5 Natural Wildflower Remedies

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: