Watercress

Watercress – nasturtium officinale – Watercress leaves are eaten either raw or cooked. The flavor is strong and hot. The seed can be ground and used as a mustard. This plant is a well known medicinal plant, it has a high level of vitamins and minerals and is a cleansing herb. It’s main quality is that of a diuretic and detoxifier – it’s use flushes the body of excess fluid and toxins and cleans the blood resulting in the breaking and shifting of kidney stones and the clearing up of skin problems such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis. It is a liver tonic, promoting the production and flow of bile. It prevents the build up of flatulence and relieves indigestion. Externally, in a poultice, the leaves are crushed and applied to relieve rheumatism and gout.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: A diuretic plant, cleansing and purifying the body of toxins and excess fluid. A tonic for the kidneys and bladder. Expectorant, loosening and shifting phlegm so relieving coughs and lung congestion.

White Clover

Forms Available: flower, leaf, root

White Clover – trifolium repens – The flowers, leaves and root of this plant can be eaten. The flowers make a tea, the leaves are a potherb and the root is simply cooked. Medicinally, an infusion of the plant has been used to treat coughs, colds and fevers. The leaves have been used, in an ointment, for relief of gout.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: An ointment for gout or an infusion for treating coughs, colds, fevers.

White Sweet Clover

White Sweet Clover – meliltus alba – An edible plant. The seeds are like peas and can be used as seasoning for soup. The fresh shoots can be eaten raw or cooked. The flowers have a vanilla flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked. The dried leaves and flowers should not be eaten but they have been used for medicinal purposes – they contain coumarin, an anticlotting agent.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The leaves of this plant have been used, dried, as an anticlotting agent. The flowers, dried, have been used externally to treat ulcers.

White Vervain

Forms Available: root

White Vervain – verbena urticifolia – Decoctions of the root have been used to relieve flu. Infusions of the root have been used to abate profuse menstruation.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Decoctions of the root have been used to relieve flu. Infusions of the root have been used to abate profuse menstruation.

Wild Bergamot

Wild Bergamot – monarda fistulosa – this plant is both edible and medicinal. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked or even dried and brewed in a tea. The flowers themselves are also edible. The leaves and flowers are used iternally, in an infusion, to treat colds, lower fevers, and relieve gastric problems. Externally, they are applied in a poultice to cuts and sores, and as eyewashes. Properties: carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, pectoral, stimulant.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: The leaves and flowers are used iternally, in an infusion, to treat colds, lower fevers, and relieve gastric problems. Externally, they are applied in a poultice to cuts and sores, and as eyewashes.

Wild Garlic

Wild Garlic – allium canadense – The entire plant is edible and considered to be a healthy addition to the diet. Garlic helps lower cholesterol levels, and is a tonic to both the digestive and ciruculatory systems. A tincture of garlic has been used to relieve croup and prevent colic and worms in children.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Garlic helps lower cholesterol levels, and is a tonic to both the digestive and ciruculatory systems. A tincture of garlic has been used to relieve croup and prevent colic and worms in children.

Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger – asarum canadense – Wild ginger was used by Native American Indians for many things, one of which was as a contraceptive measure. The root is used internally to treat: asthma, coughs, rheumatic problems, and irregular menstruation. It also stimulates circulation, promotes perspiration, and aids digestion. The root has antibiotic properties. The leaves can be applied as a poultice, externally, to wounds and inflammations.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Used internally to treat: asthma, coughs, and rheumatic problems. Regulates menstruation. It stimulates circulation, promotes perspiration, and aids digestion.

Wild Lettuce

Wild Lettuce – lactuca sp. – wild lettuce is considered a substitute to opium. It acts as a sedative and pain reliever. It is has calming and sedating properties. It has been used to induce sleep, to calm coughs, relieve headaches and other general aches and pains. It is often recommended to calm excitablity in children. The sap of the wild lettuce has been applied to acne and skin rashes.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Calming and sedating. Used to induce sleep, to calm coughs, relieve headaches and other general aches and pains.

Wild Onion

Wild Onion – allium cernum – The onion bulb, leaf and flower can be eaten raw or cooked. Medicinally, the onion can be used similarly to garlic but it can also be used as a poultice in various problem specific places – on the chest for chest infections and pleurisy pain, on the throat for sore throats, or on a particular area of swelling. Internally, the juice can be used to treat sore throats, colds, croup etc. The juice has also been used to treat kidney stones.

Aromatherapy & Health Uses: Apply as a poultice to treat respiratory ailments, sore throats, and swellings. The juice of the onion has been used to treat kidney stones.