A hearty dose of herbal remedies that you can conjure with ingredients found on your walks or even in your garden. They are easy enough to recognize but for beginners I recommend buying a book highlighting the similar but toxic friends.

Chickweed

Edible parts: leaves, stems, buds and blossoms

Contents: calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, B-vitamins, phosphorus, zinc, copper, silicic acid, vitamins A and C, essential oils, tannins and plant-based proteins

Effects : cooling, anti-inflammatory, blood-cleansing, hemostatic, diuretic, digestive and analgesic

Use:
pure in salads, dips or crostini
juiced with apple
blended in smoothies
dried as a metabolism-enhancing tea

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Nettle

Edible parts: leaves, seeds, buds

Contents: flavonoids, magnesium, potassium, iron, silicic acid, vitamin A, C and E, plant-based proteins
In the seeds: 30% oils, especially linoleic acid and vitamin E

Effects: diuretic, blood-cleansing and detoxing, anti-inflammatory, digestive, anti-rheumatic, anti-diabetic, tonic

Use:
leaves: fresh or dried for tea
blanched similar to spinach, raw in salads, juices and smoothies
seeds: dried or roasted as a condiment

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Dandelion

Edible parts: leaves, stems (the milk is not toxic), blossoms and roots

Contents: bitter substances, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamins A, C, B2 and flavonoids.

Effects: diuretic, detoxing, blood-building, anti-inflammatory, wound healing
The bitter substances have a beneficial effect on the stomach, intestines, pancreas, liver, gall bladder and kidneys.

Use:
juiced or blended in a smoothie
in salads and dips
dried (leaves and roots) for tea
flowers: in salads, or fried in batter

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Violet

Edible parts: blossoms and buds, leaves, roots

Contents:
leaves: saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, bitter substances
blossoms: essential oils, natural blue colouring Cyamin

Effects: stress relieving scent

Use:
decoration for desserts and salads, aroma in sugar and vinegar

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Goosegrass

Edible parts: leaves and shoots

Contents: glycosides, alkaloids, tannins and essential oils

Effects: diuretic, stimulates lymph flow, detoxing. In Chinese Medicine it’s assigned to liver, gall and bladder

Use:
juiced in drinks and soups
blended in smoothies
in scrambled eggs, vegetables, cottage cheese, Quark
fresh or dried for tea

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Ground Elder

Edible parts: leaves, blossoms and fruits

Contents: potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, zinc, copper, vitamins A and C, plant based proteins, flavonoids, resin and essential oil

Effects: diuretic, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, de-acidifying

Use:
leaves and blossoms: raw as salad, blanched like spinach, juiced or blended in smoothies
fruits: fresh or dried as a condiment