1. False Dandelion (Agoseris)
Flower and leaves are edible raw. Dried sap from stem and leaves can be chewed or eaten as gum. Varieties in the Pacific Northwest are Orange agoseris (Agoseris aurantiaca) and Short-beaked agoseris (Agoseris glauca). Edible look-alikes: dandelion, salsify. Look for agoseris on grassy, open foothills, mountain slopes, and alpine/sub-alpine areas. Leaves contain a number of nutrients including: iron, zinc, boron, calcium, silicon, and is especially high in potassium. Can be used as a painkiller for sprains, fractures, and bruising. It is effective as an external liniment and is extremely fast acting. It should not be used if the skin is broken and the area is bleeding as it is toxic if it enters the bloodstream. It is also high in vitamins A, B complex, C, and D. Every part of the plant is safe to use.
2. Chicory (Cichorium Intybus)
Leaves can be eaten raw. Leaves are best when young and/or growing in areas protected from direct sunlight. older leaves are best when cooked in several changes of water. Young plant, including flower heads can be cooked. Roots can be eaten raw when young. Roots can be split, dried and roasted to make coffee substitute. Its leaves are used for salads. It is usually blanched by covering with litter to make it less bitter; whole or shredded leaves are served with oil and vinegar as salads; blanched hearts serve as a vegetable. Root-chicory, established in Europe during, the Napoleonic blockade, is cultivated for roots used as a coffee substitute. When blended with ground coffee, they enhance the flavor and aroma of the brew. Cultivated plant in India is used as a tonic for diarrhea, enlargement of the spleen, fever and vomiting. The juice is said to be a folk remedy for cancer of the uterus and for tumors. The powdered seed is said to remedy the spleen. The leaf, boiled with honey for a gargle is said to cure cancer of the mouth. The root, boiled in water is said to help cancer of the breast and face. Look for chicory on disturbed ground, ranging from plains and foothills to mountain regions. Warning: excessive/prolonged use may damage retinas and cause sluggish digestion.
3. Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale)
All parts of plant are edible raw. Young leaves or those growing where there is less/no sunlight are the least bitter. Older leaves are best when boiled in 2 changes of water and/or with mid-veins removed. Roots are best when collected in spring/autumn, peeled, sliced and cooked in 2 changes of water with pinch of baking soda. Roots can be roasted as coffee substitute. Unopened flower buds can be eaten raw or used in cooking. Seeds with the parachute removed can be eaten or ground into flower. A serving of dandelion greens contains the same amount of calcium as half a cup of milk. Is a good source of vitamin's A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, and minerals chromium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, selenium, silicon, zinc. As a medicine the dandelion plant has proved to be one of the safest and best diuretics because, unlike conventional diuretics, it is extremely rich in potassium so that it replaces what the body loses through water elimination. Dandelion is used as a liver and kidney tonic, a digestive stimulant, and is considered a remedy for high blood pressure. The latex contained in the leaves and stalks is used to remove corns. Grows in a wide range of terrain, look for dandelion in disturbed/cultivated soil areas.
4. Devils Club (Oplopanax Horridus)
Roots can be cooked and eaten. Young fleshy stems are edible when cooked. Young leaves lack the stiff spines and can be eaten raw. Berries are not edible. Grows in moist areas that are shaded from the sun, in both foothill and mountain regions. Devil's club is used for arthritis, wounds, fever, tuberculosis, stomach trouble, cough, colds, sore throat, diabetes, low blood sugar, and pneumonia. It is also used for emptying the bowels and causing vomiting. Some people apply devil's club directly to the skin for swollen glands, boils, sores, and skin infections. The ashes have been used to treat burns. Devil's club contains chemicals that might fight some bacteria, fungi, and viruses.Warning: plant spines can cause infections or allergic reactions.
5. Stinging Nettle (Urtica Dioica)
Young leaves are edible raw, though they will sting in the mouth for a short time. Young shoots and young plants are edible when steamed/cooked. Roots are edible when cooked.
roots are best when collected in spring/autumn. Stinging nettle root is used for urination problems related to an enlarged prostate. These problems include nighttime urination, too frequent urination, painful urination, inability to urinate, and irritable bladder. Root is also used for joint ailments, as a diuretic, and as an astringent. Above ground parts are used along with large amounts of fluids in so-called "irrigation therapy" for urinary tract infections, urinary tract inflammation, and kidney stones. The above-ground parts are also used for allergies, hay fever, and osteoarthritis. Some people use the above ground parts of stinging nettle for internal bleeding, including uterine bleeding, nosebleeds, and bowel bleeding. The above ground parts are also used for anemia, poor circulation, an enlarged spleen, diabetes and other endocrine disorders, stomach acid, diarrhea and dysentery, asthma, lung congestion, rash and eczema, cancer, preventing the signs of aging, "blood purification," wound healing, and as a general tonic. Above ground parts are applied to the skin for muscle aches and pains, oily scalp, oily hair, and hair loss. Extract is used as an ingredient in hair and skin products. Leaf used primarily as a diuretic and laxative in ancient Greek times. Contains ingredients that might decrease inflammation and increase urine output.Warning: don't confuse stinging nettle (Uritica Dioica) with white dead nettle (Lamium Album). Grows in moist soil and disturbed areas in plains, foothills, and mountain regions. Warning: wear gloves when collecting to avoid stings.
Always make absolutely sure you know what your about to eat is the right plant. If your unsure, DON'T EAT IT!
Stay Informed, Stay Sharp and Stay On The Move.
I'm Oscar Mike.
