spring foraging guide

Today (April 2024) I did a video on the edible and medicinal uses of Purple Dead Nettle (PDN) as part of my series on Youtube called the Bushcrafter’s Pharmacy. PDN is an early plant, usually arriving in April. Due to it being an early plant it is a harbinger of spring. PDN usually is seen growing soon after Snow Drops. I will give you three places local to me where I find it growing: the softball field across from the cemetary off of Dowling Street in Montague, MI. I also spotted it growing on the ridge behind the wesco in Montague. In Whitehall, MI I have found it growing nearby the bike path behind the White Lake Library on the south end of Whitehall, as well as in forests. PDN has a square stem, giving a forager a clue that this plant is in the mint family, and because it is a mint it has carminative properties. The plant only lasts 6 weeks, April through May. The top of the leaves are a dusty purple color and become more green the further you go down. As the plant grows older, it goes from purple to more of a soft pink color. The flowers typically range from purple, pink and white. The leaves grow opposite each other and are heart-shaped. The plant is edible, but not tasty. It is packed full of nutrients and will keep you alive if you have to eat it on the fly. If you do have to eat it, try to make a salad out of it and other plants and ingredients. Then try to find some salad dressing. Medicinally, the whole plant is astringent and is therefore good for wet conditions (like bleeding). It is also diuretic making it good for kidney problems and UTIs. The plant is also styptic meaning it stops bleeding. The plant is antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory. These properties make PDN a good plant to choose for making a poultice for wounds. To make a poultice, mash it up with the butt of your knife or other implement. In a past class I used the butt of my atlatl, a technique that was used by ancient indigenous people. Once the plant is mashed up, apply the poultice to your cut or wound, then secure it in place with some type of make-shift bandage. If the plant is a little too dry for a poultice and it does not stick together, add some water to it from your canteen, or make a spit poultice by chewing it then applying it to your wound. In my video I used a cut strip of cotton t-shirt as my bandage. In my opinion, the most interesting thing about PDN is that it has antihistamine properties and can be used for allergy relief. As an allergy sufferer, I was glad when I first learned this about PDN. To make allergy medicine, I have found tinctures to be the most useful. To make a tincture using PDN, chop up the leaves of the plant, place them in a mason jar, then fill it to the brim with 180-proof grain alcohol. Seal it and let it sit for about 6 weeks. Once it is done, take 1-2 ml three times per day. This is why I call PDN the Claritin of the forest. In preparation for hard times, it is wise to stock up on allergy medication and PDN. PDN is an immune system modulator making it useful against colds and flu. It has an anti-inflammatory effect in the lungs. Although I have yet to try it, I would imagine PDN would work well with Mullein for lung ailments. If you need a laxative, make a tea out of PDN and drink it. Or you can use PDN to make a salve for any skin conditions. The plant is also nervine, meaning it calms the nerves. If you get a chance this early spring, try working with PDN. If you want to learn more about wild plants and survival skills, you have come to the right place. Go to my shop page and select the classes subcategory. I hope to see you at my class very soon. Train as if your life depended on it, because someday it will. I will see you in the wild! -Art