Herbalist Trudy van Diepen-Stam knows an herb for every ailment. This month: ground-elder, also known as bishop’s weed, or gout weed (not related to the Elder tree).
Many plant lovers have mixed feelings about ground-elder, the roots are notorious because they spread rapidly, even through the toughest clay soil. To show its good side we’re giving it a little extra attention. The herb has very useful medicinal applications for gout and arthritis.
In June ground-elder spreads its flowers in a white shield over the plant. In a bygone time people referred to ground-elder as Roman spinach, the official name is Egopodium podagraria after the Greek word for ‘goat’s foot’.
Podagraria also has medicinal qualities. The plant can be used to treat gout and arthritis. Ground-elder contains vitamin C, provitamin A, and the minerals calcium, magnesium, potassium and silicic acid. These all aid in removing acid from the blood, alkalizing our system. Arthritis, gout and many other afflictions are caused by elevated acid levels in the blood.
The intestines benefit from the power of ground-elder as well as it can strengthen intestine’s cell walls. Aside from the medicinal benefits of ground-elder it also works improves energy. It helps us to release the blockages that stagnate our growth and allow us to manifest our goals in the right way.
