Herbal weeds are nearly everywhere, and their benefits are many. Here are five of my favorite beneficial weeds that you can likely find in your own backyard!
Beneficial Weeds?
Garden weeds are often thought to be a nuisance destined for eradication in modern western culture, but I have come to appreciate them as an herbalist. Many herbal weeds have beneficial effects on health, contribute to the health of the soil, produce flowers that can serve as food sources for our pollinators, and thrive in difficult growing conditions.
Herbal tradition includes plenty of stories lauding the potential benefits of these herbal weeds, but did you know that there is also some clinical evidence that they work? Let’s look at five of my favorite beneficial weeds and see what science tells us about them.
Dandelion Root Benefits (Taraxacum officinale)
- Dandelion root contains a prebiotic constituent called inulin (Wirngo, et al, 2016), which acts as a food source for the beneficial bacteria in the gut. While probiotics or probiotic-rich foods are sometimes taken to help promote a healthy gut microbiome or reintroduce good bacteria to the gut, herbs and foods that contain prebiotic constituents like inulin can be consumed to help feed those probiotic bacteria.
- Taraxasterol is another constituent present in dandelion roots. It has been found in scientific research to have anti-inflammatory activity, along with other constituents found in dandelion leaves. (Wirngo, et al, 2016)
- In herbal tradition, dandelion root is used as a bitter to help enhance digestion and support liver function. Animal research has demonstrated that constituents found in the roots have hepatoprotective (liver-protective) effects. (Haifang, et al, 2013)
- In other animal research, dandelion leaf and root consumption had beneficial effects on cholesterol levels in rabbits that were fed high-cholesterol diets whilst also protecting against some of the atherosclerotic buildup that was observed in the control group animals. (Choi, et al, 2010) This suggests that if the plant has the same effect in humans, it could be of benefit for supporting cardiovascular health.
- Dandelion leaf has been found in a human pilot study to have diuretic effects (Clare, et al, 2009).
Dandelion leaf and root extracts are readily available in tincture form and the leaves and roots themselves can also be used in food. To take advantage of dandelion tea benefits, you will need to prepare your tea based on which plant part you are using. If you are working with the leaves, steep one to two teaspoons of the dried leaf in freshly boiled water for about 15 to 20 minutes. If you are working with the roots, you will need to decoct them. Place the chopped root in a small saucepan and cover with water. Simmer on low for ten minutes, then turn off the heat and let the root steep for 30 to 45 minutes.
Plantain Benefits (Plantago spp.)
Plantain is one of my favorite beneficial weeds in the garden. It is a low-growing, leafy plant with distinct parallel veins and I often reach for one of its leaves when I am bit by an insect or if I brush up against some stinging nettle. It helps to soothe my skin faster than anything else I have tried.
Plantain health benefits have also been observed in scientific research.
- Plantain leaf and extracts have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects (Hussan, et al, 2015; Türel, et al, 2009; Adom, et al, 2017).
- The leaves are beneficial for supporting the skin as it recovers from a wound. When combined with Aloe vera gel or used on its own in an ointment, it has been found to help the skin heal faster in animal research (Ashkani-Esfahani, et al, 2019; Kurt, et al, 2018).
- An interesting human study found that consistent use of a plantain syrup was able to help reduce severity of pain and other symptoms in cancer patients with radiation-induced oral mucositis (Soltani, et al, 2020).
You can work with plantain by applying a leaf poultice to irritated skin or a bug bite or sting. The cooling, anti-inflammatory effect the leaf has will help provide relief and reduce redness. Alternatively, you can infuse the plantain leaves in olive oil or sunflower seed oil that you can later use to make salves or ointments for your herbal first aid kit.
To make plantain tea, steep one to two teaspoons of the leaf per cup of water for about 20 minutes. It has a green, herbaceous flavor and can help to soothe irritation in the mucous membranes along the digestive tract.
Red Clover Benefits (Trifolium pratense)
- Red clover isoflavone supplementation has been found in clinical studies to help reduce the severity of menopause symptoms (Hidalgo, et al, 2005; Shakeri, et al, 2015).
- Animal research suggests that red clover may have positive effects on cholesterol levels and gut microbiome health (Quah, et al, 2022).
- In a recent rat study, red clover supplementation was found to have positive effects on sperm count, motility, and viability in diabetic animals (Khazaei, et al, 2022). It will be interesting to see if this research progresses to human studies in the future.
To take advantage of any potential red clover tea benefits, steep one to two teaspoons of the dried leaf and flower in a cup of water for 20 to 30 minutes. Try making a quart of the tea at a time and sipping it throughout the day for best results.
Yarrow Benefits (Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is such a beautiful beneficial weed that I have a hard time calling it a weed at all. The flower spikes dance above their feathery green foliage and always look as if the plants were purposefully placed.
- For women who had recent episiotomies, yarrow ointment applied twice daily was found to help reduce pain levels, redness, edema, and bruising discoloration. Ointment made with St. John’s wort, another common herbal weed, was also effective at relieving symptoms (Hajhashemi, et al, 2018).
- Long-term use of yarrow has been associated with lower rates of relapse and more time elapsing between relapse episodes in people who have MS. Lower depression scores and other positive clinical measures were also observed in the study that demonstrated this (Ayoobi, et al, 2019).
I frequently use yarrow in my first aid products to help reduce pain and inflammation, to slow bleeding, and to soothe the skin. The leaves and flowers can also be taken internally via herbal tincture or tea.
How to make yarrow tea: Steep one or two teaspoons of the flowers and leaves in a cup of water covered by a plate for about 20 minutes. The flavor can be an odd combination of bitter and floral, so you may wish to combine the yarrow with tastier herbs to make it more palatable.
Chickweed Benefits (Stellaria media)
Chickweed is another of our common beneficial weeds. It contains several different kinds of minerals, as well as vitamin C and other nutrients. The foliage and flowers are edible, though they do not have much flavor. Research on chickweed is somewhat limited but there are some beneficial effects that have been observed.
- In India, people make decoctions and poultices with chickweed leaves and apply them topically to help support healing of the skin, reduce swelling, and slow bleeding (Oladeji & Oyebamiji, 2020).
- Some of the constituents found in chickweed have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity (Oladeji & Oyebamiji, 2020).
- Animal research suggests that chickweed extracts may help reduce anxiety symptoms and support healthy blood sugar regulation (Oladeji & Oyebamiji, 2020). One rat study also indicates the possibility that chickweed tea could have positive effects on the cardiovascular system for diabetic individuals (Demján, et al, 2021).
To take advantage of potential chickweed tea benefits, steep one or two teaspoons of the leaves in a cup of water for about 20 minutes before sipping. Try adding a pinch of peppermint leaf to brighten the flavor.
Grow these 10 Edible Medicinal Flowers in your medicinal herb garden.
Erin Stewart is a clinical herbalist and aromatherapist, organic gardener, and artisan distiller based in the Pacific Northwest. She teaches herbalism and aromatherapy at Floranella. (https://www.floranella.com)
Photograph Copyright: Photograph © Erin Stewart. All rights reserved.
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