The garden is slowing down yet as I drive down the road I notice all kinds of food and medicine that is only now beginning to bloom. Many people think only of what grows from a pack of seeds as a source of food. In reality, if we look to nature we can discover any number of edible plants and many of those plants also have healing benefits.
Now, I am not a medical professional and I don't give medical advice. I also can't identify the weeds you find. I am only sharing what I have learned and YOU are responsible for your own further research. Please be careful if you decide to learn about wild edibles and their possible medicinal uses. Positively identify what you harvest. Research what parts are edible and when, its medicinal uses and any reactions it may cause. Not all plant medicines are for all people. While eating a positively identified plant is generally safe some people could have allergic reactions as with any food or medicine. Also, an extreme change of diet can cause stomach upsets. I suggest you only add new foods in small amounts at first to see how your body reacts.
So as I drove today, the bright and beautiful goldenrods caught my eye. They are late blooming wildflowers (or weeds if you prefer). There are many varieties but they are still some of the easiest wildflowers to identify. They bloom in the late summer and into the fall. They have very straight stems with the flowers on just the very top arranged in a spray. They remind me of a yellow fountain of flowers on top.
What makes goldenrod so great? Basically, everything above the ground is edible. The flowers and leaves can be made into a tea. The flowers can be eaten fresh and raw or cooked. The seeds can be eaten raw or dried and made into a flour. Seeds can also be thrown into soup or used whole to add grains to any cooked breads, muffins and things like pancakes. The leaves can be added to soups and stir frys. The leaves, seeds and flowers can be dried and added to food storage for times when nothing else is growing. Its free food after all so why not? If you harvest it in season then you can eat it as a food source and save your other food storage for another time.
Not only is goldenrod a good source of food, it also has some pretty good medicinal purposes for when there is no doctor. Its been used for many ailments and seems to be one of the safer herbs to use. Its hard to do much harm with goldenrod but as always, do your own research because only you know your particular circumstances. Goldenrod has been used topically by many for wounds and bleeding. It helps with urinary tract disorders. It is used as a mouthwash for thrush. Many have used it for preventing kidney stones and bladder problems. Its also been used for rheumatism, arthritis, muscle spasms and restless legs as well as lowering blood pressure.
Not all people react the same to all herbs. Some herbs work better in combination with other herbs. Some also react badly with prescription drugs. For instance someone who is taking medication to lower blood pressure may lower it too far by over indulginig in goldenrod tea.
I am a completely self taught forager. I still have much to learn. I have a stack of books on wild edibles and medicinal herbs and the computer is great for researching pictures. Often there is an oddball picture out there and I never take it as an example of what to look for in a plant. Not everything online is necessarily correct. I have enjoyed researching plants and what they can add to my struggle for independence. I have come to understand that what we need has been provided for us if we only take the time to study and learn what we can about what grows wild.
Next time you see the goldenrods along the way, remember one thing. There is no excuse to go hungry when free food is available all around us. Learn to identify those edible and medicinal plants now before the time comes when you may HAVE to eat them.
Southern Wood Elf
Now, I am not a medical professional and I don't give medical advice. I also can't identify the weeds you find. I am only sharing what I have learned and YOU are responsible for your own further research. Please be careful if you decide to learn about wild edibles and their possible medicinal uses. Positively identify what you harvest. Research what parts are edible and when, its medicinal uses and any reactions it may cause. Not all plant medicines are for all people. While eating a positively identified plant is generally safe some people could have allergic reactions as with any food or medicine. Also, an extreme change of diet can cause stomach upsets. I suggest you only add new foods in small amounts at first to see how your body reacts.
So as I drove today, the bright and beautiful goldenrods caught my eye. They are late blooming wildflowers (or weeds if you prefer). There are many varieties but they are still some of the easiest wildflowers to identify. They bloom in the late summer and into the fall. They have very straight stems with the flowers on just the very top arranged in a spray. They remind me of a yellow fountain of flowers on top.
What makes goldenrod so great? Basically, everything above the ground is edible. The flowers and leaves can be made into a tea. The flowers can be eaten fresh and raw or cooked. The seeds can be eaten raw or dried and made into a flour. Seeds can also be thrown into soup or used whole to add grains to any cooked breads, muffins and things like pancakes. The leaves can be added to soups and stir frys. The leaves, seeds and flowers can be dried and added to food storage for times when nothing else is growing. Its free food after all so why not? If you harvest it in season then you can eat it as a food source and save your other food storage for another time.
Not only is goldenrod a good source of food, it also has some pretty good medicinal purposes for when there is no doctor. Its been used for many ailments and seems to be one of the safer herbs to use. Its hard to do much harm with goldenrod but as always, do your own research because only you know your particular circumstances. Goldenrod has been used topically by many for wounds and bleeding. It helps with urinary tract disorders. It is used as a mouthwash for thrush. Many have used it for preventing kidney stones and bladder problems. Its also been used for rheumatism, arthritis, muscle spasms and restless legs as well as lowering blood pressure.
Not all people react the same to all herbs. Some herbs work better in combination with other herbs. Some also react badly with prescription drugs. For instance someone who is taking medication to lower blood pressure may lower it too far by over indulginig in goldenrod tea.
I am a completely self taught forager. I still have much to learn. I have a stack of books on wild edibles and medicinal herbs and the computer is great for researching pictures. Often there is an oddball picture out there and I never take it as an example of what to look for in a plant. Not everything online is necessarily correct. I have enjoyed researching plants and what they can add to my struggle for independence. I have come to understand that what we need has been provided for us if we only take the time to study and learn what we can about what grows wild.
Next time you see the goldenrods along the way, remember one thing. There is no excuse to go hungry when free food is available all around us. Learn to identify those edible and medicinal plants now before the time comes when you may HAVE to eat them.
Southern Wood Elf