Dandelions, taraxacum officionale, are ubiquitous to this area. It grows 2 to 18 inches tall, with a hollow flowering stock filled with milky juice; the leaves are jagged-cut, with yellow flowers that bloom from March to September. (Foster and  Duke, 145) Although hated by lawn lovers everywhere, dandelions are incredibly nourishing. It is a rich source of vitamins A, D, B, and C (containing more vitamin A than a serving of carrots). Dandelion also contains abundant iron, magnesium, sodium zinc, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, and choline. (Kuhn and Winston, 107) This makes dandelion an excellent liver tonic. The leaves can be gathered in the spring while they are young and tender; and cooked as a green, like spinach, or you can chop up the root and use it in soups. Dandelion works very well tinctured in alcohol or vinegar (I especially like to use dandelion vinegar on salads).

    If you have ever been unlucky enough to get poison ivy, then jewelweed, or spotted touch-me-not, is a plant you should definitely get to know. Jewelweed, impatiens capensis, grows 3 to 5 feet tall, with oval toothed leaves, in wet shady soil. (Foster and Duke, 154) The stems are transparent, succulent (very watery), and the flowers are horn-shaped, orange with red spots; it flowers from June to September, and has small oblong seedpods that explode when touched. (Brown,132) Jewelweed makes an effective treatment for poison ivy; it is a well-known folk remedy. Simply crush the mucilaginous stems and apply them directly to where you think you came into contact with poison ivy, using it to “scrub” clean the affected area(s).

    Plantain, plantago major, is as abundant in our area as dandelion, though not quite as well known. It is a perennial growing from 6 to 18 inches tall; with broad-oval, wavy-margined, ribbed leaves. The stalk is grooved and it produces flowers on a single elongate upright stem. (Foster and Duke, 83) Plantain is found on driveways, lawns, and roadsides.   This plant is wonderful to know for first aid; it will almost instantly take the pain and swelling out of a bee sting.  Pick a fresh clean leaf, macerate (chew it up, don’t worry, the flavor isn’t bad), and apply it directly to the wound as a poultice.  Plantain is good for the skinailments like cuts, burns, rashes, eczema, and psorialsis.  It also works well when used as an infused oil.

    Most people know red raspberry, rubus idaeus, for its succulent fruit, but few know that it makes an excellent woman’s’ tonic.  Raspberry is an upright shrub with a smooth bristly stem bearing hooked prickles; it has white flowers that bear fruit.  (Foster and Duke 264)  The leaves contain calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium.  It is also a good source of vitamin C, B, A, and E.  Raspberry leaf tea has long been used as a folk remedy for women’s ailments. It is a strong uterine tonic, reduces morning sickness, and helps to prevent excessive menstrual bleeding.  These remedies are all taken in the form of an infusion.

    Wild roses, rosa rugosa, have many uses; rosehips are the most well-known remedy, but the flowers are also effective.  The closer you get to the coastline, the easier they are to find.  Rosa rugosa is a coarse bristly-stemmed shrub that can grow two to six feet fall.  The leaves are wrinkled with five to nine leaflets per stem; with large pink or white flowers that bloom from June to September, producing red fruits, or hips up to one inch long. (Foster and Duke 263)  Rose hips are very high in vitamin C, which has made it very popular as an herbal tea.  The flowers, however, are even more versatile.  As an infusion, rose is a gentle remedy for stomachaches and diarrhea.  It is also very soothing and healing for all skin types; use it as a wash for acne or irritated skin, or infused in oil it makes a wonderful moisturizer (and it smells good, too). (Edwards 162)

    Yarrow, achillea millefolium, is found throughout the state, and has a long history of use.  It got its name from Achilles, who was said to have used it to treat the wounds of his soldiers.  Yarrow is a perennial that grows one to three feet tall.  It has finely-dissected lacy leaves on upright stems; ending in flat-topped clusters of white small petaled flowers that bloom from May to October. (Foster and Duke 74)  Traditionally, yarrow is used in cold and flu remedies, due to its diaphoretic properties that induce sweating and brings down fevers; and can also be used to sooth digestive ailments.  Achilletin and achilleine speed blood clotting, and make yarrow useful as a styptic. (Edwards 193)  Fresh leaves are macerated and applied directly to the wound.

Collection and Storage

            There are certain ethics to remain conscious of when wildgathering; the most important is conservation. If you take it all, there won’t be anything left next year; and never gather plants that are endangered. As a general rule, don’t take more than twenty percent of the existing population, leaving enough mature plants to reseed next season. (Edwards, 16) The next point that should be heeded when wildgathering is the location of the plants; do not gather where there could be any form of contaminants- right next to a road, pet areas, or where pesticides have been used. Time of day is another important factor. You should only gather plants that are free of moisture; otherwise they will mold and rot when you try to dry them. Be gentle, if you need the roots, dig them up with a garden trowel (or shovel if you are careful), and do not rip the plant out of the ground. Bring a knife or scissors to harvest the parts needed; just tearing off a piece can be damaging to the rest of the plant. Be certain of what you are gathering; get an identification guide that has detailed photos, or explore with an experienced wildgatherer. (Edwards, 18). Please remember that many wild plants and herbs can be toxic, always err on the side of caution.

