3 Garden Weeds Your Liver Loves
by Dr. Allison Middleman
Now that spring is upon us and many of us are preparing our gardens for summer produce and flowers, you may be noticing a few weeds popping up. But did you know that some of these weeds can be welcome members of a garden and supportive of our health because they benefit our liver’s natural detoxification and elimination properties. The bitter compounds in fresh greens help stimulate the digestive processes, helping to wake up the system as we prepare to move into the season for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Here are 3 common spring greens that are often written off as weeds, but can be used as beautiful medicine and natural support for your liver and digestion!
Chickweed (Stellaria media): You probably have chickweed in your garden. Its small white flowers look like stars, hence its Latin name, Stellaria! Chickweed is considered a spring tonic herb and is packed with nutrients. Stem, leaf, and flower can all be consumed raw- this one is best grazed fresh from the garden, or added to a salad mix!
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis): Though often an unwelcome visitor, dandelions provide health benefits to both humans and our gardens! Dandelion greens are bitter, which stimulates production and flow of bile which assists with digestion and the breakdown of our food. You can chop them up and add them to a salad to help mask the bitterness. As a bonus, dandelion roots help break up compacted soil and improve soil fertility. Not bad for a weed!
Nettle (Urtica dioica): You may see this prickly plant peeking out in your garden, or along the sides of paths in the park. Nettle is an edible bitter green that can be cooked and used similar to spinach or turned into pesto! Though it is notoriously prickly, steaming the leaves neutralizes the stingers, making it safe to enjoy. Nettle is a rich source of many vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, and magnesium. If you need some ideas for what to turn your nettles into, Mountain Rose Herbs has a great recipe on their website for stinging nettle pesto which you can find here.
For further tips and recipes make sure to check out our regular blog posts and follow us on social media!
See you in the office,
Dr. Allison Middleman