Medicinal weeds you mow with your lawn each week

By DEREK CLONTZ

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Advisory. Traditional and common uses of herbs and weeds are presented in this report for information purposes only. Statements aren’t intended to help you diagnose, treat, mitigate, prevent or cure illness. If you are sick, please, use common sense. Consult a doctor before you try to diagnose and treat yourself.

Before you mow your lawn this week consider this: Many of the pesky weeds growing out there with the grass are potent medicinal herbs that traditionally and commonly have been used to battle everything from acne and arthritis to cancer, heart disease, obesity and PMS – absolutely free of charge.

Dandelion, chickweed, boneset, red clover, milk thistle, stinging nettles, shepherd’s purse, coltsfoot, burdock, eyebright – the list of healing herbs growing wild in your lawn really does stretch out … well, just about forever.

And because they are weeds, they grow like weeds – which means you don’t have to do anything but sit back and cool your heels while Mother Nature fills your medicine chest for you.

I’m not kidding when I say that in long traditional and common use, these plants have been used to fight just about every medical condition and illness you can think of.

Red Clover, burdock and sheep sorrel, for instance, are key components of herbal tonics such as Hoxsey’s legendary cancer formula and Canadian nurse Rene Caisse’s Essiac Tea (borrowed from the Ojibwa, both of which are in wide use by people fighting cancers of all kinds.

Dandelion is a considered a mainstay by people with liver disease, bile duct problems and high blood pressure.

Chickweed is relied on to help the body burn off and flush out body fat.

Stinging nettles are commonly used by people battling the pain of arthritis – as well as by men battling diminished sex drive or impotence.

Black cohosh has worked miracles for women with ‘problem periods’ and premenstrual syndrome as well as those contending with the symptoms of menopause. And then there’s eyebright – which is one of the world’s most popular herbs for eyes.

The herbs I’ve mentioned here grow just about everywhere – and you’ll certainly find others that are specific to your neighborhood if you take the time to poke around a little.

Believe it or not, checking the label on a bag or bottle of weed killer will give you a pretty good rundown of the herbs you can expect to find growing wild in your yard.

Most, but not all, of the “noxious weeds” listed as those that the poison kills are likely to have medicinal value. Be careful though. Mother Nature provides us with some poisonous plants. Don’t go picking until you do your research and know the difference.

Here are some common “lawn herbs” followed by a sampling of the traditional and common uses they are famous for. Remember: If you are seriously ill or think you might be, or if you are pregnant or nursing, consult a healthcare professional you know and trust before treating yourself.

NOTE: Before picking and eating any weed make sure you have identified it positively – beyond the shadow of any doubt. Some weeds, as noted earlier in this report, are poisonous. Also, don’t pick herbs growing near busy roads or highways – they almost certainly have been contaminated by sprays or exhaust fumes. Community colleges, local libraries and herb groups commonly offer "wildharvesting" seminars and classes that address identification and harvesting training.

o Cleavers: Lymphatic distress, swollen glands, dry skin, psoriasis, urinary tract infection, ulcers, tumors, water retention.

o Burdock: Bacterial and fungal infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections, psoriasis, eczema, acne, boils, herpes outbreaks, heart problems, anorexia, kidney distress, cystitis.

o Boneset: Colds and flu, respiratory complaints, toxic buildup in blood and tissue, constipation, muscular rheumatism. Contrary to popular belief, boneset does not speed the healing of broken bones. It gets its name from long traditional use as a treatment for “break-bone” – or dengue – fever, a peculiarly painful flu.

o Black Cohosh: Muscle cramps, spasms and pain, tension, arthritis, symptoms of PMS and menopause.

o Buttercup: Pain caused by shingles and sciatica.

o Tansy: Intestinal worms, digestive and menstrual sluggishness.

o Coltsfoot: Asthma, coughs, emphysema. Used externally for skin uclers.

o Chicory: Sluggish liver, high cholesterol, rapid heartbeat, acid indigestion, gallstones.

o Chickweed: Externally for cuts, wounds and itchy, irritated skin. Internally for arthritis, blood poisoning and to flush out body fat.

o Cinquefoil: Gum inflammation, sore throat, skin complaints.

o Cocklebur (agrimony): Digestive and liver distress, diarreah, disorders of the mucus membranes, appendicitis, urinary incontinence, cystitis. Also as a gargle for sore throat. Externally for wounds, bruises, asthma, bronchitis.

o Curly Dock: Chronic inflammatory conditions, sluggish bowel, liver disturbances, skin conditions.

o Yellow Dock: Poor night vision, emphysema, blood purification, psoriasis, bile duct sluggishness.

o Dandelion: Edema, heart problems, urinary tract infections, liver complaints, gallstones, inflammation of joints and skin, weight loss.

o Daisy: Coughs, congestion, arthritis, liver and kidney problems, diarrhea.

o Mallow: Internally for gastitis, stomach ulcers, laryngitis, upper respiratory complaints, bronchitis, inflammation of stomach and small intestines, peptic ulcer, hiatal hernia, dry cough, inflamed urinary passages. Externally for minor burns, abscesses, wounds.

o Mustard: Externally, to stimulate circulation to relieve muscular and skeletal pain and bronchitis. Internally for feverish colds, flu, chillblains.

o Purslane: Super food rich in vitamins C and A, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and the trace elements boron, tin, zinc and molybdenum. Used for respiratory disorders and skin afflictions, low blood pressure, weakness of the heart. urinary tract disorders.

o Red Clover: Cancer, skin disease, whooping cough, psoriasis.

o Sheep Sorrel: Cancer, sluggish liver, water retention, constipation, physical weakness.

o Shepherd’s Purse: Hemorrhoids, excessive menstrual bleeding, nosebleeds, urinary complaints, circulatory stimulant, water retention due to kidney problems.

o Milk Thistle: Chronic liver disease, hepatitis, gall bladder complaints, diminished liver function from drug or alcohol abuse and overexposure to environmental poisons. Regenerates liver cells, stimulates bile flow.

o Euphorbia: Relaxes smooth muscles of lungs helping with asthma and bronchitis, nervous cough, upper respiratory congestion.

o Mullein: Asthma, inflammation of trachea and bronchial tubes, dry cough, bronchial spasm. Mullein tones mucus membranes such as sinus, reducing inflammation.

Derek says: Keep this guide handy, my friends, our desperate and mad world implodes leaving us all to fend for ourselves all on our own. Am I joking? Yes and no. These are indeed trying times we are living in and through. Who knows what will happen next. Question about herbs? Want to talk or trade notes?

Call me toll free at 1-800-215-4682. As a writer, I want to know what YOU think!

Derek