Love Lies Bleeding‘s
readers know that main character Mara is both a vampire and a botanist.
Trained when she was still human, she continues to study plants and
have a garden. This post is fifth in a series exploring Mara’s plants.
Are you interested in botany, gardening, or plant lore? So are some
vampires…
Please note: Medicinal uses are given for informational purposes
only. Always consult a medical professional before diagnosing or
treating yourself or anyone else.
Botanical Name: Rumex crispus
Common Names: Yellow Dock, Curly Dock, Curled Dock, Narrow Dock, Rumex
History: Native to Europe and western Asia, dock
gets the common name “yellow dock” from its large root, which is bright
yellow when cut, and the name “curly dock” from its slightly ruffled
leaves. Traditionally the leaves and seeds were eaten, while the leaves
and roots were used medicinally as a general health tonic and to improve
digestion, as well as to treat jaundice, skin diseases, and scurvy.
Although naturalized in temperate areas, it’s considered an invasive
species in the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, and an “injurious
weed” in the UK.
Victorian Language of Flowers Meaning: Patience
Cultivation: Perennial in zones 4 to 7. Plants can
grow to 1.5 m (about 5 ft) tall. Because it can be easily found growing
wild (including in waste areas, roadsides, fields, and along shorelines)
and is invasive in many areas, consider foraging for dock rather than
cultivating it. If you’d still like to grow it (after checking to make
sure it isn’t invasive where you live), scatter seed over prepared soil
in spring, summer, or fall. Dock prefers full sun to part shade and
moist soil (but will tolerate most conditions). Dock will self-seed and
can also re-grow from a piece of root left behind. Harvest leaves before
the plant flowers, roots in autumn, and seeds after they turn brown.
Uses:
Medicinal: The root is high in iron and is used to treat anemia, often in combination with stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).
The root is also mildly laxative, although it isn’t always effective.
Taken internally or applied externally, the leaves may be helpful for
skin conditions such as itching, rashes (including the stings from
nettles), and sores. It’s also used to ease pain and inflammation in
nasal passages and the respiratory tract. It can be applied to the skin
to stop bleeding.
Culinary: Leaves are high in vitamins C and A, iron, and potassium,
but are also high in oxalic acid, which can cause kidney stones and
blood mineral imbalances. Young leaves should be boiled in several
changes of water to reduce the oxalic acid (although that will also
reduce nutrients). Serve leaves like spinach (after boiling, drain, and
heat with olive oil or butter and garlic, or add to any dish you would
use spinach in). They can also be eaten raw in small amounts. Older
leaves are too bitter to be palatable. Once seeds have turned brown they
can be eaten raw or cooked. The seeds can also be roasted and used as a
coffee substitute.
Host Plant: Dock is an ideal host plant for some species of moth, which lay their eggs on the curled leaves.
Caution: Leaves are high in oxalic acid, which can
irritate the urinary tract and cause kidney stones. Dock should not be
used by people taking anti-coagulants or drugs that decrease blood
calcium, like diuretics. Avoid if you have bladder, liver, or kidney
problems, or ulcers; otherwise, consume in moderation. Limit or avoid
using while pregnant and breastfeeding, as dock can have a laxative
effect (which gets passed through breast milk). Those allergic to
ragweed may also be allergic to dock.
Caution 2: The oxalic acid in dock makes it toxic to dogs (I’m assuming to cats too). Do not let your pets eat or chew on dock.
Possible Side Effects: The leaves and root may cause
intestinal discomfort and skin irritation. Taking too much can result
in low blood levels of calcium and potassium–a serious condition that
requires immediate medical attention.
Mara’s Uses: Mara uses dock in tinctures and
capsules (along with other herbs) as an iron-rich tonic for bloodletters
(human blood donors used by vampires). Dock is among the herbs she
experiments with for her blood substitute.
Further Reading:
Love Lies Bleeding: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Blood Magic: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Tooth & Claw: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from
Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent
bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Wikipedia
Language of Flowers
The Health Benefits of Yellow Dock
WebMD
Identify That Plant
Edible Wild Food
Herb Lore: Yellow Dock Root
Tips on Growing
The Spruce: Nettle Rash Treatment
Yellow Dock: An Iron Rich Tea
Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
(This post originally appeared on AspasiaSBissas.com)
