5 Natural Wildflower Remedies
Wildflowers slideshow
Click thumbnail to view full-size
Healing with WIldflowers
Not only are flowers beautiful to look at, they also have healing properties. Like herbs and spices, wildflowers are also being used for medicinal purposes. (See slide show to identify wildflowers).
Listed below are 5 wildflowers and their benefits:
1 - Chicory - to help regulate blood sugar levels - the root of this wildflower provides the dietary fiber know as inulin. Inulin helps regulate blood sugar levels. For type 2 diabetes, the nutty tasting chicory is prepared as a tea. Drinking 2 cups daily is not just beneficial for those with diabetes but also beneficial for reducing bad cholesterol (LDL) and speeding the breakdown of fats. This explains why chicory is found in so many weight-loss supplements.
2 - Evening Primrose - to help relieve PMS - This wildflower has long been used as an aid to relieve PMS (premenstrual syndrome). Evening primrose has natural properties that balance hormones in women, and helps ease cramps and irritability. A British study showed that evening primrose oil reduced or eliminated symptoms in almost all women suffering from symptoms.
3 - Milkweed - to help remove warts - Milkweed has protein-eating enzymes that will actually eat away the wart. The wildflower is used by splitting open the stem and applying the sap 2 to 3 times each day. If you do not have the flower, tinctures are sold in health-food stores. Follow directions.
4 - Mullein - to help relieve allergies and summer colds - Native American people have been using this wildflower for centuries to cure upper respiratory infections. Mullein is a potent anti-inflammatory and is effective against a variety of disease-causing bacteria. The wildflower is found all along roadsides in the USA. A tea is made by brewing a heaping teaspoon of dried flowers in a cup of boiling water for five minutes, and drink 2 cups per day. Mullein is also found as an extract in health-food stores.
5 - Red clover - to help manage menopause - Red clover is one of the richest sources of isoflavones (plant chemicals displaying estrogen-like effects in the body) and helps relieve discomfort from menopause. This includes night sweats and hot flashes. Red Clover also builds bone density and helps prevent osteoporosis. It is sold in capsule form. Since it mimics estrogen it should not be taken by women who are pregnant, breastfeeding of have a history of breast cancer.
(I see red clover growing everywhere. As children we would pick it in in the parks to make our little bouquets)
For more information on healthy herbs and spices see the links below:
Herbs and Spices for Healing
- What is Mamajuana?
A play on a word perhaps? That was my first thought when I serendipitously came across a discreet ad for mamajuana, while ordering food in a quaint little shop. Of course I thought immediately about the more... - 4 Anti-fungal Spices and Their Uses
Spices have been used for centuries for their many medicinal properties - while today they are commonly used in food preparation without knowledge of their many healthy benefits. For food preparation the... - Chia Seeds: 8 Healthy Benefits
8 Benefits of Chia Seeds Chances are you know those wonderful Chia Pets sold every year at Christmas time. Turns out those sprouted pets start out as healthy chia seeds and happen to be super nutritious.... - 10 Cooking Herbs and Spices to Aid Digestion
Many of the common herbs and spices we regularly use for cooking are beneficial for digestion. Digestion is extremely important because it makes many of our organs work together to absorb, break down and... - 12 Herbal Teas with Healthy Benefits
Herbal teas are also known as tisanes* and herbal infusions. Herbs have long been used in traditional medicine, and as a tea, is often prescribed by herbalists. If something ails you, there may be an herbal... - Healing Properties of the King of Bitters
Add one more ancient herb to the natural list of medicines used in the U.S. for a variety of health disorders. During the last two decades, the King of Bitters (andrographis paniculata) has become popular in...
Related
Comments
Wow! You know those red clovers - I grew up with those too and I do think some are white. They smelled so good which probably meant they were good for us. Thanks so much for putting this together. I am always on the look out for safe and healthy herbs and spices and now flowers too.
I must pass on that chicory information. Seems like so many people have diabetes!
Rated up! Thanks a million!
Isn't it simply amazing how everything we need to heal all of our ailments is right at our fingertips!? No need for all this dangerous medication! This is really fabulous information. I'll have to tell my mom about the chicory....not that she'll listen to me but maybe I'll just try to find her some. Thanks!!
Hi, as a fellow naturalist, I have enjoyed this informative hub .Natural medicine is there for all to use if only we had not forgotten the skill of finding and using them. The photographs are excellent and should aid identification. Thank you for sharing with us.
I'm going to definitely have to try evening primose for irratability during my menustration. I love trying to stick with nature as much as possible and have been in search of something that will help this part of my life go a little smoother.
wow I've been looking for a natural remedy for allergies! I am definitely going to try to find some mullein. What helpful information! Thanks so much!! RATED WAY UP!
Oh my...I am with the GreenThumbLady...I have been dying for a natural allergy remedy. I have such horrible allergies and I really hate taking allergy pills and once in awhile I break down because I can't take it anymore but who knows what's in those things!! This is 5-star information! Thanks!
Very well done and how interesting - I've heard about primrose oil for years and just recently started learning more about clover. Thanks for the detailed info!
Some very helpful herbs. I will be trying the milkweed, that's for sure.
This is a great list of wildflowers. There is a field behind my backyard...maybe I'll go looking for some of these. I would love to try wild chicory tea.
Great information you shared:) I love the natural remedies! It is so awesome how, the things we need are provided for us through nature:) Do you know of a natural herb that helps a person with pain? I know of a natural muscle relaxer called: formula 303.
Glad you posted the photos. Helps with identification. I have all of these in my field. I will have to bookmark this as I won't remember what went with what when the time comes.
Great information. I love learning about natural remedies and your hub is both informative and interesting. Rated useful.
Awe the beauty of nature and all the wondering healing it has to offer, if one has the knowledge of how wildflowers can help us. Thanks for sharing this info. Rating up!
Had to come back and let you know that I've been trying the evening primrose oil and it has done wonders for calming down those "emotional episodes" we women tend to have during that time of month. I've been far less irritated since I've taken it. Thank you!
I too am living as natural a life as I can.
Great page - thank you !
15