Henbit deadnettle is pulled up by farmers as a weed, but it is actually a precious wild herb in the fields
In the rural countryside, the most common thing, I think, is none other than wild grass. Whether in front of or behind the house or out in the wild, all kinds of wild grass can be seen everywhere, and most farmer friends are rather fond of these wild grasses, because quite a few can be eaten as wild vegetables and also used as herbal medicine, such as Houttuynia cordata, dandelion, purslane and so on. However, quite a few wild grasses are overlooked by farmer friends because they are inconspicuous, and are even pulled up as weeds. Below, I will introduce one such plant to everyone.
Starting from April, many wild grasses in the rural countryside begin to bloom one after another, and by May, even more wild grasses are in flower. One such wild grass is the same, and it is "henbit deadnettle." It is a very inconspicuous little plant, with leaves the size of a fingernail, and if not for these purple flowers, even fewer people would notice it. And even when henbit deadnettle blooms, not many people will pay attention to it. Like many wild grasses, if you do not know their names and they have no practical use, you simply have no choice but to look past them.
Henbit deadnettle also likes to grow at the edges of farmland. Though inconspicuous, its vitality is truly very tenacious, and it often grows mixed together with other wild grasses in the farmland, competing for the nutrients of the crops in the fields, causing reduced crop yields. Therefore, many farmer friends who work the land often pull up henbit deadnettle as a weed in the farmland. So, apart from harming crops, is henbit deadnettle really good for nothing? In fact, this is not so. If an experienced old farmer sees henbit deadnettle, he will certainly treat it as a treasure.
Because apart from harming crops, henbit deadnettle is actually also a precious medicinal herb with medicinal value. According to the "Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine," henbit deadnettle is also called pearl lotus, bone-setting grass, lotus-platform selfheal and so on. The whole plant can be used as medicine; its taste is pungent and bitter, its nature is neutral, and as medicine it has the effects of clearing heat and draining dampness, invigorating blood and dispelling wind, and reducing swelling and detoxifying. It can be used to treat icteric hepatitis, lymph node tuberculosis, high blood pressure, facial nerve paralysis, hemiplegia, bruises and injuries, fractures, impetigo and many other conditions.
It is precisely because henbit deadnettle has such great uses that in the village, experienced old farmers are all very fond of it, and even treat it as a treasure. So do not underestimate these wild grasses, perhaps they are a kind of "precious" herbal medicine!
Dear friends, do you know about henbit deadnettle? You are welcome to leave a message and share your thoughts!