Friendly weeds- weeds as herbs
If you’ve ever been for a walk through the Bullock Creek wetlands, you may have noticed smaller or less obvious introduced species. While the ongoing wetland restoration work primarily focuses on the removal or management of larger species including crack willow and blackberry, look closely and you may just spy some well known, or at least, some commonly found, introduced weeds that are also considered to be edible and medicinal herbs.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Mint (Mentha spp.), Self heal (Prunella vulgaris), Wild lettuce. (Lactuca spp.), Mallow (Malva spp.), Plantain (Plantago spp.), St John’s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum) and Red clover (Trifolium pratense) are just some of the medicinal herbs to be found around the Bullock Creek site.
Red clover (Trifolium pratense) and Mallow (Malva spp.) Who else is hiding in here?
These herbs arrive at Bullock Creek by way of wind, waterways and pollinators, carrying seeds that end up growing in the prime wetlands soil.
From an ecological perspective, these plants can provide pollen for pollinator species, nectar for insects like bees, and habitat for insects and lizards. When you see them around, you’ll likely notice that they aren’t growing prolifically or causing major ecological concerns within the wetlands.
Even though there is minimal negative ecological of these weeds in the wetland, if you see a weed, pick a weed! Just be careful as you tread through the wetlands that you don’t stand on a native seedling or plant, and be careful to not get your feet stuck in the spongy earth!
Mint is a well known and grown herb and has been used for digestive complaints. Mallow leaves and flowers can be soothing to our skin and internal mucosa. Mullein flowers can be infused in olive oil and used as a remedy for ear aches while the leaves can be useful for some lung complaints. Plantain leaves can be applied to the skin to draw out splinters and the like, and have also been used for soothing the digestive tract. And Self-heal has been used to heal external wounds and as a general tonic when taken internally.
Friendly weeds tea recipe
A few springs of fresh or dried mint leaves
A few fresh or dried mallow leaves and flowers
A cooling and soothing brew…steep the herbs in boiling water in a tea pot for 15 mins. Serve with a dash of honey or as is. Sit in nature and enjoy slowly sipping your foraged herbal tea!
The purple splash of Self heal (Prunella vulgaris)
Always be sure to correctly identify edible and/or medicinal plants before using them, as some herbs can look similar to toxic plants, and be aware when harvesting weeds that you do so in an area that is unlikely to have been treated or exposed to chemicals or pollutants. Always seek professional health advice to make sure herbs are safe for your specific situation before using them. The information provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical and/or health advice.