By Dallas Jennifer Cobb
Weeds grow everywhere, not just in rural forests and fields, but in overcrowded urban areas, pushing through sidewalk cracks, taking over lawns, even thriving in the dirty ditches lining highways.
Many plants commonly called weeds are herbs in disguise. Unknown, disregarded, and often disrespected, they face many challenges. In urban areas herbs battle air pollution, litter, a lack of water, and the application of herbicides by landowners and highway maintenance crews. Even in rural areas many valuable herbs face extinction due to overharvesting.
While some people try to get rid of these “pesky weeds,” and others drive them into extinction because of greed and unsustainable harvesting practices, wild herbs (weeds) have powerful cosmetic, culinary, and medicinal uses. Imagine having access to these versatile, powerful healing allies for free.
By learning how to wildcraft or “urban harvest,” these weeds, you can tap into extensive, affordable resources. By practicing ethical and sustainable wildcrafting, you can ensure they continue to thrive and produce for years to come. I grew up eating wildcrafted greens like sorrel, young dandelion leaves, cress, lambs quarters, and wild leeks. The care and tending of the beds were always part of the trips to harvest from them.
Commonly Found “Weeds”
Bear in mind I live in Canada, but many of the “weeds” found here are widely available throughout the northern United States and Western Europe. Thankfully, our ancestors took seeds of helpful herbs with them when they ventured out into the world.
While there are literally hundreds of wild herbs that warrant wildcrafting, for the sake of brevity I’ll focus on a few highly versatile ones. Start with the proper identification of them, learn when to harvest them, and how to prepare them for use and you’ll have a couple of staples in your medicine chest. Then, over time, you can add to your knowledge and build your wildcrafting practice.
Common “weeds” that grow wild include catnip (Nepeta cataria), raspberry leaf (Rubus idaeus), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). In addition to these “common weeds,” many very pricey herbs like goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), echinacea (Echinacea purpura), and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) can also be found growing wild.
Note: Wild American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) used to be a favorite of wildcrafters, but the harvesting and exporting of it is now illegal in many states and provinces. Check your local legislation before even thinking about harvesting wild ginseng.
Aboveground Wildcrafting
It is easy to identify common herbs with a good guide. Get one and use it. Never overharvest, trim only what you will use, and make sure not to overwhelm the plant you are trimming from.
Flowers, leaves, and stems need good air circulation and fast drying in order to maintain herb quality and potency, so either hang them or place them on a screen in a shady spot. Slow drying and sun adversely affect herbs, turning them black. Dried herbs can be stored in glass jars and should be used within a year.
St. John’s wort is highly versatile and is widely used to remedy muscle spasms; feminine reproductive system complaints such as premenstrual syndrome symptoms and menopausal disturbances; central nervous system complaints such as shingles and sciatica; the symptoms of most common viruses; mental health symptoms like stress, anxiety, insomnia, and mild to moderate depression; and is even used externally in the treatment of abrasions, scrapes, bruises, and burns. This herb is throughout North America along roadsides and in fields. While some herbalists only use the flowers, Susun Weed suggests using the whole upper flowering section of the plant, including stalks, leaves, flower buds, flowers, and seed pods. Remember sustainability—if you cut the top of a plant, be sure to leave some seeds for sustainable reproduction. Chop and soak plant tops in 100 percent vodka, the green and yellow leaves and flowers produce a red tincture.
Red clover is versatile and readily available to urban and rural wildcrafters. It’s rich in isoflavones and the nutrients calcium, chromium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, and Vitamin C. Isoflavones help increase “good” cholesterol (HDL), and reduce the risk of blood clots because of its blood thinning properties. It is reputed to reduce hot flashes, night sweats, osteopenia, and osteoporosis in perimenopaus and menopausal women because of its estrogen mimicking properties. Isoflavones also suppress and kill off cancer cell growth, and red clover is especially effective for hormone-sensitive cancers. Make an immune system boosting infusion by putting one ounce of dried red clover blossoms in a quart jar, cover with boiling water, and allow to infuse for four hours. Not just for cancer treatment, take this for prevention too.
