Medicinal plants in the meadow and along the way
Millennia had? When people with health problems manage to manage what's growing around them, they get along with it very well. Superstition and actual effectiveness, however, were difficult to distinguish, even the name? Kräuterhexe? confirms that. Then the knowledge of herbal herbs was partly forgotten? It is only recently that science has returned to the healing power of our native wild plants, noting that our ancestors did not care so much about their folk medicine.
Many plants that grow around here have a medicinal effect. The best known are dandelion, comfrey, the inconspicuous daisies, the ribwort plantain hated by the tiller and the dreaded nettle.
Dandelion is weed? Ready to fly!
Dandelion is good for everything that has to do with digestion and elimination. The bitter substances in the dandelion promote the activity of the digestive glands, gastric juice secretion increases, it stimulates bile production, has an appetite-stimulating and antispasmodic effect. The French name? Pissenlit? and the term used in the southern German language area? Pissblume? or? refers to another property: Dandelion has a diuretic effect. Since the plant has a high potassium content, unlike some synthetic diuretics, this does not lead to a mineral deficiency. Dandelion is also helpful on the outside: with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients, the juice from the stems is good for minor injuries or insect bites.
Process dandelion
The processing of dandelion is easy: If you want to make a tea, then you can take dried leaves. More effective, however, is the root: gather in the spring before flowering, brush off, cut into strips and dry in the air for a few days. Add two teaspoons of it cold in the evening, boil it up shortly in the morning, drain and drink.
Dandelion as a salad
It's even easier to take advantage of the beneficial effects of dandelion, if you simply enjoy it more often than salad. Make the young leaves like lettuce and benefit from forty times as much vitamin A, nine times as much vitamin C, four times as much vitamin E, eight times as much calcium, four times as much magnesium and three times as much iron as this!
Comfrey: Good for the lower extremities
Everywhere along the path, the plant grows with the large, pointed leaves and the blue, belled flowers. She gets up to half a meter high. It's called Comfrey, because it has always been good for the leg: even in the first century AD Dioscorides described it as helpful in fractures, dislocations and joint complaints. Today you prefer to go to the doctor in case of fractures, but you can work with comfrey infusion compresses or with comfrey ointment for minor ailments. The dried roots (also available in the pharmacy) are processed with petroleum jelly into an ointment and applied to the painful areas. Incomplete comfrey should not be used internally, especially in the root are harmful alkaloids.
The Daisy: A cough remover
Daisies have a high proportion of saponins, which are expectorants, so daisies can be used very well as a cough remover. For this you either cook a cup of tea two to three times a day from one to two teaspoons of daisies or you brew a tincture. For this purpose, plenty of daisies with clear alcohol, such as double grain, poured over the container and left to stand for two to six weeks. Then you put her in a dark bottle. For cough solution take one to three times daily 10 to 50 drops of it. You can also use the tincture for rubbing in bruises and contortions. Daisies should also help against headaches and regular pain and be good for insomnia and dizzy spells.
Plantain: The lung leaf
When it blooms, does it look as if the pipe is full of pipe cleaners? and cleaning? It also has an effect: ribwort berry has a cough-releasing, irritating, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect. When coughing you can brew from the collected and dried leaves a tea or squeeze fresh leaves. Spitzwegerich is also practical if you are out and about, slightly injured, stung by insects or fell into a nettle field. Just chew a few ribwort leaves and place on the affected area, cover with a fresh leaf.
The nettle: good for humans and plants
It helps with arthritis, arthritis, prostate problems, bladder problems. It replaces artificial fertilizers and pesticides in the vegetable garden. And she has a wealth of vitamins and tastes good. That can not be weeds.
Nettle tea is the first choice for urinary tract infections and prostate problems. This increases the urinary excretion, "rinses right through? and prevents bladder and kidney stones.Nettle is also suitable for skin cleansing? You can not only drink stinging nettle, but also use it as a tonic.
But even with muscle and joint pain, the strongly alkaline nettles have a pain-relieving effect. In a university study, it could be shown that the daily dose of painkillers could be reduced from 200 to 50mg if the subjects consumed only 50g of steamed nettle daily.
Speaking of stinging nettle: it tastes delicious. She is very ferrous and healthy. Simply harvest young leaves (but please with gloves!), Wash and blanch briefly in hot water. This neutralizes the nettle poison and it does not burn anymore. Nettles can be used like spinach. Great is also a stinging nettle risotto.
Nettle as a fertilizer & pesticide
The stinging nettle has its firm place at the organic gardener: a nettle-hive serves as a fertilizer, as a pesticide and strengthens the body's defenses. For a manure, fill a large bucket with stinging nettles and pour water until everything is covered. Cover the bucket with a board and leave in the sun for at least two weeks to allow it to ferment. Stir daily. When the fermentation is complete and no more bubbles form, you can use the slurry: spray undiluted as a pest control on the leaves. Slightly diluted than fertilizer pour? for young plants 1 part of manure to 20 parts of water, for old plants 1:10. A manure should start as far away as possible from the house, it is not called Jauche for nothing!
