Cancer, heart disease,
arthritis,
obesity, zits -- you name it ...
all battled nutritionally with
clippings from you lawn mower's grass bag
By
Susan Ambrosino
Herb Report Contributing Editor
Before you mow your lawn this
week consider this: Most of the pesky weeds growing out there with the
grass are potent medicinal herbs that traditionally and commonly have
been used to battle everything from arthritis and cancer to heart
disease, PMS, obesity and acne -- absolutely free of charge.
"Dandelion, chickweed,
boneset,
red clover, milk thistle, stinging nettles, shepherd’s purse,
coltsfoot, burdock, eyebright -- the list of healing herbs growing wild
in your lawn really does go on forever," says Susan Ambrosino, author
of The Astonishing Healing Power of Herbs (American Media, 1997) and
founder of Susan Ambrosino's Herb Club, Inc.
"And because they are weeds,
they
grow like weeds -- which means you don’t have to do anything but sit
back and sip lemonade while Mother Nature fills your medicine chest for
you.
"I’m not kidding when I
say that
in long traditional and common use, these weeds have been used to fight
just about every medical condition and illness you can think of.
"Red Clover, burdock and
sheep
sorrel, for instance, are key components of herbal tonics such as
Hoxsey’s legendary cancer formula and nurse Rene Caisse’s Essiac Tea,
both of which are in wide use by people fighting cancers of all kinds.
"Dandelion is a considered
a
mainstay by people with liver disease, bile duct problems and high
blood pressure. Chickweed is relied on to help the body burn off and
flush out body fat. Stinging nettles are commonly used by people
battling allergies and arthritis, as well as by men with diminished sex
drive or impotence.
"Black
cohosh has worked miracles
for women with ‘problem periods’ and premenstrual syndrome as well as
those contending with the symptoms of menopause. And then there’s
eyebright -- which is one of the world’s most popular herbs for sinuses
and eyes.
"The
herbs I’ve mentioned here
grow just about everywhere -- and you’ll certainly find others that are
specific to your region if you take the time to poke around a little.
"Believe it or not,
checking the
label on a bag or bottle of weed killer will give you a pretty good
rundown of the herbs you can expect to find growing wild in your yard."
Here, from Ambrosino’s
book, are
some common "lawn herbs" followed by a sampling of the traditional and
common uses they are famous for. Remember: If you are seriously ill or
think you might be, or if you are pregnant or nursing, consult a
healthcare professional you know and trust before treating yourself.
NOTE: Before picking and
eating
any weed make sure you have identified it positively -- beyond the
shadow of any doubt. Some weeds are poisonous. Also, don’t pick herbs
growing near busy roads or highways -- they almost certainly have been
contaminated by sprays or exhaust fumes.
o Cleavers: Lymphatic
distress,
swollen glands, dry skin, psoriasis, urinary tract infection, ulcers,
tumors, water retention.
o
Burdock: Bacterial and fungal
infections, skin infections, urinary tract infections, psoriasis,
eczema, acne, boils, herpes outbreaks, heart problems, anorexia, kidney
distress, cystitis.
o
Boneset: Colds and flu,
respiratory complaints, toxic buildup in blood and tissue,
constipation, muscular rheumatism. Contrary to popular belief, boneset
does not speed the healing of broken bones. It gets its name from long
traditional use as a treatment for "breakbone" -- or dengue -- fever, a
peculiarly painful flu.
o
Black Cohosh: Muscle cramps,
spasms and pain, tension, arthritis, symptoms of PMS and menopause.
o Buttercup: Pain caused
by
shingles and sciatica.
o
Tansy: Intestinal worms,
digestive and menstrual sluggishness.
o Coltsfoot: Asthma, coughs,
emphysema. Used externally for skin ulcers.
o Chicory: Sluggish liver, high
cholesterol, rapid heartbeat, acid indigestion, gallstones.
o Chickweed: Externally
for cuts,
wounds and itchy, irritated skin. Internally for arthritis, blood
poisoning and to flush out body fat.
o Cinquefoil: Gum inflammation,
sore throat, skin complaints.
o Cocklebur (agrimony):
Digestive
and liver distress, diarreah, disorders of the mucus membranes,
appendicitis, urinary incontinence, cystitis. Also
as a gargle for sore throat. Externally for wounds, bruises, asthma,
bronchitis.
o
Curly Dock: Chronic
inflammatory conditions, sluggish bowel, liver disturbances, skin
conditions.
o
Yellow Dock: Poor night vision,
emphysema, blood purification, psoriasis, bile duct sluggishness.
o Dandelion: Edema, heart
problems, urinary tract infections, liver complaints, gallstones,
inflammation of joints and skin, weight loss.
o Daisy: Coughs, congestion,
arthritis, liver and kidney problems, diarreah.
o Mallow: Internally for
gastitis, stomach ulcers, laryngitis, upper respiratory complaints,
bronchitis, inflammation of stomach and small intestines, peptic ulcer,
hiatal herniadry cough, inflamed urinary passages. Externally for minor
burns, abscesses, wounds.
o
Mustard: Externally, to
stimulate circulation to relieve muscular and skeletal pain and
bronchitis. Internally for feverish colds, flu, chillblains.
o Plantain: Urinary tract
infection, dry or nervous cough, gastic inflammation, lung congestion,
inflamed mucus membranes, mild bronchitis, hemorrhoids.
o Purslane: Super food
rich in
vitamins C and A, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and
the trace elements boron, tin, zinc and molybdenum. Used for
respiratory disorders and skin afflictions, low blood pressure,
weakness of the heart. urinary tract disorders.
o Red Clover: Cancer, skin
disease, whooping cough, psoriasis.
o Sheep Sorrel: Cancer,
sluggish
liver, water retention, constipation, physical weakness.
o Shepherd’s Purse:
Hemorrhoids,
excessive menstrual bleeding, nosebleeds, urinary complaints,
circulatory stimulant, water retention due to kidney problems.
o Milk Thistle: Chronic
liver
disease, hepatitis, gall bladder complaints, diminished liver function
from drug or alcohol abuse and overexposure to environmental poisons.
Regenerates liver cells, stimulates bile flow.
o Euphorbia: Relaxes smooth
muscles of lungs helping with asthma and bronchitis, nervous cough,
upper respiratory congestion.
o Blessed Thistle:
Sluggish
digestion caused by fevers, inflammation or infection of the digestive
tract.
o
Mullein: Asthma, inflammation
of trachea and bronchial tubes, dry cough, bronchial spasm. Mullein
tones mucus membranes such as sinus, reducing inflammation.
Contact the author - Susan
Ambrosino Copyright
(c) 2005 4-Page Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
