Monday, June 9, 2025

Purple Dead Nettle , Lamium purpureum

 Purple Dead Nettle 


Purple Dead Nettle

also known as red deadnettle, purple archangel, and Lamium purpureum

It is a member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae)


The Purple Dead Nettle does not have stingers like regular Nettle, hence the name "dead nettle"

It grows in Early Spring, can be seen growing with Henbit and Creeping Charley

There is no toxic look alike. 

The entire plant is edible

It can be used in place of Spinach or leafy green herbs. Toss in smoothies, salad, bake in Quiche or add to soup.


High in Vitamins A, C, K Iron, Fiber


Medicinal properties: 

Anti-Microbial, Astringent, Purgative, Diuretic, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Fungal, Anti-Bacterial

leaves can be applied in a poultice to wound. 

The seeds are full of antioxidants and contains Quercetin which aides in the Immune System and encourages histamine to help with allergens. It has powerful antioxidant effects to fight free radicals.

Helps with pain and inflammation due to allergens

Treat minor cuts, wounds, rashes, Skin Infections, Inflamed joints, can combat E - Coli. Helps stop bleeding and prevents infection if out in the woods. 


* Do not take while pregnant or nursing

Older leaves contain Oxalate which can irritate the kidneys

Can drop Blood Pressure in the Elderly

Compiled by TMBKelley

Pic, Purple Dead nettle
(Lamium purpureum)




source; from my personal book; Wild Edibles and Medicinal Trees, Plants, Flowers and Weeds. 


Thyme , Thymus vulgaris L

 Thyme

Thymus vulgaris L., or Thymus zygis L., and its var. gracilis Boissier (Fam. Labiatae)


 Thyme contains constituents such as Thymol, Carvacrol, and other thyme EO components—P-cymene, Y-terpinene, Linalool, β-myrcene, Terpinen-4 Volatile oils, as well as Tannins, Bitters, Saponins. Flavonoids-Expectorant, anti-microbial, antispasmodic, astringent, anthelmintic, carminative, immune stimulant, decongestant, it moistens cough, easing the process to cough, is a disinfectant, kills infections, reduces the risk a catching cold. Helps reduce anxiety, treats insomnia, reduce toxins in the body, fights off the common cold. it is a catarrh, and also aides with pruritus associated with dermatitis, good for bruises, and sprains

It exerts an antibacterial effect on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and has antiviral (herpes simplex virus type I, human rhinoviruses and influenza viruses)

Compiled by TBKelley

Pic, My Thyme
(Thymus vulgaris L)



sources:


https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7571078/


Herbal Antivirals by Stephen Harrod Buhner


https://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/thyme-may-kill-off-bacteria-and-viruses-and-can-be-highly-beneficial-in-supporting-the-immune-system/


Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium

 Wormwood

Artemisia absinthium

a species of Artemisia of family Asteraceae. 


It is native to temperate regions of Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa, also found in the United States and Canada and is grown as an ornamental plant and is used as an ingredient of spirit absinthe.


It is used as herbal medicine in Unani and Ayurveda


Wormwood contains numerous compounds responsible for its biological activities, including:

Essential oils

Bitter sesquiterpene lactones

Absinthin isomers

Bitter compounds, such as artemisinin

Phenolic acids

Flavonoids

Coumarins

Lactones

Terpenoids (e.g., α-thujone, β-thujone, γ-terpinene, myrcene, 1,4-terpeniol, bornyl acetate, camphene, cadinene, trans-sabinyl acetate, guaiazulene, camphor, linalool, pinene)

Organic acids

Resins

Phenols

Tannins


Actions: antioxidant, antifungal, Anticancer, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, anti-ulcer, anticarcinogenic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antidepressant, analgesic, immunomodulatory, and cytotoxic activity


