Common Mullein from Peterson Field Guides: Edible Plants 

Medicinal Plants

(C) 1993 The Gobbler: Autumn Blaze

by Cindy Pascatore

Gardens and fields, now abundant with gifts from the earth, are growing prolifically and waiting to be tended. As I look through my garden, I see many healing herbs ready for harvest. Several herbs we use traditionally for cooking are also useful as medicinals. Sage, beneficial for stomach ailments and diarrhea, can be harvested, dried, and kept in jars for future use in teas. Parsley is useful as a diuretic and can also be dried and used in teas or eaten fresh, of course. Sweet Basil, often used in Italian dishes, is helpful in relieving nausea, flatulence, and even fever. It is even used to aid in bringing on menstrual flow. Also used in aiding digestive disorders are winter savory, fennel, dill, and thyme. An abundant herb in my garden is comfrey, beneficial for bronchial and intestinal disorders. The leaf and root can both be harvested, but should be used in moderation. The mint growing in your garden not only tastes good, but is a good tonic for an upset stomach.

Many garden flowers are also good for us. The root of the purple coneflower, or echinacea, is known to be a powerful natural antibiotic used to fight colds and other ailments. Lavender tea aids in reducing stress-related headaches and is also a mild stimulant. Beneficial in aiding digestion are the lovely yellow and orange flowers of calendula, or pot marigold. These flowers also make a good mouthwash for the gums. The wildflower yarrow is used for fever, colds, flu, and as an antiseptic. Also successful in bringing down a fever is the white and yellow flower of the feverfew plant along with its leaves.

Yarrow from Peterson Field Guides: Edible Plants

Walking through fields and woods, we can find many gifts from Mother Earth which can be harvested and saved for future use. Evening primrose, a tall yellow flower found in fields, can be harvested for aid in menstrual problems, coughs, and skin eruptions. Oil from the seeds, leaves, and flowers is used. Another tall yellow flower growing wild in the fields is mullein which has been found to be very beneficial in treating asthma problems and colds. It can also be used as an eye inflammation compress. The flower and leaves can both be harvested. The root and leaves of the burdock plant are used to relieve rheumatism, gout and lung disease. The root is also a good laxative. The leaf, along with comfrey leaf, makes a healing poultice for skin irritations and sores.

Evening Primrose from Peterson Field Guides: Edible Plants

A few hints for harvesting: Harvest early in the morning, just after the dew has dried if possible. Also, when harvesting herbs, be sure to harvest them before they produce flowers since much of the essential oil in the herb goes to the flower. Once an herb has flowered, it will most likely die off. If you harvest the herb before flowers form (or when they first appear), chances are that it will continue to grow throughout the growing season. After cutting, wash your herbs, drain them or pat them dry with a linen towel, and bunch the stems together to hang upside down in a dark, dry place. By dark, I mean out of direct sunlight from a window. If the root is the part of the plant to be used, dig it up; clean it with a brush and water; and lay on a drying rack, in a basket, etc. until completely dry. Slicing the root will allow it to dry faster. After the herbs or roots are thoroughly dry, they may be stored in bags, jars, or left hanging.

Always make sure your herbs or roots are completely dry before storing in a closed container. Store them away from direct sunlight and they should remain potent for a year or longer. When making your teas, add a good tasting herb such as mint or even a flavored Tobago to make it more appealing. There are many ways to improve our health, and if we can do it with the help of Mother Nature, then why not give it a try?