Red clovers blossoms are a favorite of kids and herbalists alike. While not native to North America, red clover has been naturalized here for decades and can be found all over the Pacific Northwest. Children can be seen picking out the deep pink trumpets and sucking at the sweet nectar inside, but as an herbalist, I most commonly find it helpful for those with skin problems or women suffering with premenstral syndrome (PMS).
Red Clover Uses
Red clover contains estrogen-like compounds (isoflavones) and can be used to reduce PMS symptoms and reduce menopausal symptoms. It also contains calcium, magnesium and isoflavones which can relax the nervous system to help rid skin conditions and increase fertility.
Cleavers is native to North America and is also known as Clivers, Goosegrass, Stickyleaf, Catchweed and Stickyweed. It can grow up to two meters tall with white to greenish flowers two-three millimeters across. The long stems of the pant sprawl over the ground and grow up other plants. There are many small hooks that cover the plant making it cling to you as you pass by.
Uses of Cleavers
The whole plant is rich in vitamin C and can be used to treat skin conditions, high blood pressure and cyctitis. It is a diuretic and can help repair skin wounds and sunburns. Because of the outer hooks, it is not pleasant to eat raw but the fruits can be dried and roasted for a coffee-like drink and the leaves can be boiled like leafy vegetables.
Horsetail belongs to a family of plants that date back millions of years and is named, of course, because it looks like a horse's tail. Thanks to the abrasive silicates on its stem, it has been used to scour metal items and is still used in Japan, after being boiled and dried, to polish woodcrafts.
Horsetail Uses
The above-ground parts of the plant are used fresh or dried. It contains alkaloids, bitters, flavonoids and its silicates encourage the absorption of calcium in the body. It is a diuretic and used to treat kidney stones, anemia, gastrointestinal conditions, urinary tract infections and brittle nails.
More commonly known as Prunella, self-heal is a member of the mint family and can be found in moist wetland or grass. It spreads quickly, almost as a ground cover, making it easy to find, or grow, in your own backyard. It has a square stem common to mints and is best collected in mid-summer.
Uses of Self-Heal
In the Pacific Northwest, natives have been using this plant for many years for the treatment of boils, cuts and inflammation. Self-heal is an antioxidant, immune stimulant, viral replication inhibitor, and anti-inflammatory. It can also be used to sooth a sore throat in a tea or by gargling an infusion. Its mildly bitter leaves can also be used as salad greens.
St John's Wort commonly grows in the wild and gets its name from its being traditionally picked on St. John's Day, June 24. St. John's Wort is easily recognized by five-petal flowers and leaves that have transparent dots when held up to the light. While in some cases St. John's Wort is considered a toxic weed in livestock fields, it is most commonly known as an antidepressant for people.
Uses of St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort is commonly prescribed in Germany as an antidepressant and its use to fight depression as an over-the-counter medication is common in North America as well. St. John's Wort can also be used to treat PMS, bladder conditions, viral infections, external wounds and bruises.
More Information
Learn to make teas or dry your freshly-picked herbs,
For more information on herb-picking check out:
- The Complete New Herbal: A Practical Guide to Herbal Living by Richard Mabey
- The The New Holistic Herbal by David Hoffmann
Remember, herbs are medications so see a health practitioner before beginning any treatment.
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