Milkweed

[Pharmer Phil]

Douglas, Jeanette and I were in a conversation in another thead, when Milkweed came up.
We spoke of it's virtues as a Home for the monarch butterfly, the smell being wonderful, etc.
Then as I wandered off to another board, I thought about all the other things milkweed was used for...Hence, this New Board.
Many things have became so commonplace, that we have forgotten their benefits!

Milkweed is edible!
The young buds, flowers and very young seed pods of milkweed are all edible. Boil them a couple of times and discard the water to reduce their bitterness. I particularly like the seed pods which remind me of a cross between green pepper and okra.

Medicinal: More recently, it has largely fallen into disuse because it has been overshadowed by another more popular species of milkweed, butterfly weed ,also known as pleurisy root
The milky latex of common milkweed has long been used to treat warts. It must be applied fresh several times per day for several weeks. Eventually the wart will turn black and fall off. The latex from dandelion stems can be used similarly, but milkweed latex is considered superior.
It is primarily the rhizomes of common milkweed that are used medicinally; its properties are considered to be very similar to those of butterfly weed. These underground stems are dug up in October or November, after the aerial parts of the plant have died back. At this time it is still easily recognized by its characteristic pods and the fact that it has a single, unbranched stalk. After digging up and cleaning the rhizomes they can be dried for use in teas, or the fresh root can be tinctured in 40% alcohol.

Common milkweed is an excellent herb for the treatment of lung conditions. It relaxes the bronchioles, reduces spasms and liquefies the mucus secretions of the lungs.Used for all types of lung conditions, from coughs and colds to more serious conditions like bronchitis, asthma, pleurisy and tuberculosis. It is one of the stronger lung herbs that can be used when milder, more tonic herbs are not getting the job done.

Milkweed is also used to bring on a sweat to help cool down our body during a fever. It can be used for any kind of feverish condition. Its strong diaphoretic properties also make this herb very effective at helping to improve blood circulation to the extremities of the body. Combined with regular exercise it can be used by anyone with poor circulation. In addition, milkweed improves lymphatic drainage. As a lymphatic it is also helpful for any condition characterized by swollen lymph nodes.

Milkweed is also good for the digestive tract. It stimulates general circulation. It is particularly useful for anyone whose stomach is not producing enough enzymes or hydrochloric acid. It is also beneficial for chronic constipation. Its effect on the digestive tract can be somewhat intense for individuals with a sensitive system. Occasionally it will cause nausea or diarrhea. Although this is very unlikely, If these symptoms do occur, reduce the percentage of this herb in your formulation or discontinue its use.But When You hear the t.v. drug comerctals, the adverse effects they tell you at the end, is usually worse than the ailment..you Have!

[Emily]

I take milk thistle. I never heard of milkweed. Very interesting to read this. Now, I have a question for you. Does it help with hot flashes?

[Pharmer Phil]

HaHa, well not to my knowledge Em.
Hot flashes, as you are aware is brought on by decreased amounts of estogen and progesterone. Causing blood vessels to expand and contract..Hot/cold?
So the rest Yer body flips out and You either flush, prespire, or downright sweat.
And, you probably already know that these flashes, are alot less likely to occur, and Your Overall health, Yes, physical and Sexual Health,Will be Much better, If you consume Soy, soy products of any type, edible soybeans, soy flour, soy milk, that crappy tasting, TOFU, yuckk..some Pholks like it tho. This fact; is the reason for so many Natural estrogen supplements, that are all Soy derivitives.
Knowing that american women probably aren't going to make 50% of their diet soy products, this is a good choice.

But There I went off about that. _{don't worry...Laura has gotten the same speil too!}
And you wanted to know about Milkweed
Herbs that will help and that are available about anywhere are:
Dong Quai, (angelica root)
Evening Primrose oil..very good fer ya
Black cohosh, ginseng, Wid yam root.
and something we have a ton of wild around here, Chickweed.
royal jelly may be purchased at some asian stores, this is very good . Some things to do to avoid the would be: If you get Angry...vent, don't smoke _anything, don't drink, don't use sugar, say NO to Spicy foods, Never get in a hot tub, sauna, and move to a cool climate _{So, if all that sounds like fun} :: Emily...Where'd Ya go....Hmmm _{must be on her way to the healthfood store}

Oh, and I raise and Take Milk thistle seed ...if you would be interested in some fresh seed this fall, just PM me!

[Emily]

Many thanks for the info. There's a Discount Vitamin store,right behind where I work and I go there. There's a gal who knows what I am going thru. And I get my stuff there. How does the seed taste? Tofu is out of the question and it looks nasty. Jim sees what I take and wonders if I am opening my own drug store. ::

[Pharmer Phil]

seed tastes like any grain seed, just a lil bite, but enjoyable. The reccomended dosage is one to two seeds I am told, I just have two when I do

[Emily]

Hope we don't have to and plant you in the garden. :: ::

[Songbird]

Emily, I just came through 8 years of various symptoms, and am finally on the other side of life.
I'm finding that St John's Wort is great for stabilizing my moods. Also make sure you are getting plenty of the B- complex vitamins every day.
I was using natural progesterone cream from the health food store, which is made from yams, during the time the doctor had me on an estrogen suppliment. After he took me off of those, i gradually decreased my use of it, and now i don't need it at all.

[jeanette]

i was just out surveying my queendom and i smelled this wonderfull smell.. it was a milkweed flower. i didn't realized they smelled so good.. we still havn't found a monarch cattapiller. i 'll get bethany on it she can identify the eggs, she has an eagle eye when it comes to finding them.

[mckenzygirl]

Is it too cold up here in the northland, where I live to grow milkweed?

What does milkweed look like? I have no clue!

[douglas]

[jeanette]

you probally see them all the time and just never noticed .. darn farmers spray evey thing ya can't eat...

[mckenzygirl]

Thanks for posting the pic Doug!
I'll have to keep my eyes open from now on to see if I can see this plant growing in the ditches, or anywhere near my house.

[gramar2]

Hi,
When I was a child, WW2 was on and we collected milkweed pods in the fall. The white stuff inside was used in the making of parachutes. Hemp was grown by the local farmers and used for rope. The factory where I worked for 24 yrs had it's beginning as a factory to make the rope. It was converted to making tool boxes after the war and in the 1970's merged with Snap On Tools.

[jeanette]

jerrys grandpa used to raise hemp on this farm for the snap-on factory..

i didn't know that about the milkweed fluff.

[theresa]

I would love to have a flowerbed of nothing but Milkweed. how and when do I start it?

[jeanette]

are there milkweed growing around there anyplace??? if so wait untill the grow the pods, inside are seeds.. break one open they are fascinating.. the seeds are connected to feather like fluff, the pods break open and the seeds fly on the wind.

[mckenzygirl]

Just a week ago, We were taking our granddaughter back to her house.
As we were driving along Hwy. 23.
I saw this white fluff coming out of some kind of plants, all along the ditches.
So Ken and I stopped on the sode of the road, to check this fluff out.
Ken says,"Oh this is Milkweed!"
So we collected a bunch of the seeds.
Now should I plant the seeds in Spring? It's kinda too late now to plant them. (the white stuff is gonna fly in the morning)
I'm thinking a garden of milkweed. Like T said.

[jeanette]

i wonder if , like some wild flowers, you should put them in the fridge with some dirt about six weeks before you plan to plant them.. they are a weed so you shouldn't have any trouble with them :tomt: