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LIVING MEDICINE - using plants for health and wellbeing Guide to some Spring medicinal/food plants in Holyrood Park When foraging for wild medicinal or food plants, take at least one good book (and preferably 2!) with clear illustrations or photographs – or (and) an expert – to ensure safe identification. Always cross-check the botanical name, as common names vary widely! If in doubt, leave well alone, or if the plant is abundant, take a small sample to identify later. iSpot is a fantastic online resource for identifying wild plants and sharing images: http://www.ispot.org.uk/plants Respect plants and their environment: only harvest plants that are plentiful, and always leave enough for the plant and wildlife to thrive. As a general rule, if you stick to public land/rights of way, it is legal to take aboveground parts – leaves, flowers, seeds, fruit, nuts. Uprooting plants or harvesting roots requires permission, as does collecting for commercial purposes. Seek landowner consent where appropriate or courteous to do so, and check whether plant is a protected species or rare in a particular area before collecting – some protected plants may not be collected under any circumstances (details of these can be found online: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5171). More generally, when out and about in Scotland, it is important always to follow the Outdoor Access Code (http://www.snh.gov.uk/enjoying-the-outdoors/your-access-rights/) For recipes, images and other ideas, see www.floramedica.org and check out: www.edible-plants.com www.eatweeds.com www.selfsufficientish.com www.downsizer.net Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes www.plant-identification.co.uk www.dgsgardening.btinternet.co.uk/weedlf www.celtnet.org.uk www.plantlife.org.uk Stickywilly, Cleavers, Goosegrass Galium aparine Common weed, widespread in damp shady places, wasteland Aerial parts or fresh juice Before flowering; spring-early summer Trad. spring tonic/detox plant, stimulates kidney function; hangover herb (!). Try chopped in potato salad, or juice it with your favourite fruit or veg. Nettle, stinging nettle Urtica dioica Woods, waste ground, near houses Leaf; seeds also edible (trad winter chicken-feed) March-June, topmost leaves, before flowering; sometimes “second flush” in October Sting destroyed by rubbing, and wilts after nettles are picked. Nutritious – exceptionally high in minerals and vitamins; take daily for allergies as tea or eat in soups, stews, omelettes, pesto. 2|Page Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Dandelion (“Pee-the-bed”) Taraxacum officinale (Agg.) Ubiquitous, waste ground, grassy spaces Leaf and root Leaf: April-May; Root: autumn Many species – useful ones have characteristic leaf shape. Leaf is high in vitamin C and minerals (notably potassium); diuretic action useful in mild high blood pressure; root useful digestive tonic, aids fat metabolism Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes White deadnettle Lamium album Waysides, woodland edges Leaf and flower Late Jan-May, often second flush in Autumn Keynote: anti-inflammatory for urinary tract, female reproductive tract; use as tea or add to salads, frittata: Deadnettle frittata - handful white deadnettle leaves (+flowers) - 1 finely chopped shallot (or small onion/leek) - half dozen leftover roast or boiled potatoes - 4 eggs - handful grated cheese (cheddar, parmesan) or crumbled feta - salt/pepper; pinch nutmeg or caraway seeds (optional) Lightly saute shallot, add chopped deadnettle, and when wilted add potatoes. Tip into beaten eggs and pour everything back into omelette pan. Season and sprinkle with cheese. Allow to cook through gently & brown under grill if needed. (Adapted from www.eatweeds.co.uk) Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes www.floramedica.org Elder Sambucus nigra Roadsides, hedgerows, woodland edges Flowers, fruits When in flower (May-mid-Aug)/when berries ripe (black) (Sep-Nov) Elderflower as tea, tincture; cordial; in ice cream; high in Vit C; relieves cold/flu symptoms, reduces temperature by dilating blood vessels and inducing sweating; reputed immune system stimulant (home-grown Echinacea?); possibly anti-viral action. 07790 885969 [email protected] 3|Page Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Gorse, Whin Ulex europaeus Open hillsides Flowers Flowers almost all year, best in spring – MarchMay Distinctive “coconut” smell; very thorny! Make sure to distinguish from Broom (Cystisus scoparius) – non-thorny! Gorse flower cordial • 4 handfuls gorse flowers • 600ml cold water • 250g caster sugar • Zest of 1 orange (no pith), juice of 1 lemon Bring the water and sugar mix to a rapid boil, keep boiling 10 mins. Remove from heat. Add the lemon juice, orange zest and Gorse flowers to the sugar water (syrup). Stir well and leave until cooled or overnight. Strain through muslin or jelly bag into clean container / jug. You should have about 500ml of liquid. Bottle (sterilize!), cap and store. Refrigerate once opened. [From www.eatweeds.co.uk] Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Sheep’s sorrel www.floramedica.org Hawthorn, Mayflower Crataegus monogyna / laevigata Hedges, scrub, woodland fringes Leaves/flowers (spring) or berries (autumn) Leaves & flowers: April/May-June; Berries SeptOct H. monogyna (single-seeded fruit) commonest in Scotland. Used as a relaxant and antihypertensive in herbal medicine Sorrel / Sheep’s sorrel Rumex acetosa / Rumex acetosella Open meadows, waysides Leaf Early-mid-spring, before flowering; sometimes “second flush” in Autumn Nutritious, but use in moderation – like spinach, contains oxalic acid (kidney irritant); adds tang to soups, sauces, salads Quick sorrel sauce: 50g fresh (washed) sorrel leaves, 100 ml soured cream or crème fraiche, 1 tbsp good mustard, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 small clove garlic (or handful wild garlic), a pinch of salt & pepper. Blend all ingredients using hand blender (or chop everything finely and blend with mortar/pestle or hand whisk) and serve with grilled/baked fish, chicken or tofu. Great for improvised outdoor picnics! 