Cleavers - Galium aparine

The gardens are waking up from their winter's rest. I found this green beauty today, Cleavers-Galium aparine. Also known as; bedstraw, goosegrass, stickyweed, velcro plant, sticky grass. 

Part used:
fresh leaves, ripe seeds

Medicinal Properties:
diuretic, anti-inflammatory, lymphatic

Benefits:
urinary tract infections, kidney infections, stagnant lymphatic system, skin aliments, breast health, coffee substitute 

One of my favorite ways of using cleavers for lymphatic health is drinking a cleaver cold infusion. It's like spring cleaning for your insides. 

Once the tiny white flowers start blooming, I'll take a small handful of fresh plant material, add that to a pint jar, fill with warm water, cover and allow to steep for 2 hours at room temperature, strain then  refrigerate. I'll sip on that throughout 2 -3 days.   

If the plant does call to me before it starts blooming, I will definitely harvest and use at that time. Remember, a big part of medicine making is following your intuition and that call from the plants. 

The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials. The primary function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body. The lymphatic system primarily consists of lymphatic vessels, which are similar to the veins and capillaries of the circulatory system. The vessels are connected to lymph nodes, where the lymph is filtered. The tonsils, adenoids, spleen and thymus are all part of the lymphatic system. Reference

If you have ever experienced swollen lymph glands - neck, underarm and groin area, that is due to a stagnant lymphatic system. Cleavers gently flush and get the natural flow of fluid moving again.

As a diuretic, cleavers flush out toxins from the kidneys and urinary tract. Being a cooling herb, she also works at cooling and calming the burning and inflammation associated with urinary tract infections. I have found that drinking 2 cups a day of a cold infusion, until the infection has cleared, works well for many. I take one big handful of fresh plant, add that to a pint jar then fill with warm water and refrigerate over night.   
Reference. 

Being an herb that works on the lymphatic system, a cleaver infused oil is also used as a breast massage oil. When using in this manner, be sure to also massage the lymph nodes that are located in the underarm area.

Applied topically, a poultice or applying the liquid from simmering fresh plant in water, the cooling and moistening properties aides in soothing skin issues; sunburns, burns, eczema and psoriasis.  

For those looking for a coffee substitute, when those white flowers have gone to seed you can pick, roast, ground and brew.  👍

Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale

I often wonder at what point in time this plant with it's bright beautiful happy yellow flowers became such an eyesore. I mean.. to the point where once that pretty little flower shows it's face in the vast sea of green grass, all hell breaks loose as the pursuit of killing it off with poisons begins. 

It really is harmless. And dandelion infused oil, to me, if you could capture sunshine and summertime, put them in a jar and solar infuse them together, that is what it would smell like. 👌

Parts used: root, leaves, flowers, milky sap 

Medicinal properties:  

Root 
Diuretic - causing increased passing of urine.
Nutritive  - providing nourishment, nutritious.
Choleretic - increases the volume of secretion of bile from the liver as well as the amount of solids secreted.
Cholagogue - promotes the discharge of bile from the system, purging it downward.
Alterative -  gradually restores the proper function of the body and increase health and vitality.

Flowers, leaves 
Diuretic - causing increased passing of urine.
Nutritive  - providing nourishment, nutritious.  
Alterative -  gradually restores the proper function of the body and increase health and vitalitity.   
                          
Medical studies have shown that some doctors have their breast cancer patients use dandelion infused oil as a breast massage oil in conjunction with their other treatments. The oil, when massaged into the breast and under arm areas promotes softening of the fibrous breast tissue and also aides in breaking up and releasing toxins from the lymph nodes. This is something that everyone could benefit from. 

Massaging the oil into your temples, neck and shoulders helps with tension and sinus headaches. Also for soothing sore muscles, diaper rash, dry hands and dry cracked lips. The milky substance found in the stem helps as a wort remover. Just break open the stem and rub the inside liquid on your wort. This has to be reapplied several times before any improvement.

dandelion flowers infusing in extra virgin olive oil

The oil can be soothing for eczema, psoriasis, minor burns, minor wounds and rashes. Dandelion root and or the flowers can be helpful for acne. Simmer the flowers or the roots in water for about an hour then strain. Use that liquid to wash your face. You can also squeeze the milky liquid from the stems of the plant and dab that on the areas of your body that has the acne.

The roots - it's best to harvest in the fall, particularly after a good rain as this helps to pull the roots up and out of the ground easier. Also, those medicinal properties from the above the ground parts of the plant are being sent to the roots. 👍 The roots can be used fresh or dried for making teas, tinctures, decoctions and dandelion root vinegar. These herbals can be used for digestive issues, gull bladder issues, a detox for the liver, bacterial infections in your digestive tract, reproductive organs and also cancers. 

The fresh flowers and leaves are not only delicious tossed in with other salad greens but are a powerhouse of nutrients. One cup of chopped dandelion greens (55 grams) contains approximately:

24.7 calories
5.1 grams carbohydrates
1.5 grams protein
0.4 gram fat
1.9 grams fiber
428 micrograms vitamin K (535 percent DV)
5,588 international units vitamin A (112 percent DV)
19.3 milligrams vitamin C (32 percent DV)
103 milligrams calcium (10 percent DV)
1.7 milligrams iron (9 percent DV)
1.9 milligrams vitamin E (9 percent DV)
0.2 milligram manganese (9 percent DV)

Dandelion greens also contain a small amount of thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and copper. Resource - Dr. Axe

This link here; https://www.cancertutor.com/dandelionroot/  will take you to another site that has valuable information on the treatment of cancer using dandelion.  

For more information on dandelion root, click here.
For information on preparing dandelion root tincture, click here 
 
***  I just recently discovered that there is a correlation with dandelion and latex allergy. 

Dandelion contains latex. If you are allergic to latex be sure to do your research before using any products containing dandelion. That's any and all parts of the dandelion.

I can say from experience that this is definitely something to take serious. I'm allergic to latex. I've been using dandelion medicine for years, both internally and topically, with no problems at all. Several months ago I began experiencing allergy related symptoms. After learning about the correlation between dandelion and latex it now makes sense as to what has been going on with my body. 

So for me, I'm sad that I will not be able to use dandelion medicine anymore. At least for now. However, I am very thankful to have received this knowledge.

One more thing to add in regards to latex allergy. There is also a correlation between latex and certain fruits, vegetables and other medicinal plants. Be sure to check that out. Two of the food biggies are bananas and avocados. Medicinal plant - wild lettuce; Lactuca virosa