Purple Dead Nettle, for allergy sufferers!

Lamium Purpureum

Purple Dead Nettle, a member of the mint family (you can tell by its' leaves) is said to help reduce the symptoms of allergies.

The Mr. (The Chief) has allergies.  They occur when he mows the yard or simply when things begin to grow.  Since we have only now come across this information I can't say if they work or not but it is sure worth a shot, no?

The leaves and flowering heads are edible.



They taste very "green", I like it.  But the chief says, meh.

You can dry them, consume them as tea, in salads or smoothies (if you gotta sneak em' in (^_−) ).    


They are called "dead" because although they are a nettle, they do not sting.  Hence the 'dead-ness'.    

They are found almost everywhere and anywhere.
I'm sure many of you have seen them but just didn't know they are a powerhouse for fighting inflammation.  Abundant in vitamins, specifically vitamin C, iron and fiber, and the oil inside its seeds are packed with antioxidants making it a choice "weed" indeed.     
Medicinally they are also known for their anti-microbial and anti fungal properties. So making a poultice from them is also beneficial.

To date, there are no known contraindications.

Can you spot the purple dead nettle amongst the chickweed?
What a lovely patch of wild nutrition!

Comments

Post a Comment

Making the Biggest Signals

Trending; My 3 year stint with the keto diet, a review

Image
Now before I begin to be demonized and sent a bunch of hate email , I’m NOT a doctor. Nor did I do the keto WOE (way of eating) under the care of a health practitioner. *I take full responsibility of my own health therefor I do my own due diligence, research and experiments; performed on me, by me. With this said this is my story, not yours. Please take anything I say as just that, my personal experience and opinions. And sorry I'm not siting any scientific reports for this article.  I'm keeping it personal.   I'm JUST a mom! Whew, now that we have all that squared away, let’s begin, shall we? (Note; For those just skimming, or have limited time, the condensed review is at the bottom.) The story: I began the keto WOE back in June of 2013 and I was 7 months postpartum at the time. However I continued this WOE through 2 pregnancies, exclusive breastfeeding and beyond. (ie. Intense workouts, heavy weight lifting, hiking, and more.) For my body, this mean...
Read more

Reinforcements; Plant Allies!

Image
Many of us are either sick or experiencing a loved one's sickness.  Either way the pain of illness is close. Smoke Signals is a place to share information that encourages one another.  We believe that we have been given everything we need to live and abundant life.  This is our mantra because we want it to sink in. It's true! We advocate WILD EDIBLES on our side bar, to the left, for many reasons. 1.) FREE medicine! It's wise & true that every seed bearing plant has been given to us for fruit and it's leaf for medicine. "Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." "Eat the rainbow" 2.) It's more than just a medicine or a food.  It's a holistic way of living. It's a symbiotic relationship. It's synergy!  We were created to consume these plants just as they were created for us to consume. It goes in a harmonious cycle. We give off carbon dioxide, they give off oxygen. They adapt to the ever ch...
Read more

Shampoo, no-poo, or co-washing?!?

Image
Shampoo, no-poo, or co-washing?!? What does all this mean and what is the best natural hair care method? Do we really need shampoo? What about just using conditioner? All those plastic bottles not only contribute to the waste epidemic but what about all the money wrapped up in this one simple daily practice? Do you think I can write this entire post in questions? My opinion ( which has not been evaluated by the food and drug administration, I assure you ) is this; Shampoo as infrequently as possible. -No I'm not kidding.- Even the mildest shampoo strips oils, that's what it is formulated to do. Therefore one who has dry hair, doesn't need more drying. And if you tend toward oily hair, frequent shampooing creates a cycle in which the scalp increases production of oils (Sebaceous glands secrete an oily or waxy matter, called sebum.) in response to every washing away of it. Subsequently this leads you to believe that you should be washing y...
Read more