Week 32
As societies struggle, and I see daily items become harder to obtain, and friends move northwards[i] to escape a boiling planet[ii], I see my renatured land through a different lens. Renaturing is not all about co-existing with Nature, it may also be what I need to survive. Our forefathers knew plenty, and which plant did what. To them it was largely reflex.
Enter then, the world of foraging, an ecological boon if ever there was one. Foraging is the act of searching for wild food resources[iii] and has been practised since the dawn of humanity. The Knepp Wildland Project in West Sussex[iv] is a good example. It was once an intensively farmed estate but has been allowed to rewild since 2001. Today, it is home to an abundance of flora and fauna, including many edible plants and fungi. Foraging at Knepp not only yields delicious, fresh food but also teaches the forager about the importance and interdependence of the natural world.
Foraging has many advantages. It enhances biodiversity, supports local economies, encourages sustainable practices, and benefits health and wellbeing. Yet it can be troublesome, too[v]. Foraging can be exhausting, perhaps overdone, and harm rather than benefit an ecosystem, while at times a forager can be unlucky. For sure, they must know what they are doing, so I decided to try it out. I would walk my land, imagine I was now a sole survivor, that the nation had disintegrated as it may one day do, and I had to forage to survive. Happily, I did not return disappointed. Sadly, I realised there was plenty I did not know. What was certain is that renatured land is filled with opportunities and that a traditional vegetable patch, a feature since the Romans[vi], is not the only way to grow food. I now realise that I do not need to starve and that most of what has chosen to grow on my land is valuable medically, too.
First was the common nettle - the stinging nettle - whose roots, seeds, stems and young tender leaves are all edible[vii]. Medicinally, it has antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-infectious, hypotensive, and antiulcer characteristics, as well as the ability to prevent cardiovascular disease, in all parts of the plant[viii]. Nettles can be turned into pesto, quiche, soup, tortillas, ravioli, and even tea. For the tea, it is best to wash the leaves, dry them at 95°-115°F until crisp, crumble them when dried, and store them in a jar. Next stop is nettle tea[ix], which should be made within six months, although the leaves can be frozen for a full year.
Immediately beside the nettle, and where one might expect, grows some dock. If I had syphilis, the dock would be perfect, but I do not. Predictably, the plant does many other things, too, and has been used medicinally since at least 500 BCE. It is mostly the plant’s roots that are
effective. A root poultice, for example, has been used for iron-deficiency anaemia, blood purification, decongesting the liver, and resolving constipation[x]. The leaves are famously employed to soothe nettle stings and the cooling properties have also been used to alleviate insect bites and stings, as well as scalds, blisters, and sprains. Dock was once a popular remedy for staunching bleeding and the juice from its leaves can be applied as a compress to heal bruises[xi]. The seeds have been used to treat coughs, colds and bronchitis, and the roots as a remedy for jaundice, skin ailments, boils, rheumatism, constipation, and diarrhoea. Dock can do plenty.
Meanwhile dock leaves, stems and seeds can be eaten, taste slightly like lemon, and are used similarly in cooking. Young dock is better than old for eating and makes a tasty spinach-like dish, and can be served with butter, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and seasoning. The leaves can also be stuffed like vine leaves with a rice, herb, and cheese filling. Dried they can be used as a seasoning for rice, potatoes, seafood, or sandwich spread. The stems of young plants can also be chopped, simmered, and sweetened with honey as a substitute for rhubarb pie[xii].
Then there is the harebell, whose blue colour adorns much of my land at the moment. Medicinally, the root has been chewed in the treatment of heart and lung problems and a root-infusion can be used as ear drops for a sore ear. A decoction[xiii] of the plant has been drunk or used as a wash in the treatment of sore eyes[xiv]. For eating, the flowers make a beautiful addition to a salad and the leaves can be added to salads or steamed as a green[xv].
Beside the harebells is my English lavender whose lovely scent is known to reduce anxiety and calm the mind. The calming fragrance of a lavender plant is thought to provide relief from stress, depression, and migraines. It is also considered anti-inflammatory and has antiseptic properties, as well as being an excellent insect repellent. Like other plants in the mint family, lavender will repel bugs such as mosquitos, fleas, moths, and ticks. I cannot understand how lavender can be so attractive to a bumblebee (it is) yet can repel so much else (it does). As a natural insect repellent, there is little to beat it[xvi].
