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Geranium robertianum NL: Robertskruid F: Géranium Herbe à Robert Geranium robertianum grows spontaneous and abundantly in many gardens. Some people keep wondering about its edibility, since there is not much to be found about it in books on edible wild plants. Its less than appealing taste seems to be at least partly responsible for its absence in culinary creations. In survival situations, where one would need to live on what’s available, this plant could be a real asset, since it is rich in essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, vitamins A, C, etc. It is also rich in the element germanium, which has antioxidant activity, helps to strengthen the immune system and is essential to providing energy and oxygen to the cells. Even though this little plant does is no longer so popular among modern herbalists, it used to be highly praised in old times. Nicholas Culpeper used it for kidney stones and skin irritations.  Its leaves, stems and roots can be used as a...

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 ...

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...

Veronica filiformis NL: (Draad)ereprijs / F: V éronique filiforme This plant can be easily recognized from its purplish little flowers that, together with the gorgeous daisies, make grass fields everywhere look like stunning nature creations.  But speedweel is not only a cute little plant. It is employed in herbal preparations as anti inflammatory, tonic, expectorant and diaphoretic. Speedwell has also diuretic, depurative, liver protective and tonic properties. It is astringent (it contains tannins) and bitter. Many herbalists use it to relieve various types of allergies. Externally it can be used in ointments to treat skin inflammations, wounds and eczema. It used to be consumed as a tonic and relaxing tea in England. There are still some other medicinal uses that have been attributed to speedwell, such as to ease gastrointestinal troubles, rheumatic complaints and even to increase memory, reduce vertigo and to treat depression. There are various other similar species from the Ve...

Lamium purpureum Lamium purpureum NL: Paarse Dovenetel / F: Lamier purpre These pretty flowering plants are to be found at their best shape everywhere at this time of the year. Its aerial parts are edible - raw or cooked.  It is rich in various antioxidants, particularly  flavonoids and vitamin C. Its flowers can be used to decorate salads or desserts and the entire aerial portion is very easy and palatable to be blended into smoothies, for instance with banana, mango or strawberries.  It has been used in traditional herbal medicine to reduce allergic reactions and as anti-inflammatory. Its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties have also been studied, in an attempt to explain its role in reducing allergies.   Its most known medicinal uses in traditional herbalism are as astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic and purgative. Its leaves can be used fresh, squeezed and applied on the skin to help stop bleeding and heal cuts and wounds. For anyone wanting to grow this plant...

Viola tricolor A.k.a. Heartsease    NL: Driekleurig viooltje / F: Pensée sauvage Another  spontaneous plant that can beautifully decorate our gardens as well as take part in original salad creations. It is rich in beta carotene and vitamin C. This plant has been used in traditional herbalism for a long list of conditions, including: bronchitis, asthma and other respiratory conditions, for its expectorant properties. skin irritations, psoriasis, acne and eczema - as a blood purifying herb. rheumatism and cystitis, due to its diuretic properties and salicylic acids. There is no scientific data on toxicity or risks of overconsumption, even though some herbalists warn that nausea and skin irritation can appear as a result of using too much of it.

Persicaria maculosa NL: Perzikkruid / F: Renouée persicaire Very strong plant, from the family of  buckwheat. Edible parts are leaves and young shoots, which can be eaten raw or cooked. It is traditionally used in poultices to relieve rheumatic pain, to heal wounds, to arrest bleeding or in infusion to help relieve stomach ache. There is a variety of persicaria very similar to this one, known as smartweed. It is also edible, but it is very hot in taste, so you might want to try first a tiny small piece before putting it a lot in your mouth. Another family member of the persicaria family that I love to use in dishes is the Persicaria odorata, also known as Vietnamese coriander. It is very easy to cultivate and makes every dish taste divinely good. Here are some helpful videos with more information on Persicaria maculosa: Edible & Medicinal Lady’s Thumb Lady’s Thumb - LuminEarth As we are talking about persicarias, in the link below you will find some information on cul...

Artemisia vulgare Artemisia vulgare - NL: Bijvoet - F: Armoise Mugwort is a powerful medicinal plant, that has been traditionally used for thousand of years. In China it is commonly used even as food and to make moxabustion - an important part of the Chinese Traditional healing methods. Its most famous healing properties are related to troubles in the digestive tract, strengthening the stomach, and as a general tonic of the women’s reproductive system, relieving menstrual cramps and helping to balance the hormonal cycle. Besides, it also works well as expectorant, tonic of the nervous system, antispasmodic (it can be used to help in treatment of ashtma), antihelmintic and antiseptic. The leaves have been studied for their antibacterial action, being effective against several harmful bacteria. It works as insect repellent, also in the garden. For that a diluted tea obtained by infusion of the aerial parts is enough to used as spray. The fluffy down-looking thing that grows around the le...

Malva sylvestris  NL: Kaasjeskruid - F: Mauve This plant is again one of the great pioneers that comes in quickly to cover the soil when it has been left bare. Its leaves and flowers can be found from March to October, and they are delicious to eat raw, but you may also cook them. Personally I always prefer to leave the flowers to the bees, who simply love them! After the flowers have lost their power and are about to fall on the ground, I gather them, let them dry in the shade and use them in my first aid kit to prepare salves or poultices for healing wounds, insect bites, bruises, skin inflammations. Of course, if one needs a remedy for wounds, bruises, bites or cuts and can find fresh mallow available, even better! Malva parviflora Mallows are a great source of calcium and magnesium. They also contain potassium, iron, selenium, and vitamins A and C. Mallow’s healing qualities come mainly from the mucilaginous substances present in leaves, flowers and root. Seeds are also edible ...

Glechoma hederacea NL: Hondsdraf - F: Lierre terrestre This delicate climbing plant makes for a great perennial soil cover. Its young leaves come up very early in the year and can be consumed raw, as in green juices and salads, or cooked, in soups, sauces, spreads, etc. It has widespread medicinal use such as general tonic, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, pectoral and vermifuge. It helps reduce fever and it has been used for many centuries to treat problems involving the mucous membranes of the ear, nose, throat and digestive system. It is thus a great aid in the treatment of sinusitis. Traditionally it is also known for treating hypersensitivity in children. Externally it can be pressed into juice and used to help healing wounds and bruises. Leaves can grow large in the shade But they can also be very tiny when growing in grassfields It is very rich in vitamin C, magnesium and iron. As a powerful medicinal plant we are advised to eat moderately only young leaves. Avoid during pregnanc...

Trifolium pratense NL: Rode klaver - F: Trèfle des prés Clovers are known as great soil improvers and can also help with eliminating unwanted weed species. They loosen subsoil, oxygenating it with their roots, naturally fix nitrogen in the soil up to 60-70kg per acre and are also great bee-friends. As food they should be consumed moderately in their raw form due to their high content in oxalic acid. Young leaves and young flowering heads are eaten raw in salads, or cooked like spinach. The seeds can be sprouted and used in salads or cooked. Do not eat the seeds raw, as they contain trypsin inhibitors, meaning that it can interfere with certain enzymes that help in the digestion of proteins. Those substances are normally destroyed if the seed is sprouted first. Flowers and seed pods can be dried to make a delicate herbal tea, or can be ground into a powder and used as a flour to enrich meals. Root is also edible, cooked. Red Clover is traditionally known for its powerful cleansing prope...