HOME REMEDY: Wild plants
Last week, I waxed lyrical about Exmoor and how wild areas of beauty are a home remedy in their own right because they restore the soul. But now on to more physical remedies that can be found on moorland and other areas of unfarmed nature.
By ‘unfarmed’, I mean areas unfertilised and not sprayed – so that could be a piece of ‘set aside’ land, or hedgerows within a farm – as this is where wild plants flourish.
Old man’s beard is one lichen that can only be found in areas where the air is pollution free, so wherever you see it you know you are walking in a place that’s good for your lungs. It also has several uses as a herbal remedy for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, but these are fairly untested. I have not used it myself – mainly because I see so little of it that I like to leave it where it is whenever I do.
However, other more prolific plants on Exmoor can also be used as remedies, such as heather, gorse, bilberries and Rosebay willowherb. More on how to use these over the next few weeks, including gorse cordial and heather honey.
Sof McVeigh: www.thehomemadecompany.com
By ‘unfarmed’, I mean areas unfertilised and not sprayed – so that could be a piece of ‘set aside’ land, or hedgerows within a farm – as this is where wild plants flourish.
Old man’s beard is one lichen that can only be found in areas where the air is pollution free, so wherever you see it you know you are walking in a place that’s good for your lungs. It also has several uses as a herbal remedy for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, but these are fairly untested. I have not used it myself – mainly because I see so little of it that I like to leave it where it is whenever I do.
However, other more prolific plants on Exmoor can also be used as remedies, such as heather, gorse, bilberries and Rosebay willowherb. More on how to use these over the next few weeks, including gorse cordial and heather honey.
Sof McVeigh: www.thehomemadecompany.com