Taste: Acrid (irritatingly strong)
Areas found: Damp meadows and lowlands
Description: Blooms from July to September. The distinguishing feature of this plant is that the stem appears to grow through a single opposing lance-shaped leaf. Its flowers are white but this is true of many plants; the leaf structure is the best way to identify this plant.
Medicinal actions: Warming, stimulant, laxative when taken in excess
Uses: It can help cold tissue states, such as cold, flu, mild hypothermia, and constipation. If skin tissues show decreased oxygenation (pale, gray, blue, purple tint to skin), it can be used to stimulate the person. There’s an old folk term, “bone-break fever,” which refers to this plant. It is well known for raising core temperature to help break a fever and fight off infection.
Taste: Acrid, foul
Areas found: In most areas on edges of the Eastern Woodlands
Description: Flowering dogwood has a white to pinkish flower in the summer and has a dark and heavily segregated bark. It grows very twisted and never straight. Often it will lean toward a clearing or field edge and generally has a low crown. The berries on this tree are red, many times in clusters of four.
Medicinal actions: Warming, stimulant
Uses: Fever with chills.
Taste: Dry
Areas found: Open fields, roadsides
Description: Long-stemmed plant with lance-shaped leaves. Many species differ slightly, but all have a large cluster of yellow (gold) small flowers.
Medicinal actions: Astringent, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, diuretic
Uses: Goldenrod is used on the skin to heal wounds and is taken internally to reduce bloating.
Taste: Sweet, cooling
Areas found: Most woodland edges and fields, in disturbed areas
Description: Red clover usually has three leaves, typically shaped like a shamrock, with a red/purple color flower in season.
Medicinal actions: Male/female tonic
Uses: Used for hot flashes/flushes and PMS, as well as lowering cholesterol, improving urine production, and improving circulation of the blood, to help prevent osteoporosis, reduce the possibility of blood clots and arterial plaques, and limiting the development of benign prostate hyperplasia. Red clover is a soothing lymphatic for sore throats and coughs. It is also antispasmodic, making it useful for spasmodic coughs resulting from bronchitis. It is gentle enough to use on children.
Taste: Bitter
Areas found: Disturbed soil, especially near roadsides
Description: Chicory is a long-stemmed plant with a pale blue to purple flower that only opens in the daylight.
Medicinal actions: Tonic, laxative, diuretic, sedative
Uses: It can ease digestive problems and improve function, prevent heartburn, reduce arthritis pains, detoxify the liver and gallbladder, prevent bacterial infections, boost the immune system, and reduce the chance of heart disease. It is also a natural sedative, can protect against kidney stones, and can help you lose weight.
Taste: Acrid
Areas found: Wet areas; it is a water-indicator tree
Description: River birch has a white color bark on the outside, typical of birch but more red underneath and peeling in small chips, not in larger sheets like many birch.
Medicinal actions: Diuretic, antirheumatic, stimulant, astringent, anthelmintic, sweating agent
Uses: An infusion made from the leaves of the birch can be used as a diuretic and cleansing agent to the urinary tract. In addition, it has been used to treat gout, rheumatism, and mild arthritic pain.
Other plants for cold tissue states:
• Shepherd’s purse
• Mustard
• Horseradish
• Alfalfa