the ground, common plantain (P. major) features a basal rosette of broadly oval leaves, while English plantain (P. lanceolata) has narrow lance-shaped leaves. When broken, the stems of plantain will remain joined by strong fibers that spread out into the leaves creating a deep ridging along the underside. Plantain assuages the flow of blood and mucus. It is a soothing herb that can be used in lieu of comfrey to treat wounds, broken bones, and bruises. In Herbal Remedies From the Wild (Countryman, 2000), Corinne Martin suggests "the fresh crushed leaf will help reduce inflammation in insect bites or stings. Fresh bruised leaves can also be laid inside a baby’s diaper for mild diaper rashes."

Like catnip, self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) is a member of the mint family. It is a groundcover plant that can grow up to twelve inches high. Self-heal has the signature square stems that mark it as a mint relative, with leaves that resemble a sturdier version of watercress (Nasturtium officinale). Blooms are held in small, rounded clusters of pink or purple. The flowers and leaves should be gathered while the plant is in bud or blooming, but not yet past bloom. Conveniently, this is when the plant is easiest to locate. Like plantain, self-heal is astringent and can be used to check internal or external bleeding and moderate menstrual flow. It also helps to heal by speeding tissue regeneration. Adding to its efficacy in traumatic situations, it possesses the ability to gently lower blood pressure. Used as a gargle, an infusion of self-heal is helpful for treating sore throats and mouth sores.

I must include a few words of caution. Consider my descriptions of these herbs as a formal introduction. You should consult a field guide or, preferably, someone who is experienced in identifying plants for additional help before harvesting unfamiliar herbs. Also, despite many wonderful qualities, some plants as well as some people require firm boundaries if they are to have a place in your life. Before inviting these herbs into your garden, you should realize that many can be aggressively spreading. Instead of choosing to plant them, you may simply choose to make room for a few wild herbs to stay if they happen to wander into your life.

DISCLAIMER: Choosing a holistic approach to medicine means choosing personal responsibility for your health care. Herbs for Health offers a doorway through which to enter the realm of herbal healing, an invitation to further investigation on the part of the reader. It is in no way intended as a substitute for advice from a health care practitioner.

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