You may have noticed that the snow is melting quite quickly this season around Colorado, and that has quite a bit to do with our low snow pack this year but also because its spring! Spring has sprung across most of the state and that means that a lot of those little bits of green are popping up as well.
Now to many, Colorado may just seem like a dry, high desert with lots of Pine trees, but let me tell you it is so much more. Colorado has an extensive forest ecosystem that varies quite a bit across the state. In the high alpine settings there are of course many differences than in those low lying desert areas and grasslands. One thing that these ecosystems have in common across the state, though, is the abundance of medicinal and edible plants. Now I bet you didn’t know that all you had to do for a little snack was to wander out your front door instead of opening the fridge.
The first plant I will mention is one that I am certain is well known. It’s also one of the most common wildflowers that exists in the whole U.S. but most of us consider it to be a pesky weed to douse with weed killer. That plant would be the Dandelion (Taraxacum offinale). Not only are dandelions tasty and delicious but they are also packed full of nutrients like vitamins A, C & K, Folate, Calcium and Potassium. These often overlooked little weeds are also a powerhouse when it comes to cardiovascular health. Dandelion roots help with blood pressure regulation, cholesterol management, antioxidant protection and dandelions also have anti-inflammatory properties as well. This little plant is so powerful and exists in abundance across the state most of the warm season. If you do decide to harvest some dandelions, I highly recommend doing so in a place that doesn’t spray them with pesticides so the plants you’re getting are safe to eat!
Another medicinal plant that grows in abundance across Colorado that I have seen popping up already is Common Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium). Yarrow has feather like leaves and blooms with small white flowers late in the season. Yarrow is a bit less tasty than the dandelion but equally as beneficial. Yarrow has a strong medicinal taste that hints towards its medicinal value. One of the most common medicinal purposes of yarrow is that it is a coagulant so when turned into a poultice it can be used to stop bleeding. If you ever end up wounded out in the forest with no medical supplies this little plant can be a life saver! It also has many medicinal benefits when used internally as well such as balancing hormones, mild muscle relaxer, its has sedative properties and also anti-septic properties. Truly the benefits of this plant are limitless and it grows in abundance across the state! One side note of caution I must mention, this plant can resemble wild carrot or water hemlock when flowering, so if you are new to yarrow, forage with caution.
And finally, the Juniper tree. Colorado has multiple types of Junipers and all have equally as many benefits. The berries that grow on the trees are very fiberous and have protein that would be able to sustain your body were you ever stranded out in the forest with no food. Juniper berries also have medicinal properties as well and can be used for skin problems, help with sleep as they have sedative properties and also they are a natural antiseptic and can be used in the same way as neosporin.
Nature has a really cool way of providing us with everything we need right out our front doors. This is a very basic list of just a few ways to use our natural world to help with our health. Nearly every plant in the state has some kind of medicinal or edible value, but before you just start snacking willy nilly, don’t forget that some of these plants can be equally as toxic.
Happy Spring and Happy foraging!
References
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dandelion-health-benefits
https://www.almanac.com/yarrow-and-its-medicinal-uses-healing-garden-herb
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