Medicinal Weeds To Spring Clean Your Body

Medicinal weeds for spring detox
 

Spring time is all about cleaning, whether it's your home, or an internal cleanse of your body, it always feels so much lighter, and more free.

Fortunately there's some incredible plants and weeds that can help you and your body in it's natural detoxification process.

Below you'll find some of my favorites, and the ways they can help your body feel its best, and ease out of the  heavy sluggish feeling we can often have at the end of those long dark winter days.

Cleavers Galium aparine

I love this plant for so many reasons beyond it just being really fun to harvest with my daughter. Which it totally is, you've got to find some with your kiddos and throw it at them.

It's a GREAT herb when it comes to helping the lymphatic system flow, which can be great after being sick, or just having bunches of junk stagnant in the body for so long.

Not only are cleavers a great lymphatic herb, they’re also a great diuretic, it’s known to also purify the blood, or be an alternative herb. So, people dealing with edema related swollen hands, feet, face, all that stuff, can really benefit from using more cleavers in their life.

They support the kidneys in eliminating waste and things like uric acid, so can be helpful for those dealing with arthritic pain, gout, or kidney stones resulting from build up of this uric acid.

Burdock Root Arctium lappa

 Burdock is also super abundant, and it's medicinal value is so awesome! You can use the leaves and the seeds medicinally too, but for the purpose of this post, I'm talking about the root. 

Ideally you can harvest the root in the Fall of the first year, or the Spring of the second year. Anything later than that, and it's going to be super fibrous and woody. You can also find burdock root in some grocery stores, sometimes it's called Gobo root.

Burdock root is rich in calcium, fiber, chromium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, thiamine, zinc, Vitamins ,A & C, and quite a few other essential vitamins and alkaline minerals I’m sure I’m missing.

You're going to love burdock root in your life because it’s fantastic for gut health, it’s loaded with inulin which is a soluble fiber that doesn’t get digested in your large intestines, and instead ferments, and then your good gut bugs are going to love! So yes, burdock and it’s inulin rich roots are a great pre-biotic getting your system revved up for a healthy light and free spring.

It’s got gentle liver cleansing properties and helps the liver to break down fats and proteins better.

And due to it’s liver detoxifying effects, that directly correlate to its ability to help with skin conditions, particularly things like eczema, psoriasis, acne, dermatitis, and boils

It’s easy to add to soups and stews, and stir fries too!. Some people roast it and use it as a coffee substitute, often with dandelion root. And speaking of that...

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale

 Dandelion is one of those weeds that pop up all over the place. It's loaded with so many medicinal benefits, it's a darn shame so many try to kill it and poison the land with their herbicides. Yet, mighty dandelion still thrives! That's quite a testament to it's medicinal powers as well.

You can add the leaves to salads or sauté as you would any other greens. They're a rich in bitters which will increase the flow of bile from your liver, improving it's ability to naturally detoxify your body, and break down fats and proteins. They help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels as well.

And, they're a fantastic diuretic helping your body eliminate waste through urine, which can also help with swelling caused from edema or water related weight gain.

Plus they’re loaded with all kinds of beneficial vitamins and minerals such as calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, protein, and a whole lot more. And it’s loaded with beta carotene, Vitamin A, C D & Zinc too!

You can also benefit from the roots of dandelion which can be harvested in the spring, or again in the fall where they’ll be sweeter and more inulin rich. So yes, the roots are loaded with inulin. They also are powerful allies when it comes to detoxification of the liver, as they promote the flow of bile, ultimately helping to break down fats, and just clear overall body stagnation.

Roast yourself some roots, and make a coffee substitute with the burdock roots too.

These are the tops herbs my family and LOVE to incorporate into our lives as spring comes around and we’re ready to let go of the heavy heaviness of the long dark and cold winter.

Have you tried any of them? Or maybe you're planning to? Reach out and let me know, I'd love to hear from you.

We Love the Mission and Sustainable Herbs available through Oshala Herb Farm & Mountain Rose Herbs and Receive a Small Commission when you Purchase through our Affiliate Links. 
 *Always remember to contact your healthcare provider when considering the use of botanical medicine as a possible treatment option and the medical considerations. While the information in this article is absolutely relevant, herbs work differently for each person and each condition.
 **I am a trained herbalist and not a licensed or registered healthcare practitioner. I cannot diagnose health conditions, nor prescribe medicines legally; I am not a medical doctor. However, I will recommend or suggest medicinal herbs for various health complaints, as I do believe in the safety and efficacy of botanical medicine.
 ***The information I’ve provided is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment. Please consult your medical care provider before using herbal medicine, particularly if you have a known medical condition or if you are pregnant or nursing.

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