Lavender has been eaten since the Middle Ages, probably before as well. Since then, English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has become a popular choice for culinary purposes, given its mild, peppery floral flavour. The flower buds, leaves, and stems of lavender can be used fresh or dried, in dishes ranging from sweet floral desserts to heartier meat dishes. Lavender is a unique herb in that every part of the plant - bud, stem, and leaf - can be used in cooking. While the lavender flowers and leaves can be used fresh, the buds and stems can be used dried. Since the lavender flavour intensifies when the herb is dried, the dried buds should be used sparingly. The flavours of lavender pair well with herbs like oregano, rosemary, thyme, sage, and savory. As a rule, lavender can be used in the same way as fresh rosemary, in recipes such as meat marinades and baked breads. Lavender flowers also make a beautiful garnish for salads, desserts, and more. It is also possible to toss fresh lavender leaves into a salad to add some colour, or sprinkle the buds over ice cream, into a glass of sparkling wine, or even over a birthday cake[xvii].
As I walk my land, I realise I am spoiled for choice. There is so much to eat, and I can develop almost any illness created and my land has something to treat it. So accustomed have I become to doctors, pharmacies, pill bottles, and supermarkets, that I have sometimes forgotten about Nature - shame on me - and that she is here to lend a hand. At this very moment, in addition to nettles, dock, harebells and lavender, I have cow parsley[xviii], common heather[xix], rosebay willowherb[xx], purple[xxi] and yellow[xxii] loosestrife, pot marigold[xxiii], yarrow[xxiv], St John’s Wort[xxv], nipplewort[xxvi], corn daisy[xxvii], hogweed[xxviii], knapweed[xxix], white clover[xxx], selfheal[xxxi], Enchanter’s nightshade[xxxii], betony[xxxiii], and common poppy[xxxiv]. Each of them has at least one medicinal use, generally many more, and each can be eaten.
The exceptions? They are few. There is bird’s-foot trefoil[xxxv] that can be used as a sedative to treat sleep disorders, depression, nervousness, and anxiety[xxxvi], yet you would certainly not wish to eat it, as all parts of the plant contain cyanogenic glycosides (hydrogen cyanide). The toxicity of this, if used excessively by humans, can cause death[xxxvii].
And the buttercup[xxxviii]. It certainly has medicinal uses, especially if the parts that grow above ground are dried and can then be used for medicine. Fresh preparations are very irritating and should not be used. Despite safety concerns, buttercup is used for arthritis, nerve pain, blisters, chronic skin problems, and bronchitis. The plant contains toxins that are very irritating to the skin and the lining of the mouth, stomach, and intestines. It can also increase the risk of sunburn[xxxix]. Eating buttercup is not a good idea as all parts of the plant are poisonous, although the toxins can be destroyed by heat or by drying. The plant also has a strongly acrid juice that can cause skin blistering[xl]. I would forget about eating buttercup.
I would not forget about foraging.
***
Acknowledgement
Take it from me - none of this would be possible without the help of RSG Horticulture. Rufus, who runs it, has far more energy than me and is full of ideas and skills. Do contact him through https://www.rsghorticulture.com.
References [i] Rodriguez S. Climate migration is already happening — for homeowners who can afford it. 16 September 2021. See https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/16/homeowners-relocating-because-of-climate-change-wildfires-flooding.html. Accessed 3 August 2023. [ii] Niranjan A. ‘Era of global boiling has arrived,’ says UN chief as July set to be hottest month on record. 27 July 2023. See https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jul/27/scientists-july-world-hottest-month-record-climate-temperatures. Accessed 3 August 2023. [iii] Cambridge Dictionary. Foraging. See https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/foraging#. Accessed 3 August 2023. [iv] Knepp. Rewilding pioneers. See https://knepp.co.uk. Accessed 3 August 2023. [v] Stuart T. Advantages and disadvantages of food foraging. See https://environmental-conscience.com/food-foraging-pros-cons/. Accessed 3 August 2023. [vi] Harrison C. A brief history of the kitchen garden, and where to find them. See https://www.artfund.org/explore/get-inspired/features/a-brief-history-of-the-kitchen-garden. Accessed 5 August 2023. [vii] Macy D, Hyde G, Brixey J, Davis O. Wild edibles: stinging nettle. November 2022. See https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9373-wild-edibles-stinging-nettle#:~:text=Roots%2C%20seeds%2C%20stems%20and%20young,and%20as%20a%20food%20source.&text=Mature%20fibrous%20stems%20have%20been,rope%2C%20cloth%20and%20fishing%20net. Accessed 3 August 2023. [viii] Bhusal KK, Magar SK, Thapa R, Lamsal A, Bhandari S, Maharjan R, Shrestha S, Shrestha J. Nutritional and pharmacological importance of stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.): A review. Heliyon. 2022 Jun 22;8(6):e09717. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09717. [ix] Nettle recipes. See https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/em-9373-wild-edibles-stinging-nettle#:~:text=Roots%2C%20seeds%2C%20stems%20and%20young,and%20as%20a%20food%20source.&text=Mature%20fibrous%20stems%20have%20been,rope%2C%20cloth%20and%20fishing%20net. Accessed 5 August 2023. [x] Curly dock. See https://www.bellarmine.edu/faculty/drobinson/curlydock.asp#:~:text=The%20plant%20has%20been%20used,it%20remedies%20constipation%20and%20syphilis. Accessed 8 August 2023. [xi] See https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/dock-rumex#:~:text=Herbal%20Medicine%20Uses%20of%20Dock,-The%20leaves%20are&text=The%20juice%20from%20the%20leaves,%2C%20rheumatism%2C%20constipation%20and%20diarrhoea. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xii] Dock. See https://www.eatweeds.co.uk/dock-rumex. Accessed 8 August 2023. [xiii] Rickvanman. How to make a decoction (video). See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvxbg5C10VY. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xiv] Harebell. See http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/c/campanula-rotundifolia=harebell.php. Accessed 3 August 2023. [xv] WildFoodUK. Harebells. See https://www.wildfooduk.com/edible-wild-plants/harebells/. Accessed 3 August 2023. [xvi] FlowerWorks. 7 benefits of growing lavender. See https://flowerworksmqt.com/blogs/news/7-benefits-of-growing-lavender#:~:text=The%20calming%20fragrance%20of%20a,inflammatory%20and%20has%20antiseptic%20properties.&text=Like%20other%20plants%20in%20the,fleas%2C%20moths%2C%20and%20ticks. Accessed 3 August 2023. [xvii] MasterClass. Learn How to Cook With Lavender, Plus 10 Recipes That Use Culinary Lavender. See https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-how-to-cook-with-lavender-plus-10-recipes-that-use-culinary-lavender#. Accessed 3 August 2023. [xviii] Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris). Cow parsley was used in traditional medicines and is said to help treat various ailments, such as stomach and kidney problems, breathing difficulties and colds. It has always been used as mosquito repellent. See https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/cow-parsley/#:~:text=Cow%20parsley%20was%20used%20in,been%20used%20as%20mosquito%20repellent. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xix] Heather (Calluna vulgaris) - uses, side effects, and more. See https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-489/heather#. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xx] Rosebay willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium). The herb is high in mucilage (especially the spring shoots) and tannins, giving it its ability to both soothe and tone and so being an effective anti-inflammatory. This astringent and emollient action can be used for the digestive tract, sore throats, inflammation of the mouth etc. The flowers open first at the bottom of the flowering spike, and then creep up to the top of the plant in succession. In Russia the top flowers opening indicated the start of autumn. In Liverpool the herb was known as bombweed after the city was heavily bombed in WW2, leading to this plant springing up from the rubble. After the Great Fire of London in 1666 the herb germinated and grew in the city getting its local name London’s Ruin. In Clydebank the Singer Sewing Machine Factory was one of the casualties of WW2 giving it the name Singerweed. Bees love the herb with Fireweed honey being very popular in Alaska. Cordage can be made from the long stems. See https://grassrootsremedies.co.uk/herb-profile-rosebay-willowherb/#:~:text=Soothing%20action%3A%20The%20herb%20is,inflammation%20of%20the%20mouth%20etc. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xxi] Lythrum salicaria. It has been used as an astringent medicinal herb to treat diarrhoea and dysentery; it is considered safe to use for all ages, including babies. It is also cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens, and is particularly associated with damp, poorly drained locations such as marshes, bogs and watersides. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lythrum_salicaria. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xxii] Lysimachia vulgaris. Like many other plants in the genus Lysimachia, yellow loosestrife has historically been valued for its medicinal properties and is still sometimes used today in traditional folk medicine by some eastern cultures. It has been used as an effective anti-inflammatory agent as well as for treating fever, wounds, ulcers, and diarrhoea. It also has analgesic, astringent, and expectorant properties. