10 Weeds with Amazing Properties
Weeds are the main enemy of any gardener, because the fight against them begins in early spring and continues until late autumn. However, not many people know that even weeds have amazing properties and can be used to make medicinal teas, tinctures and compresses, and also as green fertilizer. Let's take a closer look at the 10 worst weeds.
Chamomile grows not only in garden beds, but also in fields and on roadsides. Dried chamomile flowers have anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and antispasmodic effects. Chamomile tea can be drunk for flu, stomach and intestinal problems, and diarrhea. Compresses and baths are prepared for external use, which help with poorly healing wounds, burns, or are used for washing eyes and rinsing the mouth.
Plantain can be found in meadows and fields, around roads and in parks. The plant lives up to twelve years, growing during this time to several tens of centimeters. Long and narrow leaves, which have a medicinal effect, are usually arranged in the form of several ground rosettes.Plantain extract is used to treat the upper respiratory tract. So you can make cough tea from one teaspoon of herb and a glass of water. Fresh crushed leaves are applied to wounds, burns and ulcers, as well as to the site of a bee or wasp sting.
Wheatgrass is one of the most destructive weeds that grows even in heavy, alkaline and acidic soils. The roots of an adult plant can reach a length of up to 2 m, so it is not so easy to get rid of. At the same time, the roots have unique healing properties, for which, after digging, they need to be cleaned, kneaded and made into tea, which helps with kidney and urinary tract diseases. The herb is also suitable for treating rheumatism or diabetes.
Burdock is a powerful and strong biennial plant with strong roots reaching a depth of 70 cm. Large leaves can reach 50 cm in length and 40 cm in width. This weed often grows in landfills, forest edges and near roads. In folk medicine, burdock is used for skin diseases, to strengthen hair, for excessive sweating, eczema and helps remove harmful substances from the body. Dried burdock root is included in tea mixtures that are drunk to treat diabetes.
Shepherd's purse can be found on ridges, fields, and roads. The entire aerial part is used as a medicine, from which a decoction is prepared that has a diuretic effect. It is also effective for treating wounds, skin rashes and eczema. The seeds of this plant can be used instead of thyme or mustard. Just be careful, it is poisonous in large quantities!
Wormwood is especially common in areas with nitrogen-rich soil. This is a weed that grows almost everywhere: near roads, in fields, forests and swamps. The flowering stem has a healing effect, helps with insomnia, gynecological problems, disinfects the digestive system and destroys intestinal parasites. This plant repels insects very well; you just need to set the top on fire or throw it on smoldering coals. Wormwood can also be used as a seasoning when cooking beef, poultry and lamb, but it is not the wormwood itself that is best suited for this, but its relative, better known as tarragon.
The fragile horsetail is amazingly adaptable to the most unfavorable conditions and, despite its charm, can also be a bothersome weed. However, do not rush to throw it away, because the succulent stems are ideal for mulching. The stems, which contain a lot of silicon necessary for healthy hair, skin and nails, are of particular value as a medicinal product. An infusion can be prepared from fresh and dried horsetail. Fermented leachate is an excellent fertilizer.
The long root of dandelion is also an excellent natural remedy, which received its specific name for a reason. This amazing plant restores the liver, normalizes digestion and promotes overall detoxification of the body. A decoction is prepared from the root, and a vitamin salad is prepared from the young leaves. Golden flowers are one of the richest sources of nectar for bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
Bindweed grows very quickly, entangling plants, which can weaken or even destroy them.It has very long roots and rhizomes that are difficult to remove from the soil; even a small piece will grow a new plant. Multi-layer mulching is perhaps the only way to get rid of it forever. On the other hand, you can use bindweed as a living fence. Ornamental varieties have also been developed that have larger and more colorful flowers, as well as beautiful heart-shaped leaves.
This queen of weeds is known for its healing powers. It is almost impossible to remove it from the garden, since a new plant will grow again from the piece of rhizome left behind. But not everything is so bad, because a salad of young nettle leaves, flavored with garlic and softened with olive oil, cream or cheese, is a real delicacy. Nettle also helps with rheumatism, allergies, lowers blood sugar and cleanses the body. For a therapeutic effect, an infusion of leaves is mainly used, which is also excellent for rinsing hair. From the stems and leaves (but without the seeds) you can prepare an extract - a first-class fertilizer for plants. Nettles are also the only food that nettle butterfly caterpillars eat, so leave a few plants for them in a corner of the garden.
1. Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla)
Chamomile grows not only in garden beds, but also in fields and on roadsides. Dried chamomile flowers have anti-inflammatory, disinfectant and antispasmodic effects. Chamomile tea can be drunk for flu, stomach and intestinal problems, and diarrhea. Compresses and baths are prepared for external use, which help with poorly healing wounds, burns, or are used for washing eyes and rinsing the mouth.
2. Plantain
Plantain can be found in meadows and fields, around roads and in parks. The plant lives up to twelve years, growing during this time to several tens of centimeters. Long and narrow leaves, which have a medicinal effect, are usually arranged in the form of several ground rosettes.Plantain extract is used to treat the upper respiratory tract. So you can make cough tea from one teaspoon of herb and a glass of water. Fresh crushed leaves are applied to wounds, burns and ulcers, as well as to the site of a bee or wasp sting.
3. Wheatgrass (Elytrigia repens)
Wheatgrass is one of the most destructive weeds that grows even in heavy, alkaline and acidic soils. The roots of an adult plant can reach a length of up to 2 m, so it is not so easy to get rid of. At the same time, the roots have unique healing properties, for which, after digging, they need to be cleaned, kneaded and made into tea, which helps with kidney and urinary tract diseases. The herb is also suitable for treating rheumatism or diabetes.
4. Great burdock (Arctium lappa)
Burdock is a powerful and strong biennial plant with strong roots reaching a depth of 70 cm. Large leaves can reach 50 cm in length and 40 cm in width. This weed often grows in landfills, forest edges and near roads. In folk medicine, burdock is used for skin diseases, to strengthen hair, for excessive sweating, eczema and helps remove harmful substances from the body. Dried burdock root is included in tea mixtures that are drunk to treat diabetes.
5. Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)
Shepherd's purse can be found on ridges, fields, and roads. The entire aerial part is used as a medicine, from which a decoction is prepared that has a diuretic effect. It is also effective for treating wounds, skin rashes and eczema. The seeds of this plant can be used instead of thyme or mustard. Just be careful, it is poisonous in large quantities!
6. Wormwood (Artemisia vulgaris)
Wormwood is especially common in areas with nitrogen-rich soil. This is a weed that grows almost everywhere: near roads, in fields, forests and swamps. The flowering stem has a healing effect, helps with insomnia, gynecological problems, disinfects the digestive system and destroys intestinal parasites. This plant repels insects very well; you just need to set the top on fire or throw it on smoldering coals. Wormwood can also be used as a seasoning when cooking beef, poultry and lamb, but it is not the wormwood itself that is best suited for this, but its relative, better known as tarragon.
7. Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
The fragile horsetail is amazingly adaptable to the most unfavorable conditions and, despite its charm, can also be a bothersome weed. However, do not rush to throw it away, because the succulent stems are ideal for mulching. The stems, which contain a lot of silicon necessary for healthy hair, skin and nails, are of particular value as a medicinal product. An infusion can be prepared from fresh and dried horsetail. Fermented leachate is an excellent fertilizer.
8. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
The long root of dandelion is also an excellent natural remedy, which received its specific name for a reason. This amazing plant restores the liver, normalizes digestion and promotes overall detoxification of the body. A decoction is prepared from the root, and a vitamin salad is prepared from the young leaves. Golden flowers are one of the richest sources of nectar for bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
9. Field bindweed (Convōlvulus arvēnsis)
Bindweed grows very quickly, entangling plants, which can weaken or even destroy them.It has very long roots and rhizomes that are difficult to remove from the soil; even a small piece will grow a new plant. Multi-layer mulching is perhaps the only way to get rid of it forever. On the other hand, you can use bindweed as a living fence. Ornamental varieties have also been developed that have larger and more colorful flowers, as well as beautiful heart-shaped leaves.
10. Nettle (Urtica)
This queen of weeds is known for its healing powers. It is almost impossible to remove it from the garden, since a new plant will grow again from the piece of rhizome left behind. But not everything is so bad, because a salad of young nettle leaves, flavored with garlic and softened with olive oil, cream or cheese, is a real delicacy. Nettle also helps with rheumatism, allergies, lowers blood sugar and cleanses the body. For a therapeutic effect, an infusion of leaves is mainly used, which is also excellent for rinsing hair. From the stems and leaves (but without the seeds) you can prepare an extract - a first-class fertilizer for plants. Nettles are also the only food that nettle butterfly caterpillars eat, so leave a few plants for them in a corner of the garden.
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