        Properly drying and storing your herbs is key. Choose a place that is well ventilated, out of direct sunlight, and free of pests. Most plants can simply be tied into bundles and hung from the ceiling; roots can also be tied individually and hung. For flowers or smaller herbs use a screen, spacing them far enough apart so that they don’t touch one another. Make sure that all of the plant matter is completely dry before storing it. Brown paper bags are excellent for storage. Place the dried herbs inside the bag and close it, then invert and place that into a second bag; double-bagging will help them keep longer (Edwards, 206).  You can also store herbs on glass jars (dark colored glass is preferable); just remember to keep them out of direct sunlight.

Preparation Methods

          There are many different ways to use herbs; the methods we will cover are infusions, poultices (and compresses), tinctures, and infused oils. A tea and an infusion are essentially the same thing; the only difference between the two is the strength. An infusion is considered to be medicinal strength, while a tea is basically just flavor.  Infusions require three things: whatever plant material you intend to use, water, and time. One ounce (or a generous handful) is added to the container; then you add a quart of boiling water, cover, and let steep for about 4 hours. For a root infusion, you only need a pint of water, and infuse it for around 8 hours or overnight. The infusions can then be drank like a tea, or used as a wash, soak, poultice, or compress. Infusions are an excellent way to assure that all nutrients and medicinal properties have been extracted into the water. (Edwards, 208)

            A poultice is made by taking the plant material strained from an infusion and applying it directly to a wound, or you can wrap it between a layer of gauze or cotton and apply it that way. Poultices can also be made with fresh plant material (bruise or macerate the leaves before applying). Compresses are quite similar to a poultice; use gauze or a cotton cloth, soak it in a warm infusion, and apply. (Hoffman, 30) Both of these remedies are excellent for using on skin ailments such as rashes, minor cuts, and bruises.

            Tincturing is another way to extract vital minerals, vitamins, and plant constituents. We will be discussing alcohol and vinegar tinctures. “Mixtures of alcohol and water dissolve nearly all of the relevant ingredients of an herb and at the same time act as a preservative. Tinctures can also be made using vinegar, which contains acetic acid that acts as a solvent and preservative in a way similar to alcohol.” (Hoffman, 24) An alcohol tincture is used primarily as a medicine, and it is recommended to use a sixty to one hundred proof alcohol. Vinegar tinctures, however, can be incorporated into everyday recipes such as pouring over greens, or using in salad dressing; it is best to use apple cider vinegar, since it has healthy properties of its own. To make a tincture, you need: fresh plant material, a glass jar, and your tincturing menstrum (alcohol or vinegar). Fill the jar about two thirds of the way with the chopped herb of choice, then add the menstrum, filling almost to the top; use a wooden spoon to release any air bubbles (which can cause spoilage). Make sure the menstrum completely covers the herbs, then put o the cover and seal the jar. Note: vinegar reacts with metals, so use a jar that has a glass or plastic cover. Store the tincturee in a cool dark place for at least eight weeks (the longer the better), then strain and use.

        Some herbs work very well when infused in olive oil. This is another way to effectively nourish the skin. An infused oil is made the same way as a tincture, using regular olive oil. I do recommend that you try to use an oil that has been processed naturally. Infused oils make excellent moisturizers, and can also be made into healing salves.

 Note:

    My intent in writing this piece was to inform the reader about different plants that are common to Central Maine.  More specifically, the herbal and medicinal uses of plants that we see everyday.  There is a wealth of information available about herbal medicine; it has only been overshadowed by the rise of modern medicine.  Another wonderful resource is anyone in out grandparent’s generation; who still remembers when spring tonics and herbal remedies were mainstays of health care.  I hope this paper inspires you to stop and take a look at what is growing around you the next time you step outside. 

Works Cited: 

Brown, Tom Jr. Tom Brown’s Field Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants. New York: Berkley Books, 1985

Duke, James A. and Foster, Steven.  A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America: Second Edition.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.

Edwards, Gail.  Opening Our Wild Hearts to the Healing Herbs.  New York: Ash Tree Publishing, 1999.

Hoffman, David.  The Complete Illustrated Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies.  New York: Barnes and Nobles Books, 1999.

Kuhn, Merrily A. and Winston, David.  Herbal Therapy & Supplements: A Scientific & Traditional Approach.  Philadelphia: Lippincott, 2000.