Little known medicinal plants in our backyards and other wild places.

The backyard Herbal

Native plants are plants that have the origination in the geographical area described. Though they may have spread and adapted to other areas or zones.

Local plants are plants that thrive in, and can be found growing in a particular area regardless of the plants place of origin.

For this course we will focus on local plants as many of the edible plants in our area are not natives though they definitely thrive here.

Will identify which ones are truly natives to this area.

Local Vs. Native plants

FlowersStemsRoots, tubers, bulbs, and rhizomesSeedsBarksLeaves Resins, gums, sapsFruits

Parts of Plants Commonly Used

Most herbs and medicinal plants lend themselves to simple forms of medicine making.

To much over processing and fidgeting can actually destroy some of the medicinal constituents found in some plants.

Keeping things simple lessens confusion and worry about how things are to be done.

We will cover the most simple and useful modes of herbal medicine making.

The Simpler Form of Herbal medicine

Teas or infusionsDecoctionsFomentations and poulticesTincturesInfused oils

Simple Modes of Herbal Medicine

Fresh or dried plant matter, plus heated water makes and infusion.

1-2 teaspoons of herb per cup of water.Steep 10-15 min.Strain and drink.Cover while steeping and do not boil.

Teas or Infusions

This is the same as an infusion only tougher plant materials are used so it requires more and rougher application of heat.

1-2 teaspoons of herb per 1 ½ cup of boiling water

Lower heat and simmer 10-15 min.Strain and drink.

Decoctions

These are both topical applications. Fomentations use fabric soaked in a strong

decoction or infusion.Poultices use the actual plant matter either

fresh or dried heated and pulped into a mass.Apply to area affected.Helps to cover with plastic wrap and a thick

towel.Keep on area until cool, and then repeat.

Fomentations and poultices

Tinctures are concentrated extracts made with either a combination of alcohol and water, or vinegar that is at 6% acetic acid content or above.

The weight to volume method uses a simple equation. g X 5 = ml of menstrum: 200 x 5 = 1000.

Combine herb and menstrum in glass container and seal. Shake twice daily for 14 days. Strain and press. Usual dose is 1-5 ml or dropper full 3X daily.

This is a 1:5 or 20% tincture.To make a different percent simple change the

equation.

Tinctures

Used for mild, tonic herbs.Put herb in glass container.Add menstrum until ¼ inch above herb.Let sit 24 hours to let the herb soak up the

menstrum.Add more menstrum to ¼ inch above herb

again.Shake twice daily for 14 days. This gives

approximately a 1:5 or 20% extract.

Tincture (Folk method)

Same as tinctures only fixed oils are used for menstrum.

Used topically and great for bruises, sprains, and abrasions.

Can be used as a base for ointment and salves by adding a natural wax such as bees wax.

Infused Oils

I am not a botanist.You take the responsibility upon yourselves to

properly identify plants.Plants that have potentially toxic look-a-likes

will be shown.Some plants have edible parts AND toxic

parts.Some plants are edible, but only when

prepared correctly.Seek out further instruction and reference

materials.

Plants and Identification

Yellow Cone (Matricaria discoidea)

Yellow cone (Matricaria discoidea)Pineapple scented

annual4-6 inchesLeaves finely

dissected with linear segments

Flowers tiny without rays, yellow button is a ray less composite flower

Used interchangeably with German chamomile.

Used for upset stomach, stomach pain, gas, colic, indigestion, menstrual cramps, and convulsions.

Use in infusions and tinctures.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)Hairless perennial

from stout tap root. Milky sap.

Leaves in a basal rosette of oblong to oblanceolate leaves, deeply lobed and toothed.

Familiar flowers in solitary head on hollow, leafless stem

Leaves are diuretic, and help with kidney and bladder issues, as well as water retention.

Roots are used as a hepatic and cleanse the liver and gall bladder.

Teas, decoctions and tinctures are used.

Yellow dock (Rumex crispus)

Yellow dock (Rumex crispus)Stout, hairless perennial

from a yellow tap root. 1 – 5 feet tall.Leaves are alternate,

lance to oblong shaped and have wavy margins.

Flowers on green spikes with single seeded fruit.

Seeds have 3 angled heart shaped bracts.

Used as a liver cleanser and hepatic.

Used internally for skin disorders, rheumatism, diarrhea, indigestion, jaundice and anemia.

Infusions and tinctures are used.

Natives adopted its use topically for skin disorders.

Slightly laxative.

Burdock (Arctium lappa

Burdock (Arctium lappa)Large leaved biennial.2-9 feet.Leaves large rhubarb

like, widely ovate, on long petioles. White and wooly below stalk is solid and celery like.

Seed enclosed in burr like head with hooked spines.

Large tap roots. 1-4 feet deep.

Traditionally used as a liver tonic and diuretic.

Stimulates bile secretion and digestion.

Long history of use both internally and externally for skin disorders.

Research has shown root preparations to stimulate live and gall bladder function.

