Plants that heal

Discuss your health concerns with other readers in our forums!

Chickweed
Stellaria media
What it does
Chickweed's emollient and anti-inflammatory properties soothe the skin and reduce itching and swelling.

Planting and harvesting
This spreading plant thrives in cool, damp places. If chickweed hasn't already crept into your garden, plant seeds in spring and harvest the above-ground parts throughout summer.

How to use
Process stems, leaves and flowers into a paste in your food processor and apply to minor rashes, insect bites and itchy spots (including rectal itching).

Or try this recipe from Lois Hare, a naturopathic doctor from Berwick, N.S., who uses natural therapies to treat and heal: Cover a handful of chickweed with olive oil, pulverize it in blender and let sit in a covered jar for three days, shaking the mixture each day. Apply to irritated skin. Refrigerated, this mixture will keep for a week. If you empty a capsule of vitamin E into the mixture it will stabilize the ointment for longer storage.

Plantain
Plantago major
What it does
Steele includes plantain in all her skin ointments. The allantoin in plantain promotes healing of skin cells, while the tannins combine with protein to form a temporary protective barrier on your skin.

Planting and harvesting
You'll find this low-growing, broad-leafed plant in your lawn and along paths, driveways and cultivated areas. Harvest leaves throughout the summer. (You can grow this in containers to keep it from spreading throughout your garden.)

How to use
Make an infused oil, an ointment or a wash from the leaves and apply to insect bites, rashes and minor wounds; for minor burns, apply wash. If you're outdoors and need quick relief from a blackfly or mosquito bite, pick a plantain leaf, chew it until soft and plaster it on the bite. Immediate application will reduce or eliminate swelling and itching.

St. John's wort
Hypericum perforatum
What it does
Healing and anti-inflammatory St. John's Wort is a particularly valuable remedy for mild burns.

Planting and harvesting
This sun-loving perennial grows wild throughout Canada in fields and along roadways. Sow seeds in early spring, or plant root cuttings in autumn. Harvest the bright yellow blossoms when newly open, mid to late summer.

How to use
Use the flowers to make a wash, infused oil or ointment for minor burns, sunburns and abrasions.
CAUTIONS: Use with care if your skin is particularly sensitive to sunlight. If you're using an oil or ointment, don't apply to a burn right away -- you risk making it worse. Wait until a new layer of skin has formed over top.

Don't start gardening without trying Homemakers magazine's great gardening stretches.

Page 2 of 3