Medicinal Plants Of The British Countryside. A Start Guide.

Here in the UK we tend to rely heavily on our pharmacy for every ache and pain we get. Whether it's the symptoms of the common cold or just a paper cut, we immediately pop a pill or reach for the first aid kit. However, brushing up on what mother nature offers as alternatives does no harm. It also adds an interesting activity to go alongside ones countryside strolls or even walking through the park in the inner city. These guys grow everywhere and are incredibly easy to identify and have many benefits if ever you are in a position of injury or illness and without conventional means of first aid.

The Willow Tree:

I put this at the top of the list as it's incredibly easy to identify. The compound in willow that has significant medicinal value is acetylsalicylic acid. Basically aspirin. However the same rules apply to the bark and green limbs of this tree as aspirin if you intend to use it for its medicinal value. For instance, caution must be applied if you are any blood thinning medications, have ulcers etc. The bark can be brewed into a tea, green limbs mashed into poultices, and leaves crushed and laid over the wound in tandem with other plants as a means of reducing inflammation. Try to keep in mind that too much willow bark also has an laxative effect which can give you the back door trots quickly.

Guelder Rose/ Cramp Bark:

This is an amazing plant. I often refer to it as mother natures ultimate cold and flu remedy. It produces red berries that are incredibly bitter and sharp but they are full of vitamin C and a cup full holds more vitamin C than a bag of oranges. I tend to use them to make a jelly that is amazing with red meats or game. The bark can be used much in the same capacity as willow bark and has a similar effect. The same considerations must be made as well in regards to gastric problems and any medications being taken. A good rule is if it has a negative contradiction with ibuprofen then it will with this plant. Also it is important to completely identify it so you don't confuse the red berries with things like black bryony which is toxic. The Guelder Rose has been used for centuries for it's medicinal properties for everything from menstrual pains, child birth, broken bones, and flu.

Plantains:

So these are some pretty amazing plants. In the spring I tend to harvest them for salads and use them in soups. You have the Greater Plantain featured in the top picture, and Ribwort below which has a broader leaf and slightly unpleasant taste unless cooked. Now these guys alongside wild mint are great for tummy aches, detoxing, and above all have awesome antiseptic properties. Some prefer to make a spit poultice but due to the bacteria in our mouths I'm not fond of these methodology and would rather use clean water to crush the leaves into a gel to sterilize cuts, wounds, and burns. The entire plant is edible and it grows everywhere much to the annoyance of conventional gardeners.

Sphagnum Moss. Aka. Mother Natures Gauze

This moss was used throughout World War 1 by medics when bandages ran out and it was actually found to be more effective than conventional gauze. The trick is cleaning it by boiling quickly to sterilize it then drying it as you wouldn't want debris in the wound. It's incredibly easy to identify and can often be seen growing picturesquely on the base of beech, oak, and birch adding an accent of wisdom and beauty to the silent trees progress. I wouldn't recommend eating it but keeping a bit on hand or in a pinch it can be used to apply pressure dressings.

Thanks for reading guys. Always remember to grow fluent in identifying wild plants as their are some species that are extremely toxic and mistakes in foraging and wild medicine don't tend to forgive error.