Medicinal Wildflowers

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Transcript Medicinal Wildflowers

What Is A Wildflower?
Those that grow in the wild or on their own,
without cultivation, are called wildflowers.
Dandelions:
Dandelions are a natural herbal remedy
with numerous health benefits.
All parts of the dandelion can be used:
leaves, roots and flowers.
They may be chewed, slice the roots
and eat like candy, boil the roots into
tea, even batter fry the blooms.
Medicinal properties of the
dandelion:
1.) It has mild laxative properties and
helps relieve constipation.
2.) It aids in the process of digestion
and boosts appetite.
3.) It is good for the complexion and
helps prevent dry skin conditions and
the occurrence of black spots.
4.) It is rich in potassium, iron and other
vitamins that help in the treatment of
anemia.
5.) The roots help in purifying the blood
and removing toxins from the liver and
the kidneys.
6.) It helps in the treatment of irritable
bowel syndrome.
7.) It helps weight reduction by
regulating blood sugar and improving
fat metabolism
Purple Coneflower
Perhaps the most famous medicinal species
among North American native plants.
This brilliant purple to pink, daisy-like
wildflower is a native of the American plains.
The Indians chewed on the roots for snake
and insect bites, and also used it for burns,
toothache, sores, colds, and flu.
This is the No. 1 medicinal plant for the
current herbal remedies and supplements.
Some of its extracts stimulate the immune
system (by boosting the capacity of WBC),
and even ward off the common cold.
All parts of the plant contain medicinal
potency—leaves, buds, stems and
roots…Most importantly are the roots.
Evening Primrose
Evening Primrose is found all over the world. It grows by roadsides, railway
banks and waste places in dry open soils, gravelly places, meadows and
old fields.
*The entire plant is edible.
*Gather edible roots and leaves
in spring may be frozen.
*Gather flowers, buds and young
seed pods in bloom-Primrose Oil
*Gather entire plant in fall and
dry for later herb use.
GLA (gamma-linoleinc acid) is an
essential fatty acid that is known to
help prevent hardening of the arteries,
heart disease, eczema, cirrhosis,
rheumatoid arthritis, menopause, PMS,
multiple sclerosis, and high blood
pressure, sex hormone response, aids
in lowering cholesterol levels, and is
important in treating cirrhosis of the
liver, relieve pain and inflammation.
The oil also has a positive effect on the
uterine muscles, nervous system and
metabolism.
The bark and the leaves are astringent
and sedative. A tea made from the
roots is used in the treatment of
obesity.
Self Heal All:
This herb was used in medieval times to heal warrior’s wounds.
Medicinally, it was once used for mouth and throat diseases as
well.
”The juice used with oil of roses to anoint the temples is very
effectual to remove the headache.”
Self Heal is one of the many common wildflowers that traveled
to North America from Europe as weeds in the crop seed
sacks of early colonists.
The whole plant is used as alterative, antibacterial, antiseptic.
Weak infusion of the plant is an excellent medicinal eye wash for
sties and pinkeye.
St. Johnswort:
St. Johnswort blooms in summer; in fact, it’s always
in bloom in late June. That’s when “the Day of St.
John” happens, June 24 th.
When St. John’s Eve rolled around, everyone had to have some of this plant. It was
hung in windows to ward off evil spirits. It was burned to protect livestock and farms
This weed has become one of the mainstays of today’s herbal medicine. Check
any drugstore, and you’ll see it available in elixirs, tablets, and more.
St. Johnswort today, is often called the natural Prozac, and a popular
tranquilizer.
Modern herbal studies have shown that the medicinal properties of St. Johnswort
actually do have a relaxing effect when ingested.
*Usage of wildflowers for
medicinal purposes found on
Documented scrolls dated
back to 3500 B.C. by the
Egyptians and Chinese
*Flowering plants provide
25% of basic ingredients for
FDA approved drugs.
*Widely used to treat HEART
DISEASE that is directly
correlated to fluid retention
*Also strengthens cardiac
contraction for better
blood flow
William Withering
1775
First reported physician
to use foxglove
•Originally received its name for curing spider bites by
smashing leaves and applying to bite.
•Extremely sensitive to POLLUTION / RADATION-will cause
blooms to change from BLUE …TO…PINK
•Used as a Pollution Detector and an Environmental Monitor
EAT IT
Raw, In Tea, Or A Shot
Medicinal Purposes
•General Well Being
•Fatigue & Stress
•Blood Pressure
•Congestion & Wheezing
•Aphrodisiac both M&F
Sells for
approximately
$300-$500/lb
dried weight
SHOT GLASS TECHNIQUE:
Handful of dried root in a
glass jar, cover with vodka
then sit for a few weeks.
Strain. Use a shot glass full
in juice 2X daily.
HUMAN INTEREST
White Snake Root was the cause and death
of Nancy Lincoln (Abe Lincoln’s Mother).
Poison snake root
is ingested by cow
infecting the milk
drank by Mrs.
Lincoln.
Food
Waxes
Dyes
Fibers
Gums
Latex
Oil
Resins
Soaps