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  Alchemilla vulgaris / Alchemilla mollis NL: Vrouwenmantel / F: Alchémille This plant, as its latin name suggests ("Alchemilla" = "little magical one"), is historically linked to a long list of “magical uses”. The water secretion from its leaves was used in various mystical potions, including potions from alchemists trying to produce gold. Its sacredness was shared in different cultures around the world, and it was believed to help to keep youth and beauty and it was even used to uplift breasts. While the “magical” applications of Lady’s Mantle are now left behind in history books, many of its medicinal properties have been scientifically recognized. Some of these properties include wound healing, astringent, soothing, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemorrhagic. Alchemilla contains various substances that help regenerate skin and connective tissue, making it known as one of the best vulnerary plants. It has been widely applied in herbal medicine to treat eczema, ulcers...

Symphytum officinale NL: Smeerwortel / F: Consoude  Comfrey is another amazing perennial herb, essential to any herbal first aid kit as well as to any healthy organic and permaculture garden.  Comfrey in the garden: it contains more Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) than most commercial fertilizers. Its long roots draw nutrients from deep in the soil and transfer it all to the leaves. The nutrient-rich leaves can then be used directly as a mulch, added to compost piles as a compost activator or chopped and added to a container with rain water to allow it to ferment and be later used as liquid compost.  Comfrey not only enriches the soil but it can also speed up heat processes, which is pretty handy to have near and around fruit shrubs and other fruit trees or larger crops that require higher soil temperatures. Do not allow it to grow near to smaller plants, as it is a pretty strong, large and rather dominant plant. it also comes in white Comfrey as first aid ...

Anthriscus sylvestris NL: Fluitenkruid /F: Cerfeuil sauvage Wild chervil or cow parsley is found covering wide areas wherever humans have not worked out the land. Leaves and seeds are all edible, raw or cooked and its taste  is stronger than that from garden chervil, similar to carrot leaves. Young leaves taste much milder, somewhat between parsley and fennel. The root is also edible and it is said to be a general tonic, where soaked for several days in rice water (water from washing the rice), and then cooked with other vegetables. This plant has poisonous look-alikes, such as hemlock   ( Conium maculatum or Cicuta spp. ) and fool’s parsley (Aethusa cynapium). One of the distinguishing features between them being that wild chervil has stout, pale green furrowed and slightly hairy stems. In contrast fools' parsley has thin, hairless ribbed and hollow stems.  Hemlock has stout, smooth stems that are often (not always!) purple-spotted. Please, do not count only on these ide...

Arctium minus / A. lappa NL: Grote klit / F: Bardane One more amazing plant, with both great nutritional value as well as a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine. The young stalks and leaves are edible, raw or cooked, but the young roots are the most popular part of this plant. The roots should be harvested when they reach up to 60 cm, since they can get “woody” as they grow further. The seeds can be sprouted and used in raw salads or lightly stirred in olive oil. It is a powerful cleansing herb and, similarly to curly dock, it has been traditionally used in the treatment of a wide range of skin illnesses, infections and even cancer. Its blood purifying properties are so effective as in helping the body to get rid of heavy metals and a wide range of toxins. The roots also have antibacterial and anti-fungal action and combining that with its depurative properties, makes it a great herb to help healing eczema, rheumatic conditions, acne, rashes, and several types of inflamma...

Rumex crispus  NL: Zuring / F: Oseille Most plants of the Rumex genus, docks and sorrels, are edible, rich in protein, vitamins A and C, bioflavonoids, iron and magnesium. But most of them also contain varying levels of tannins and oxalates . For that reason, in their raw form, they should be eaten moderately. They can be freely consumed when boiled 2 to 3 times, changing its cooking water.  Curly dock or yellow dock ( Rumex crispus ) has an ancient history as a powerful purifying, cleansing herb, used to help healing a wide range of skin conditions and other chronic illnesses that can benefit from a depurative herb. All parts of the plant can be used but the strongest properties are found in the roots. For that, the root is harvested early in spring - or early autumn - and dried for further use.  The cleansing actions from various Rumex species are partly explained by its stimulation of digestive secretions, which have a mild laxative effect and help to eliminate waste. ...

Myosotis arvensis M. sylvatica  / M. scorpioides / M. alpestris NL: Vergeet-mij-nietje / F: Myosotis The blue-pinkish flowers of this plant look great in our garden, blooming for up to 5 weeks long.  Its flowers can be added to decorate salads, but as the plant contain varying levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, it should be used in small amounts only.  The whole plant is astringent and it has been used in herbal medicine as an effective remedy for several eye conditions, including conjunctivitis. It is also a handy first aid herb to help stop bleeds when applied externally, fresh or in powder (dried). 

Alliaria petiolata NL: Look-zonder-look / F: Herbe à ail Despite of its name, garlic mustard is not from the family of garlics, but from the mustards (Brassicaceae / Cruciferae). It is a popular edible, used widely in pestos, salad dressings and as a salad ingredient too. Leaves, flowers and seeds are all edible. The leaves are best eaten in early spring, as it may get bitter when the weather turns warmer. Roots can also be eaten, prepared as horseradish, having a similar taste.  the younger the leaves, the tastier It contains a lot of advantages from its more known family members, such as being rich in vitamins A, C, magnesium, calcium, omega 3 fatty acids, flavonoids and isothiocyanates - which are thought to help protect our body against various types of cancer.  In traditional herbalism garlic mustard is used as antiseptic (for wounds, ulcers, cuts...), vulnerary, antiasthmatic, diaphoretic and antiscorbutic. The roots can be processed into a purée or cooked in oil (over l...