Page 94 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

and minerals
Lamb’s Quarter, like calcium,
Goosefoot, iron, and phos-
phorus. It has
Chenopodium album been used as a
vegetable
to
Lamb’s Quarter is also called chualar, pigweed, and treat scurvy and
also goosefoot from the shape of its leaves. Lamb’s other nutri-
quarter likes moist areas and grows near streams, riv- tional diseases.
ers, in open meadows, and wet forest clearings. It is Soothing
found throughout the world. It is a member of the Am- Burns: Use a
aranthaceae (Amaranth) Family. poultice made
Identification: Lamb’s quarter looks like a dusty of the leaves to
weed from a distance. The alternate toothed leaves are soothe burns.
light green on top and whitish on the bottom. They are Bruise the
somewhat diamond-shaped or shaped like a goosefoot. leaves and place
them on the Goosefoot, Photo by Rasbak, CC by SA 3.0
The leaf surface is waxy and rain and dew rolls right off burned area. Apply a clean cloth over them and leave
the leaves. Each leaf grows up to 4 inches (10 cm) long in place for a few hours.
and the entire plant is usually 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.3m)
tall. Lamb’s quarter produces tiny green flower clusters Skin Irritations, Eczema, Bites, Itching and
on top of spikes in summer. The flowers are densely Swelling: A poultice made from simmered, fresh
packed together along the main stem and upper lamb’s quarter leaves can be applied to treat minor
branches. skin irritations, itching, rashes, and swelling. It
soothes the skin, reduces inflammation
Each flower has five green sepals with (it is an anti-inflammatory), and helps
no petals. Its seeds are small, round, and the skin heal. If fresh herbs are not avail-
flattened. Branches are angular, somewhat able, use a compress made with Lamb’s
ridged, and striped with pink, purple, or yel- Quarters Decoction. For internal inflamma-
low. The stems are ribbed and are usually tion, lightly steam the leaves and eat them as a
stained with purple or red.
vegetable.
Edible and Other Use: In the USA this plant Digestive Issues and as a Mild Lax-
is considered a weed; however, in some
places, it is grown as a food crop. The ative: Its leaves are loaded with fiber.
young shoots, leaves, flowers, and seeds This fiber makes it very effective in
are all edible and can be used like spin- preventing and treating constipa-
ach. Lamb’s Quarter appears on my plate tion. Cooked leaves loosen the stools and in-
quite often. I find it a delicious and nutri- crease bowel movements.
tious addition to my salads and even grow it in Taken internally, lamb’s quarter relieves
my garden. stomachaches and digestive complaints,
It has a strong, slightly sweet flavor. The plant including colic. You can eat the cooked
does contain oxalic acid so smaller quantities are rec- leaves and stems while eating beans to relieve
ommended when eaten raw. The seeds of this herb the gas caused by them. Even easier, cook the leaves
should be cooked or soaked in water before use. The and stems in the pot with the beans.
soaked seeds can also be ground into a powder to use Relieves Pain from Arthritis and Gout: Ap-
as a flour. Lamb’s quarter roots can be crushed to make ply a poultice made from fresh, simmered lamb’s quar-
a mild soap substitute as it contains saponins. ter leaves directly on the skin above the inflammation
and pain to treat arthritis and gout. When fresh leaves
Medicinal Use: The plant is very nutritious and
contains a rich source of vitamins A, B-2, C, and Niacin
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