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis, serriola, virosa)

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis, serriola, virosa)Large, stout biennial with

abundant milky juice.Up to 6 feet.Basal leaves oblong to

oval and alternate, sharply toothed, bases clasping stems.

Margins and central rib spiny

Flowers are many and small yellow in open branched groups.

Used as a pain reliever or analgesic.

Has mild sedative action.

Was used widely in the Victorian period as “lettuce opium”.

Used for irritable coughs, insomnia, and nervousness.

Good used as infusions or tinctures

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)Hairless annual or

perennial with whitish film.

Up to 2 feet.Leaves mostly basal,

deeply dissected into many linear lobes.

Four petal flowers are shiny and orange to yellow.

Seed pod long and slender.

Used for sedative properties.

Taken for stomach aches and other mild pain.

Anxiety, sleeplessness, and for hyper activity.

Studies have Identified sedative but non-narcotic alkaloids.

Has no opiate alkaloids.

Common mallow (Malva neglecta)

Common mallow (Malva neglecta)Weedy annualLeaves alternate and

shallowly palmate, 5-7 lobes, margins are scalloped.

Flowers small and pink to white with petals notched on tips

Seeds in cheese like wheels covered by bracts.

Leaf and root tea used to treat coughs, sore throats, colds, bronchitis, laryngitis, asthma, digestive tract irritations and kidney and bladder infections.

High in mucilage content and is astringent.

Antimicrobial.

Plantain. (Plantago major)

Plantain. (Plantago major)Hairless perennial.Up to 18 inches.Leaves broadly oval

in basal rosettes with prominent parallel veins converging at base. Bases rounded at thickened stalks margin wavy.

Flowers dense in elongated spikes.

Leaves have astringent and wound healing properties.

Is antimicrobial.One of the best herbs

for a field expedient poultice for stings.

Astringency is good for internal mucous membrane irritations.

Traditional diarrhea remedy.

Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium)

Oregon grape. Berberis aquifoliumEvergreen upright or

spreading2-10 feet.Inner bark and roots bright

yellowLeave pinnately compound,

leathery and holly like 5- 11 leaflets, flat and oblong with spine tipped teeth.

Flowers yellow at branch tips.

Berries blue to purple covered with whitish film

Roots contain yellow alkaloid berberine.

Has antimicrobial properties and well as liver tonic and blood cleansing qualities.

Used for digestion problems and gal stone cases.

Used internally for skin disorders.

Bitter and induces bile flow.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)Aromatic perennial,

with alternate leaves that are finely pinnately dissected and fern like.

Flowers white to slight pink cast in dense flat top clusters.

Up to 3 feet.

Has wound healing, antimicrobial, and haemostatic properties.

Diaphoretic action used for fevers, cold and flu.

Poultices on wounds and bruises.

Bitter and induced bile flow.

Fresh leaves are good for bladder and kidney infections.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)Stout, densely white

wooly biennial.Leaves in basal

rosette the first year.Alternate leaves on

center stalk second year. Leave bases fused against stem.

Flowers flat and on stalk tip or spike, yellow and hairy.

Leaf use for lung and breathing complaints, bronchitis, asthma, colds and coughs.

Flowers infused in oil for traditional earache remedy.

Anti-inflammatory to mucous membranes.

Expectorant qualities.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)Large rooted

perennial 1-3 feet tall.

Leaves large rough and hairy, broadly oval to lance shaped.

Bell like flower in furled clusters, purple, blue, pink or white.

Roots and leaves used for there skin soothing and wound healing properties.

Has expectorant qualities but also contains potentially harmful alkaloids.

Can be confused with the leaves of Digitalis which would be fatal.

Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)Deciduous shrub often

lacking a main trunk.Up to 25 feet.Leaves are pinnately

compound with 3-9 leaflets ecliptic to ovate. Tips pointed and midrib often curved.

Creamy white flowers in flat top clusters.

Berries appear blue but are nearly black and covered with a fine wax.

Berry extracts have shown anti viral activity.

Flowers are used for fever reduction and cold and flu symptoms.

All other parts of the plant are toxic and the good parts must be heated first to rid them of the toxic compounds.

Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)

Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)Sticky perennial with

aromatic, sweet rhizome.Leaves alternate

pinnately divided into many lance shaped leaflets.

Flowers white to cream on in dense racemes from leaf axils.

Seed pod pea pod like and covered with hooked spikes.

Root preparations used for laxative and intestinal tonic action.

Sore throats, cold and coughs.

Anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antibacterial, and antiviral effects

Over use can exacerbate hypertension and sodium retention.

Plants included here are a some of the most easily identified and used native and local plants.

This list is in no way exhaustive, and further research can show a plethora of useful plants available in your own back yard.

Not All But Some

Simpler offers a wide variety of services, including medicinal herb consulting, where Simpler Sam can visit your property or take you and a group into the local woods, and show you the edible and medicinal plants located there. These consultations include information on identification and the use of the plants identified.