NEW TINCTURE ALERT! 🌿
(Honestly we have a bunch of new ones but we are so busy and haven't had time to write about them but this wild one was too special not to highlight!)
But today I simply need to talk about this new farm harvested potent one: Bidens Pilosa aka bidens, beggarticks, Spanish needles, and other common names.
This wild invasive that we found growing in with our horseradish sure packs an herbal punch. With actions including but not limited to; Antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, antimalarial, blood tonic, carminative, diuretic, hypotensive, immunomodulant, hypoglycemic, neuroprotectant, mucous membrane tonic, vulnerary and more.
And it can be found in any yard, especially when kept wild, or along paths, roadways, and can grow in most any soil or climate. It is native to South America and was brought here by the Spanish during colonization. In traditional Chinese medicine it is known as Xian Feng cao which translates into 'abundant weed'.
Bidens is traditionally used as an Antibacterial and can be used to treat mouth and stomach ulcers, headaches, arthritis, ear infections, hangovers, burns, diarrhea, abdominal issues, swollen spleen, malaria, jaundice, colds, flus, rheumatism, boils, diabetes, skin rashes, infected wounds, herpes, gout, asthma, heart palpations, UTI's, gastritis, and more!
(Including some anti-aging qualities so we are planning to use this in a new skincare product!)
You may be wondering how one seemingly simple plant could have so many diverse uses and the answer is simple. This invasive weed contains over 100 individual plant chemicals that we humans have found and documented. Which means there are likely more. And each of theses chemicals or constituents have dozens of actions or uses. So that is how it has so many incredible uses.
We are so grateful to have another herbal tool in our toolbox to greater help our community.
And how amazing that these powerful medicines grow freely in your backyard. That's always so inspiring for us.