- This topic has 10 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 10 years, 10 months ago by
IdahoHerbalist.
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Dr. Patrick Jones
Well, it’s the end of July…sweltering heat and dry as a bone. So that means it’s time to go harvest the gumweed.
🙂 Gumweed is one of the common names for Grindelia. It’s a scraggly little plant with cute yellow flowers erupting from spiny buds that are really sticky. It grows all over here in the deserts of Southern Idaho. It’s seems especially fond of the side of the road or other dry, waste places.
It’s a great, relaxing expectorant. It’s anti-spasmodic and really useful for asthma or bronchial problems and coughs.
It’s also excellent for bladder infections and is a very good vulnerary to increase wound healing (as good or better than Calendula).It also has some great anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties as a wound poultice.
It was one of James Green’s “30 Essential Herbs”.
The buds leaves and flowers are medicinal. Pick the leaves before it flowers. Pick the buds and flowers when the plant starts to flower. I just got back from collecting a bunch. Took a long time to get the sticky off my hands. LOL
By the way, if you’re tincturing gumweed, use a higher percentage of alcohol (70% or so). It ain’t very water soluble.
Patrick
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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akcrapo
Patrick,
Does it matter what ratio of leaves to buds and flowers you use for making an infusion? And how much herb should be used in how much water to make a gumweed infusion?
Amber
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akcrapo wrote: Patrick,
Does it matter what ratio of leaves to buds and flowers you use for making an infusion? And how much herb should be used in how much water to make a gumweed infusion?
Amber
Hi Amber
🙂 The leaves are most potent before the plant flowers and ought probably to be harvested then. But for practicality I just harvest as soon as flowers start to appear and use everything. The ratio doesn’t matter. Just strip the stalk you collect of its leaves, buds and flowers and that’s a perfectly good ratio.
To make an infusion (tea), boil the water then turn it off. Throw the herbs into the pot and cover until cool enough to drink. Then it’s done. I usually use a heaping teaspoon of dry herb to a cup of water.
Patrick
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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kmcmaster
We were driving around a more rural part of the city when we came across a field covered in gunweed. The field was next to some homes so I know this road is fairly well traveled. I know there is concern about getting plants that are right along the roadway so how far of the road is far enough to be safe to harvest?
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Well, the main concern is the amount of exhaust.
I guess I’d weigh how much traffic there was, which way the prevailing winds usually blew and how far from the road the stuff was. I don’t really have a definitive answer on distance. Residential traffic would worry me a lot less than freeway traffic or a big parking lot.
Patrick
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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Beverly
Thanks for the info. I will see if I can find some.
Beverly
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sstolzenburg
Doc, I have been looking all around for gumweed, and cannot find it anywhere. I see a lot of plants that prompt me to stop and look, but none are gumweed. :irked:
Any ideas where I can find some seed? or get some from someone? It may not grow near the west coast.
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Horizon herbs (https://www.horizonherbs.com/search.asp?mode=results)has it too.
Doc
Don't use herbs or combine herbs with medications or use them during lactation or pregnancy without talking with your healthcare provider.
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IdahoHerbalist
I have sopped using horizon herbs. Too many poor experiences with them.
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