Gypsywort
Gypsywort (Lycopus europaeus) is an
herbal plant that but has no culinary purposes at all but rather is
used for industrial and medicinal purposes. This plant originated in
Europe and Northwest Asia. Gypsywort's most important properties
come from the stem and the leaves. These were used for the
astringents, sedatives, anxiety, tuberculosis, and heart
palpitations. Industrially, Gypsywort was extremely beneficial in
making a permanent black dye. Oddly enough that is how it got its
name, the Gypsies were said to have stained their skin with this
black dye like substance so they would resemble Africans or
Egyptians while they were performing.
Gypsywort has no known hazards and usually grows near rivers,
streams and ravines. You will likely find this plant from June to
September but the seeds are the most ripe between August and
October. A unique physical characteristic of this plant is that is
has both male and female organs so it is self fertiling, pollinated
by insects and bees. In a survival situation, the root of the
Gypsywort could be eaten raw or cooked.
The flowers of this plant are used for astringents and sedatives but
also have an iodine property to it that is commonly used for
hyperthyroidism. The entire plant has been known to slow and
strengthen heart contractions, treat coughs and bleeding from the
lungs, and excessive menstral periods, and the leaves are great for
cleaning wounds. Heart disturbances and nervousness can be eased by
the use of Gypsywort. The part that is rendered for use is the
flowering plant itself and the best time to gather these is June -
September. It is a sedative, because it reduces the pulse rate in
conditions involving an overactive thyroid gland by reducing the
activity of iodine. It was once prescribed for hyperthyroidism and
related disorders such as Basedow's disease which is an immune
disorder of the endocrine system that stimulates the thyroid causing
an overactive condition leading to hyperthroidism. This is also
called Graves' disease.
Gypsywort can be purchased at your local herbal supplement store or
ordered online and does have some outstanding benefits. It is a very
uncommon and not very often spoken about form of herb. Some use it
with aromatherapy and a mixture of many other oils and fragrances.
Bugleweed is very closely related to Gypsywort and for medicinal
purposes the two are very often closely linked to each other.
The juice of the Bugleweed can also be used as a dye. The two could
also be twins in the family of herbs. The rarity of this particular
herb in underestimated and often undervalued. With the research that
is being done each year on various herbs and their contribution to
the medical field maybe one day people will hear more about this
herb that remains quite a mystery to most.
Many of the other herbs that can provide similar benefits as the
Gypsywort are becoming extinct because they are over harvested and
over used so it could be extremely beneficial to utilize much rarer
herbs that can often bring forth some of the same benefits as
others. Gypsywort just might be one of the herbs that would fall
into this category.
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