Wild Weeds – Goldenrod, Ragweed, and Mullein

Difficulty Level: **Easy

This challenge is part of a Wild Weeds Series where you will learn about easy to identify medicinal and edible plants. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to 1) get out there and identify a few of these, and 2) try one (or all) of my suggestions. Don’t worry if you can’t find all these plants.

Now for the big, official warning – unless you are 100% sure of what you are gathering, don’t pick it and definitely don’t eat it. Use at least 3 resources (one being this blog) as references. I am not responsible if you somehow poison yourself! A few other things:

-practice ethical harvesting techniques;
-make sure the plants you are gathering are not from an area that’s been contaminated by pollutants such as run off from a road;
-and make sure that dogs haven’t been peeing all over it!

 

Goldenrod (Solidago species)

Often blamed for seasonal allergies, goldenrod is not the culprit (that’s ragweed – see below). Goldenrod actually produces very little pollen and the pollen it does produce is too heavy to be carried by the wind. There are over 140 varieties of goldenrod, but all contain similar qualities.

The flowers can be used as a garnish in salads or infused and turned into a delicious jelly. Leaves can be cooked like spinach and added to soups, casseroles, etc. Both the leaves and flower make a delicious tea that helps move water through the system. I found that a nice hot cup of goldenrod tea is one of the best things for allergies especially in what I call the ‘niagara falls’ phase of an allergic reaction – when your nose is running constantly and you have to stuff tissue paper up it. You can also make delicious herbal vinegar with goldenrod or a tincture to help with all sorts of ailments.

Need more direction on how to make these things? Join me on October 20th for an Herbal Medicine Making Workshop. Together we will discuss and make teas, infusions, decoctions, tinctures, infused oils, infused vinegars, syrups, salves, compresses, poultices, and pastilles!

So grab your clippers – cutting the top third of goldenrod when it’s in full flower.

 

Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

Here is the culprit. This inconspicuous plant is responsible for so much misery. Unfortunately there are many varieties of ragweed and it grows everywhere! But believe it or not this plant actually has several uses. One of which is to…treat allergic reactions.

Yes…the same plant that causes allergies can be used to treat it. Consuming small amounts of ragweed leaves in your food can help prevent allergies, and taking a couple dropperfuls of ragweed tincture quells an allergic reaction. I know, it sounds crazy doesn’t it? But it works.

Historically ragweed has been used as a tea for the treatment of pneumonia, fevers, nausea, intestinal cramps, and diarrhea. The seeds (particularly in giant ragweed) are highly edible, very high in protein, and contain healthy oils. In fact, in ancient Greek mythology the gods apparently ate ‘ambrosia’ to give them immortality! Ragweed just goes to show that there is no black and white in this world – even ‘bad’ things have some good.

 

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

This easy recognizable plant is often seen along roadsides (remember you don’t want to collect here). It’s fuzzy leaves grow in a low rosette and it’s stalk holds delicate yellow flowers.

Mullein is best known as a respiratory herb. Drinking regular infusions of mullein leaves (2-4 cups per day) can really help strengthen the lungs helping with issues like asthma, reoccurring coughs, and recouping former smoker’s lungs. I like to add a splash of almond milk and honey to it. Make sure you strain it really well as the little hairs can really irritate the throat. Cheesecloth works great. You can also drink it when you have a cold as it helps expel the mucous by loosening it up. Some people even smoke the leaves!

Mullein flowers infused in oil have been used for centuries in children for earaches. The infused oil is simple to prepare:

• Pick the flowers (you will need a lot) and let them wilt for a few hours to reduce their moisture content -Put them in a small mason jar and fill with oil to cover them by 1 in.
• Place the jar in the sun two months.
• Strain the oil into clean bottles.
• Apply oil in ear with a Q-tip.

Mullein can be used for many other ailments as well. It is worth getting to know this majestic plant.

So those are just a few more common plants that you can go out id and try. Questions or comments? Leave them in the comment box below!