Ground Ivy Tincture - Harvest those weeds!
Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea, in the mint family) growing on the raised beds in the back garden.
About Ground Ivy
Ground Ivy is a creeping plant in the mint family that is currently carpeting large swatches of our yard. Sometimes called “alehoof” or “Gill-over-the-Ground” (possibly derived from French guiller “to ferment beer”). This plant was used to add flavor and clarify beer before the use of hops. It is said to be one of the first herb and edible plants brought to the North American continent by early settlers. (Grieve, 1982).
Medicinally, Ground Ivy has traditionally been used for mild upper respiratory complaints, for bladder and kidney complaints, digestive inflammation or upset, menstrual irregularities, and topically for wounds and skin conditions (Natural Standard, 2015).
Making Ground Ivy Tincture
We harvested about 250 g (otherwise known as a large bowl) of Ground Ivy that was beginning to grow onto our raised beds and removed the biggest stems. This seems an ideal time to harvest - the plants had a wonderful, strong smell and the flowers were just blooming. To make the tincture, we did a light pulse in the food processor and added the herb and diluted Everclear together in a mason jar. In about 4 weeks, we should have a Ground Ivy tincture!
Grieve, M., Leyel, C. F., & Marshall, M. (1982). A modern herbal: The medicinal, culinary, cosmetic and economic properties, cultivation and folk-lore of herbs, grasses, fungi, shrubs & trees with all their modern scientific uses. New York: Dover Publications.
Ground Ivy. (2015). Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database [Online Database]. Stockton, CA: Therapeutic Research Faculty. https://naturalmedicines-therapeuticresearch-com.qe2a-proxy.mun.ca/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=26.