Medicinal Plants - Part 3
PLANTS FOR HEADACHE & INSOMNIA
Catnip - To 3' (90cm)
DESCRIPTION: Grayish plant has square stems. Opposite, heart-shaped leaves are toothed and white-woolly beneath. White to violet flowers are purple-dotted (.5"/1.5cm long) and are borne in whorled terminal clusters.
HABITAT: Waste areas
REMEDY: Tea promotes profuse sweating, alleviates colds and headache symptoms and induces restful sleep. Chew leaves for toothaches.
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Motherwort - To 7' (2.1m)
DESCRIPTION: Hairy, branching plant has square stems. Pinkish flowers bloom at the base of 3-lobed leaves.
HABITAT: Roadsides, waste areas
REMEDY: Tea is a sedative that alleviates anxiety and induces sleep.
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Lady's Slipper - To 3' (90cm)
DESCRIPTION: Slipper-like orchid may be pinkish to yellow. Note: Basal leaves with vertical veins.
HABITAT: Moist and acidic soils.
REMEDY: Strong root tea alleviates pain and anxiety, and induces sleep.
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Common St. John's Wort - To 5' (1.5m)
DESCRIPTION: Branching plant has oblong leaves marked with translucent dots. Yellow flowers have black dots on the margins.
HABITAT: Waste areas, fields
REMEDY: Tea is a sedative that is used to treat headaches, coughs, depression and to stimulate digestion.
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Peppermint - To 3' (90cm)
DESCRIPTION: Lance-shaped leaves grow along side reddish, squarish stems. Purplish flowers bloom in terminal spikes. All parts smell of peppermint.
HABITAT: Wet areas
REMEDY: Soothing tea is used to treat anxiety, insomnia and coughs.
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Hawthorne - To 65' (20cm)
DESCRIPTION: Tree has rounded crown of spiny branches. Apple-like fruits appear in summer.
HABITAT: Moist soil and open woods.
REMEDY: Tea made from leaves or berries is calming and induces sleep.
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Wild Mint - To 3' (90cm)
DESCRIPTION: Opposite lance-shaped leaves grow in pairs along square stem. Clusters of pinkish to white flowers bloom at leaf bases.
HABITAT: Wet areas
REMEDY: Tea alleviates anxiety and induces sleep.
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Black Willow - To 50' (1.5m)
DESCRIPTION: Tree or shrub often leaning. Slender leaves are shiny green on the upper surface.
HABITAT: Wet areas, along waterways
REMEDY: Boil bark for 10-15 minutes. Drink liquid to alleviate headaches and fever,
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PLANTS FOR UPSET STOMACH
Common Dandelion - To 12" (30cm)
DESCRIPTION: Lawn weed has basal, irregularly lobed leaves. Yellow flowers have numerous rays.
HABITAT: Waste areas
REMEDY: Tea is a gentle remedy for stomach upset. Root tea is a diuretic.
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Lamb's Quarter - To 6' (1.8m)
DESCRIPTION: Leaves are green above and white-mealy below. Small, cauliflower-like, white flowers bloom in dense clusters.
HABITAT: Waste areas, fields
REMEDY: Make a leaf tea or eat a few of the leaves to relieve stomach upset. Leaves are high in Vitamin C and beta-carotene.
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Wood Sorel - To 2' (60cm)
DESCRIPTION: Spreading, low-growing plant has 3-part, clover-like leaves and yellow flowers. Fruits re candlestick-shaped.
HABITAT: Moist woods
REMEDY: Tea relieves cramps, heartburn and digestive problems. Take in small doses.
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Chickory - To 6' (1.8m)
DESCRIPTION: Wiry-branching plant has beautiful blue flowers with squarish, fringed rays
HABITAT: Waste areas
REMEDY: Tea of leaves and roots alleviates stomach ailments and promotes digestion.
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Wild Rose - To 10' (3m)
DESCRIPTION: Shrub-like plant has thorny branches and delicate white, pink or red flowers with 5 petals. Fruits are fleshy 'hips'.
HABITAT: Open woodlands, roadsides, along waterways
REMEDY: Tea made from hips i rich in Vitamin C and can alleviate stomach cramps and diarrhea. Use petals as 'bandaids' for minor cuts & scrapes.
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PLANTS FOR CONSTIPATION
Common Chickweed - To 12" (30cm)
DESCRIPTION: Low-growing plant with trailing stems. Leaves are oval. Tiny white flowers have 5 petals.
HABITAT: Waste areas, gardens
REMEDY: Tea from root relieves constipation. Applied externally, it soothes itchy skin.
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Common Flax - To 3' (90cm)
DESCRIPTION: Stiff branching stems support bright blue, 5-petaled flowers
HABITAT: Waste areas
REMEDY: Seed tea is a laxative.
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Fennel - To 7' (2.1m)
DESCRIPTION: Leaves are thread-like and strongly anise-scented. Yellow flowers bloom in flat terminal clusters atop erect stems.
HABITAT: Waste areas, roadsides
REMEDY: Tea is a gentle laxative and soothing to the stomach.
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Solomon's Zigzag - To 3' (90cm)
DESCRIPTION: Tiny flowers bloom in a dense terminal cluster and are succeeded by red berries. Note: Kinked stem.
HABITAT: Moist woods
REMEDY: Root tea is a laxative and stomach tonic.
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Marsh Marigold - To 30" (75cm)
DESCRIPTION: Aquatic plant has large, heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers.
HABITAT: Swamps, ditches
REMEDY: Tea is a diuretic and laxative.
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Butterfly Weed - To 3' (90cm)
DESCRIPTION: Orange flowers are star-shaped. Leaves are lance-shaped.
HABITAT: Waste areas
REMEDY: Weak tea is a laxative and diuretic
CAUTION! Strong doses can be toxic!
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Northern Pitcher Plant - To 2' (60cm)
DESCRIPTION: Carnivorous plant has cup-shaped leaves that trap insects.
HABITAT: Wet areas, bogs
REMEDY: Tea is a laxative and tonic
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Butter & Eggs - To 4' (1.2m)
DESCRIPTION: Spurred flowers have a patch of orange in the throat.
HABITAT: Waste areas
REMEDY: Tea is a laxative and diuretic.
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That's all for the common medicinal plants. Stay tuned for edible plants. . . .Coming Soon!
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