Before you mow your lawn and get rid of that weed, consider that it may be a blessing in disguise. We used to call this “cat’s foot” when I was little because it is related to the catnip family of plants. You probably know it as ground ivy or even creeping Jenny. “How do I get rid of it?!” everyone says, and I say, “How do I find some more?”
Cat’s foot (Glechoma hederacea) is a bane to the perfect
lawn keeper but a boon to someone who knows how to use plants. Look for this little plant that spreads like
crazy and grows low to the ground with teeny tiny purple or sometimes blue
flowers. People used to make a tea or
infusion out of it that is helpful for coughs and asthma, acting as an
expectorant. It was one of the herbs of
choice back in the day when tuberculosis, also known as “consumption,” was
rampant.
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| Cat's foot (Glechoma hederacea). |
Long before people used hops to flavor and clarify their
beers, they used “ale hoof,” which is yet another name for cat’s foot. It has a bitter taste due to volatile oils
contained in glands on the underside of the leaves. Like hops, a little of this flavor in beer
can be a very good thing. These oils
also helped with the keeping quality of beer, and people swore that it gave
good health to those who drank it.
Cat’s foot has enough vitamin C in it to ward off scurvy,
but one of the really strange things it was known for centuries ago was “painter’s
colic,” an old name for lead poisoning.
Supposedly, an infusion made from this and drank daily for a month or
two helps to cleanse the blood and tissues of toxic metals. In modern times, people use a dropperful of tincture
of cat’s foot to help remove heavy metals from the body and as a radiation
countermeasure.
An infusion of cat’s foot is also used for black eyes,
sores, and bruises. Combined with
yarrow, it is used for abscesses and tumors.
Dripped into the ears, it is said to help with tinnitus, or ringing of
the ears. Steeped in wine, it is said to
help with sciatica and gout.
And you thought it was just a weed!! Look around and you will see that you are
always surrounded by everything you need.
You only have to open your eyes to see it.
[To make an herbal infusion or tea, see my article on Red Clover for instructions. There are also
instructions in that article on how to make herbal ointments and salves. For instructions on how to make an herbal
tincture, see my article on St. John's Wort. Yes, I have to put a disclaimer
in. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to
diagnose, treat, or cure any ailment. If you need medical advice, seek a
physician.]