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysimachia_vulgaris#:~:text=Lysimachia%20vulgaris%2C%20the%20yellow%20loosestrife,plant%20in%20the%20family%20Primulaceae. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xxiii] See week 30 entry. [xxiv] See week 30 entry. [xxv] See weeks 27 and 31 entries. [xxvi] See week 24 entry. [xxvii] See week 30 entry. [xxviii] See week 29 entry. [xxix] See week 27 entry. [xxx] Trifolium repens. White clover has been described as the most important forage legume of the temperate zones. Besides making an excellent forage crop for livestock, its leaves and flowers are a valuable survival food: they are high in proteins, and are widespread and abundant. The fresh plants have been used for centuries as additives to salads and other meals consisting of leafy vegetables. They are not easy for humans to digest raw, but this is however easily fixed by boiling the harvested plants for 5–10 minutes. Native Americans ate some species raw. Dried white clover flowers may also be smoked as a herbal alternative to tobacco. In India, T. repens is considered a folk medicine against intestinal helminthic worms, and an experimental in-vivo study validated that the aerial shoots of T. repens bear significant anticestodal (anti-tapeworm) properties. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifolium_repens#cite_note-urlTrifolium_repens-40. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xxxi] Prunella vulgaris. Prunella is derived from 'Brunella', a word which is itself a derivative, taken from "die Bräune", the German name for diphtheria, which Prunella was historically used to cure. Vulgaris means 'usual', 'common', or 'vulgar'. Self-heal and heal-all refer to its uses in traditional medicine. Prunella vulgaris is edible, and can be used in salads, soups, stews, and boiled as a pot herb. The herb, which is called xia ku cao (夏枯草) in Chinese, is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat dizziness, red eyes, dry cough, and dermatitis and boils. It is also a main ingredient in several herbal teas in southern China, including commercial beverages such as Wong Lo Kat. The Nlaka'pamux drink a cold infusion of the whole plant as a common beverage. The plant is traditionally used by some Indigenous cultures to treat various physical ailments. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunella_vulgaris. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xxxii] See week 24 entry. [xxxiii] Betonica officinalis. The first reference to betony occurs in a work by the Roman physician Antonius Musa, who claimed it as being effective against sorcery. It was planted in churchyards to prevent activity by ghosts. The plant was commonly grown in physic gardens of apothecaries and monasteries for medicinal purposes, hence the specific epithet officinalis which indicates use for medicinal or culinary purposes. Betony was an ingredient of "pistoja powder," an old remedy for arthritis and gout. It was also claimed to be effective against snake and dog bites, and was believed to be a cure for drunkenness. Richard E. Banks stated that you should "Eat betony or the powder thereof and you cannot be drunken that day." John Gerard (1597) said that "It maketh a man to pisse well" While Nicholas Culpeper stated that, "...it preserves the liver and bodies of men from the danger of epidemical diseases, and from witchcraft also" and "...this is a precious herb, well worth keeping in your house". He also states that betony is astrologically ruled by Jupiter and Aries. Betony has also been used in traditional Austrian medicine internally as tea, or externally as compresses or baths for treatment of disorders of the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, skin, and gynaecological problems. Modern herbalists prescribe betony to treat anxiety, gallstones, heartburn, high blood pressure, migraine, and neuralgia, and to prevent sweating. It can also be used as an ointment for cuts and sores. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betonica_officinalis. Accessed 5 August 2023. [xxxiv] See week 1 entry. [xxxv] See week 25 entry. [xxxvi] Diverse Gardens. Bird’s-foot trefoil. https://diversegardens.co.uk/wildflowers/wildflower-gallery/birds-foot-trefoil/#:~:text=Uses%20for%20bird%27s%2Dfoot%20trefoil,-In%20agriculture%20bird%27s&text=It%20has%20the%20added%20advantage,%2C%20depression%2C%20nervousness%20and%20anxiety. See 3 August 2023. [xxxvii] Bryant S. Glenlivet Wildlife. See https://glenlivet-wildlife.co.uk/plants/birdsfoot-trefoil/#:~:text=Bird%27s%20foot%20trefoil%20should%20not,by%20humans%2C%20can%20cause%20death. Accessed 8 August 2023. [xxxviii] See week 25 entry. [xxxix] RxList. Buttercup. https://www.rxlist.com/buttercup/supplements.htm. Accessed 3 August 2023. [xl] Plants for a Future. Ranunculus repens. See https://pfaf.org/User/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ranunculus+repens. Accessed 3 August 2023.
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