NATURAL MEDICINES IN SPRING

They are around us every spring. In the meadows, in fields, along paths and dirty roads. We take them for granted, we don't know them anymore, we call them weeds. These plants were valuable for our ancestors many years ago for their healing benefits. They contain vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, bitter substances; many of them are antiinflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer.

Every spring when I visited my grandparents I remember my Grandmother being busy with her spring plants and herbs. She always said to my Grandfather: "When you cut the grass, don't cut my nettles!" She used nettles for washing her hair and to make tea. She always said: "The nettle tea cleans your blood". She collected daisies, dandelions for her tea or tincture and for her spring salad and plantago for making cough sirup for us when we were sick.

NETTLE

Everybody knows the nettle plant, here is some basic info about its health benefits:

Nettle contains:

Vitamins C, B2, A K, E, beta carotene, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and more

Nettle Benefits:

The benefits of nettle are enormous, here are just a few:

This wonderful plant may help with headaches, fatigue, exhaustion, kidney, liver, spleen, stomach and lung imbalances, bacterial and viral infections, thinning hair, sciatica, nerve inflammation, rheumatism, gout, nail fungus, eczema. Nettle purifies the blood, supports the function of the pancreas, it may be used as cancer prevention, and it helps in narrowing the blood vessels to the feet

Use of the nettle:

Nettle tea, tincture, foot bath, sirup, hair shampoo, fresh nettle juice

Nettle in food - for example spanakopita, soups, pasta, pesto.....

Nettle was previously used in textiles for clothing, and due to cotton price increases, is making a comeback.

Ask your doctor or other professional before taking nettle supplements!! The nettle tea should be drunk for a certain period of time only.

COMMON DAISY - BELLIS

We see them everywhere in early spring, dressing up the meadows after a long winter. They are one of the first spring flowers to appear after the long winter months.

They contain essential oils, tannis, flavonoids, bitter substances, organic acids, resins, inulin and more.

Bellis are known for their healing properties, they have a great reputation as a cure for fresh wounds. They can be used topically on small wounds, sores and scratches to speed up the healing process. An oitment from the common daisy made from its leaves is great for wounds and bruises. The herbal medicine made from roots of the common daisy is used externally to the skin for dermatitis, exzema, rashes, bruises. Fresh or dried flowers are useful, and so are the leaves. Chewing on the fresh leaves can be a relief for mouth ulcers and to stimulate your nutrition uptake (for its bitterness). Juice from the leaves may help with the insect bites, it is also a great insect repellent.

Flower buds and leaves can be used for cooking as well - salads, soups, sandwiches.....

A tincture made from this herb can be used to treat acne or you can gargle it as a mouthwash or when you have a sorethroat.

Common Daisy can stimulate your digestion, may help with gastrititis, diarrhea, gall bladder troubles, painful mentruation, cystitis, atopic dermatitis, gout, breast cancer or chronic rheumatic conditions.

Herbal tea from spring detox - two teaspoons of dried flower heads to one cup of boiling water. Let it steam covered for 10 minutes. Two smalll cups daily are recommended.

Common daisy is quite mild, there are not reported any side effects.

PLANTAGO

This is probably the most popular wild plant from the meadows to treat children's coughs naturally. The sirup is sweet thanks to honey in it and children love it. Plantago may help against colds, coughs, bronchial and lung imbalances. It dissolves mucus and has disinfectant effects.

Plantago is a real natural healer. This plant is antiulcerative, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, it is a natural wound healer and it can help with constipation, infections, fever, inflammation, bleeding, dermatitis, coughs, IBS and hemorrhoids.

Plantago is known since the Stone age as a healer plant and people used its leaves, seeds and roots to heal their ill conditions. Its seeds have anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties, plantago's crushed leaves can be applied topically to treat insect bites, bee/wasp stings, small wounds, cuts, burns. It is a great help after nettle burn for example. It is one of the most sensitive plants in terms of drying.

Its juice helps with problems in the digestive tract, colon and stomach.

DANDELION

Dandelion has long been used in herbal medicine. This plant can be seen everywhere and we think of it as a weed. It is acually one of the most amazing healing plants out there.

Dandelion provides minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc.

It contains fiber, vitamins A, C, K, B, D, E, folate

It is probably the most known for detoxifying liver gallblader and for helping with kidney function. Dandelion benefits are in providing antioxidants, reducing cholesterol, inflammation, blood pressure, cancer risk, regulating blood sugar and boosting the immune system.

Its flowers have antioxidant properties, the leaves stimulate the appetite and help digestion. Dandelion roots may help with gastrointestinal disorders - stomach, liver, etc.

The root has a diuretic effect; it can treat liver and kidney imbalance. Dried dandelion root has anti-itching and anti-inflammatory properties - it is helpful for treating skin disorders such as eczema and acne. It can also slow the growth of cancer cells.

Dandelion tea can be made from the fresh flowers, the leaves or roasted roots. The tea is a natural diuretic and it purifies and cleans the blood.

Dandelion oil can be used for chapped or cracked skin

Dandelion vinegar - mix dandelion flowers and leaves with apple cider vinegar

Dandelion sirup

Dandelion tincture

Dandelion root capsules

In my experience, dandelion is a pretty strong plant and can show side effects. Use this plant after you consult with a professional!! Ask for correct dosage, and for bio certified and tested products. It is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women. Dandelion medicine can interact with certain drugs. Side effect can be heartburn, upset stomach, irritated skin and more. The tea should be drunk for a certain period of time only!

There are many more wonderful natural healing plants that grow like weeds in front of our eyes. I would like to also mention Shepherd's Purse for its antibleeding properties and for helping women for centuries with their menstrual cycles. Our ancestors used this plant for reducing pain caused by menstrual cramps, PMS, to reduce long and heavy periods. Shepherd's Purse is anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, it has antioxidative effects.

This plant contains flavonoids, alkaloids, choline, histamine, fatty acids, amino acids and more.

It is sold in tinctures, dried forms in supplements.

Shepherd's Purse has side effects (central nervous system, cardivascular symptoms), not for pregnant and nursing women! Always consult your doctor or professional.

Lot of these super plants have side effects, always consult a herbalist, healer, doctor any professional before taking their supplements or start drinking teas made from these plants.

Unfortunately, our meadows are disappearing at an alarming rate in the name of "progress". These weeds once used as natural medicine without any chemistry may dissapear one day. If you have them in your garden, don't use pesticides and fertilizers - help them to survive for generations to come.