Catnip is found in urban and rural locales. It eases stomach upset, nausea, digestive disorders, reduces fevers, promotes sweating, releases toxins, calms nerves, soothes colic in babies, eases nervous complaints, and helps treat diarrhea. An extract called nepetalactone is a common ingredient in herbicides and insect repellents—fleas hate it. The blossoms and leaves are best harvested when the plant is full grown, vibrant, and lush. In my area that’s in mid-July. Make a tincture from catnip to use as needed.
Raspberry leaves are a common uterine tonic widely used throughout pregnancy to treat morning sickness, leg cramps, and to tone uterine walls. It’s also used during labor to shorten the second stage, and after birth to promote placenta expulsion and the flow of breast milk. Gather and dry the leaves to use as tea.
Belowground Wildcrafting
Look for roots in your daily journey. Make note of the location and return later to harvest mature roots. Please don’t overharvest anything. Herbs are renewable resources that will be available year after year when afforded the proper respect and care.
Belowground portions of annuals should be harvested just before the plant flowers. For biennial and perennials, the roots are best harvested in the late fall or early spring. The autumn, before really severe and regular frost sets in, is the ideal time.
Goldenseal and bloodroot roots lay an inch or two below the surface. Carefully insert your digging tool next to the root, prying it to bring the whole plant up unscathed. Brush away dirt and carefully examine the plant. Confirm its identity, maturity, and suitability for harvest. If not, replant it and remember the location.
Wash gathered roots in running water to remove all soil, but don’t scrub. Most roots can be split into smaller pieces, and laid outdoors on a screen with good air circulation and indirect sunlight. If you’re drying indoors, the screen can be near a heat source, but nothing ferocious, just mild heat and good air circulation. Roots take time to dry and should feel dry to the touch.
Goldenseal is a widely used medicinal herb. It is nicknamed “yellow root” because of the vibrant root color. It commonly grows in large patches, or mats, in a maple leaf style, atop a stem of about eight to ten inches. Locate a goldenseal patch and monitor. Harvest only mature roots four to six years in age. Cultivate a sustainable source of this helpful herb. Dig the roots up, separate nodules off of them, and replant the nodules to form another plant. This will ensure you have a sustainable patch for many years. While the roots are the most potent and widely used part of the plant, goldenseal leaves and stems are also used.
Bloodroot is easy to identify and find. Its deeply scalloped leaf is shaped like a walnut-half, about four inches in size, and also resembles elephant ears. It has a single white flower that grows out of the leaf mass. Like goldenseal, the most desirable part of bloodroot is the root. It grows in well-drained soil at the edge of roads, along paths, and in clearings. It can be propagated by splitting root nodules and replanting. The roots are distinct in color, and when they’re broken, bleed a bright red “blood.” When dried, the root takes on a deep yellow color.
Echinacea promotes white blood cell creation aiding the body in fighting bacteria and infection. It is especially useful against vaginal infections, like yeast. A common garden flower, echinacea is also a native species known as “cone flower.” It produces gorgeous, big, daisylike flowers that grace many gardens. Harvested primarily for the root, make sure you harvest it responsibly.
Wildcrafting
Be sure to fully identify all herbs before using them for anything. Seek out the wisdom of a chartered herbalist, and consult reputable herbal guides for accurate identification and use information. Learn what herbs masquerade as commonly found weeds, understand their therapeutic value, know how to properly identify them, and then get to work wildcrafting weeds.
While this is just a starter article, read more and check out the amazing information available on YouTube where knowledgeable herbalists have posted thousands of useful videos on identifying, collecting, processing, and using wildcrafted herbs.
Dallas Jennifer Cobb practices gratitude magic, giving thanks for personal happiness, health, and prosperity; meaningful, rewarding, and flexible work; and a deliciously joyful life. She is accomplishing her deepest desires. She lives in paradise with her daughter in a waterfront village in rural Ontario, where she regularly swims and runs, chanting: “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Contact her at jennifer.cobb@live.com.