As I’ve mentioned before, one of the challenges incident to using edible landscaping and incorporating medicinal herbs in with the fruits and vegetables as we maximize production lies in forgetting what was planted where. Or, more correctly, whether a plant I don’t recognize is something new that I forgot I planted, or—perish the thought—an invader.
It happens at least once each year. Last year we had goldenrod. Two years ago it was fringed willow herb. The latter is only very slightly medicinal and very highly invasive, in my opinion. I have greatly regretted letting it grow the first year. I don’t want to repeat that error any more than is absolutely necessary.
So three new plants springing up along the wall near the hollyhocks have been eyed with suspicion all summer. When Becky came home last weekend, I asked her to get out her handy app and ID it for me.
Evening primrose. Medicinal. And not invasive. And even if it were, it’s at least a little bit attractive.
It acts as a diuretic and laxative, and both root and herb are sedating to some people. [1] It also suppresses skeletal and smooth muscle pain, especially in the reproductive organs. [2] It stimulates the vagus nerve to some degree. [3]
HARVEST
Buhner advises using the fresh flowering stalk and the seeds. On the other hand, Kane recommends using the rosette and lower stalk leaves.
PREPARATIONS
Poultice: Crush the fresh plant and puree it. [4]
Syrup: Chop the root, fresh or dried, or the tops, and boil gently in 1:2 ratio with honey. Take 1 tablespoon every 3-4 hours, as needed.[5] [6]
Tea: Root or leaves, 1-3 teaspoons in tea. [7]
Tincture, fresh flowering herb stalk, 1:2, Dosage: 30 drops to 1 teaspoon as needed.[8]
Tincture, seed, 1:5, 60 percent alcohol, 10% glycerin. Dosage 3-10 drops up to 6 times per day. [9]
USAGE
· Cardiovascular
o Hypertension
§ Seed oil[10]
· Musculoskeletal
o Arthritis
§ Oil[11]
§ Seed oil[12]
o Rheumatoid arthritis
§ Oil[13]
· Neurological
o Migraine
§ Oil[14]
o Multiple sclerosis
§ Oil[15]
· Respiratory
o Asthma
§ Oil[16]
o Cough[17]
§ Tea[20]
· Skin
o Acne
§ Seed oil[21]
o Boils
o Eczema
§ Oil[24]
§ Seed oil[25]
o Hemorrhoids
o Insect bites
§ Poultice[28]
o Psoriasis
§ Oil[29]
o Rash
o Swellings
§ Root poultice[32]
o Sunburn
§ Poultice[33]
· Urogenital
o Infertility
§ Oil[34]
o Premenstrual syndrome
§ Oil[35]
§ Seed oil[36]
o Prostaglandin production
§ Reduces imbalances and abnormalities
· Oil[37]
· Seed oil[38]
o Prostatitis
§ Seed oil[39]
· Other
o Food. The late first year and early second year roots were used as a survival vegetable in war-torn Europe. The roots were chopped into ½” pieces, boiled, rinsed, and simmered again before adding to soup. [40] A few authors note that they are an acquired taste (Stockholm syndrome of the culinary world).
o The seeds are a commercial source for gamma linolenic acid (GLA). [41] They can be ground into a meal or sprinkled on salads[42] [43] or breads.[44]
[1] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 113.
[2] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 113.
[3] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 113.
[4] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 132.
[5] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 112.
[6] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[7] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 113.
[8] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 2012, 374.
[9] Stephen Harrod Buhner, Herbal Antibiotics, 2012, 374.
[10] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[11] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[12] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[13] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[14] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[15] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[16] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[17] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[18] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 113.
[19] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[20] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[21] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[22] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[23] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[24] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[25] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[26] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[27] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[28] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 132.
[29] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[30] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 132.
[31] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[32] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[33] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 132.
[34] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[35] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[36] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[37] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
[38] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[39] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[40] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 132.
[41] Steven Foster, et al., Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs, 2002, 100.
[42] Charles W. Kane, Medicinal Plants of the Western Mountain States, 2017, 132.
[43] Michael Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West, 2003, 113.
[44] Linda Kershaw, Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies, 2000, 117.
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