07790 885969 [email protected] 4|Page Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Lesser celandine, Pilewort Ranunculus ficaria Waste land, parkland, dappled shade Young leaf Early spring – late Feb-March Root used medicinally for haemorrhoids (piles) – caution, irritant to skin. Add young leaves (high in vitamin C) sparingly to salad (- older leaves accumulate toxins, but cooking destroys these). Do not eat when plant flowers. Common name Botanical name Where to find it Chickweed Stellaria media shady parkland, waste ground, around mature trees Aerial parts All year White flowers, close to topmost leaves; wash well. Nutritious – Vit C, makes good addition to salads, smoothies; juice can be used to sooth nettle stings and dry, irritated skin. Part used Harvesting Notes Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes www.floramedica.org Ground elder (also Herb gerard, Goutweed) Aegopodium podagraria (dappled) shade, hedgerows, woodland edge, gardens young green shoots, leaves Spring – Feb-May/June, before flowering Contains Ca, Fe, Mg, Vit C, A. Use as veg, steam or wilt (substitute for spinach in recipes); can also be used instead of celery/parsley Hairy bittercress / Wavy bittercress Cardamine hirsuta / Cardamine flexuosa Paths, verges, by walls (ruderal) Leaves, or whole plant if young Early spring onwards (almost all year round) Tastes like rocket – similar uses: in salads, sandwiches, pesto. Try with smoked foods. Also tastes great baked through home-made bread. 07790 885969 [email protected] 5|Page Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Shepherd’s purse Capsella bursa-pastoris Common weed, on paths, waste ground Aerial parts March-July Flowers nearly all year round. Nutritious: K, Ca, P, Fe; vitamin A, B1,2,3 & C; use leaves like rocket; seeds as mild pepper. Used in herbal medicine as astringent to control excessive menstruation (menorrhagia). Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Daisy Bellis perennis Ubiquitous, grassy spaces Leaf rosette & flowers Spring – early March onwards Trad syrup (flowers) to treat colds and coughs; compress for bruises, wounds; food uses: leaves/ flowers in salads, pickled flower heads, sauces Common name Botanical name Where to find it Silver birch Betula pendula Native to Scotland/UK and northern temperate zones Sap, new leaves March-April (rising sap); April (leaves) Infusion of leaves is diuretic, externally skin tonic; sap is rich in vitamins (esp C) and minerals; trad spring tonic Part used Harvesting Notes Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes www.floramedica.org Coltsfoot (“Tushy-lucky”) Tussilago farfara By water, disturbed/waste ground, verges Leaves Not used now – risk of liver toxicity Leaves hoof-shaped (<30 cm), white underside, emerge after flower. Trad: dried leaves smoked for asthma, fresh leaves as tea or syrup for dry coughs. Coltsfoot candy. 07790 885969 [email protected] 6|Page Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Plaintain, great plantain Plantago major Grassy waste ground, roadsides Leaves April-June, when flowering Leaves can be used directly as compress/poultice – wound healing. Europe: alternative to Docken for nettle stings Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Ribwort, Ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata Grassy waste ground, roadsides Leaves April-June, when flowering Leaves used as tea or made into syrups for respiratory problems, but not very palatable as food Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Red clover Trifolium pratense Open fields, waysides Leaf and flower April-August Blood cleansing tea, useful for skin conditions; add leaves and flowers to salads (NB only minimal use if pregnant!) Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Butterbur Petasites hybridus By water, damp woodland or meadows Root Not now used – risk of liver toxicity (pyrrolizidine alkaloids - PAs). Leaves can reach 90 cm. Trad uses for urinary tract inflammations and allergies esp hay fever. Also helpful for migraine – recent research (preparations available with PAs removed.) Notes www.floramedica.org 07790 885969 [email protected] 7|Page Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Common dock, Docken Rumex obtusifolius Waste ground, rich soils, usually close to stinging nettle Leaf or leaf bud (mucilage) Before flowering Trad use (UK only – folk medicine) to soothe nettle stings. Root used for dye. Leaves sometimes eaten in past (cooked). See also http://www.kew.org/ethnomedica/ And just for fun... Common name Botanical name Where to find it Part used Harvesting Notes Himalayan balsam Impatiens glandulifera Woodland edges, riverbanks (esp. where water nutrient load is high) Flowers, seeds June-Oct The young leaves and shoots can be cooked and eaten, while the plentiful seeds can be used like lentils to make a curry (there’s a recipe on www.eatweeds.co.uk). The plant has glands that secrete sticky, sweet nectar – an ideal base for making a cordial or syrup. Try this: You need: juice of a lemon (or lime), 100ml water, 250g sugar, 50g Himalayan balsam petals. Heat the water and lemon juice gently. Dissolve the sugar in the lemon-water mixture, then add the petals. After about 5 minutes it should turn a bright pink colour. Cook over a low heat for 30 minutes stirring continuously until you have a runny syrup. The longer you cook the thicker it gets. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve. Serve on pancakes, ice cream or desserts. [Source: http://www.channel4.com/4food/on-tv/threehungry-boys/extras/himalayan-balsam-recipe] www.floramedica.org 07790 885969 [email protected]