A. absinthium contains many phytochemical compounds like, lactones, terpenoids (e.g., trans-thujone, γ-terpinene, 1,4-terpeniol, myrcene, bornyl acetate, cadinene camphene, trans-sabinyl acetate, guaiazulene, chamazulene, camphor, and linalool), essential oils, organic acids, resins, tannins, and phenols. It also contains flavonoids (e.g., quercitin), flavonoid glycosides such as isorhamnetin-3-O-rhamnose glucoside, isoquercitrin, quercitin-3-O-D-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, and phenolic acids (coumaric, syringic, salicylic, chlorogenic, and vanillic acids) which contribute to free radical scavenging mechanism. In addition, it has been reported that methanolic A. absinthium extract contains isoflavone glycosides that are characterized as Artemisia isoflavonyl glucosyl diester and bis-isoflavonyl dirhamnoside. Studies document that A. absinthium essential oils are rich in myrcene, trans-thujone, cis-epoxyocimene, cis-chrysanthenyl acetate, and trans-sabinyl acetate are the most common compounds found. The medicinal efficacy of wormwood is often based on its bioactive ingredient in the dimeric guaianolides absinthins, as it is used more effectively than other Artemisia species as it contains approximately 0.2% of absinthins. In addition, fresh wormwood is considered the best source of azulene, yielding between 40 and 70 mg % of azulene.

 

Traditionally Wormwood is used for several disorders including hepatocyte enlargement, hepatitis, gastritis, jaundice, wound healing, splenomegaly, dyspepsia and indigestion, flatulence, gastric pain, anemia, anorexia, esophageal bowel syndrome with irritation, weak memory tremors, depression, epilepsy, chronic fever, skin diseases, gout, rheumatism, and a anthelmintic and insect repellent.

It also has been documented to alleviate pains during labor and for the management of sclerosis and leukemia. It is widely used in the food industry for the production of aperitifs, spirits, and bitters. Additionally, A. absinthium ointment has been used externally to reduce the stiffness of muscles and joints as well as help in healing bruises. Furthermore, wormwood is employed to relieve childbirth pain and it is also employed to relieve pains during the menstrual cycle, and for the cardiac disorder and hypertension.


A. absinthium leaves were of great importance in botany and pharmaceuticals and are used in folk medicine against various diseases.


*Caution: long-term use of A. absinthium leads to some neurotoxic effects due to the presence of thujone and its analogues. Administration of high dose of A. absinthium can cause central nervous system disorders, intestinal cramps, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches. A. absinthium essential oil is contraindicated in pregnant females, nursing mothers, and individuals with allergy, hyperacidity, and peptic ulcer patients.


*Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only, not intented to diagnose or treat any illness, see you physician for more information.


*This is not all the information on Wormwood Artemisia absinthium, please follow links below for more 


Compiled by TMBKelley

Pic; My Wormwood 
(Artemisia absinthium)


Sources:


https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=KCEXPL&q=artemisia+herba-alba&filters=sid:%2208a28442-f322-f624-9daa-7d22ad7a6166%22+lite:%22.S2NkUmVsYXRpb25eZDdhNjQ2NjQtMTNmMC1mNDJhLTFlZGEtYmU1YWY0Y2ViODA0Xl5eXiRFbnRpdHkyX2Vu%22


https://www.bing.com/search?q=compounds+in+wormwood&form=ANNTH1&refig=34783C0992E842A5ACEF3F300B07063E&pc=HCTS


https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/6/353

In The Beginning There Were Herbs

 People have been using herbs for medicinal remedies for over 60.000 years. 

It is said that for every ailment the human experiences, there is an herb out there that will fix it!  

For many years I've been diving into the herbal world and using its vast abundance of healing compounds to aide in my everyday life.

I do not claim to know everything, but Ill share everything I know. 

Herbalism can be a constant learning adventure, as there are so many different plants out in nature, with thousands of different healing properties, it's almost impossible to know them all.

Every day I make myself 2 herbal remedies, which help to take care of my health concerns, and by making my own, I know what the ingredients are that I'm taking unlike all the ingredients of Big Pharma's Pharmaceuticals.

I hope to share my herbal knowledge and experience with others, so more people will get back in a relationship with Mother Nature and utilize her abundance of healing plants and hopefully, eventually, leave all the pharmaceuticals behind.

Here's to healing with HERBS! <3

TBKelley

Pic; Plantago Lanceolata 
(Ribwort, Plantain)


Purple Dead Nettle , Lamium purpureum

 Purple Dead Nettle  Purple Dead Nettle also known as red deadnettle, purple archangel, and Lamium purpureum It is a member of the Mint fami...