Lamb's Quarters

Lamb's Quarters not to be confused with Lamb's Ears is this little weed is often called Pigweed (Chenopodium album L.) It is the first thing that we pull out of our gardens when weeding. No one I knows cultivates it as it has so little appeal. There is only green; green leaves, green flowers, and green seeds. I have seen it growing up to 4 feet tall and taking over an area of the garden. It grows mostly where the soil has been disturbed, as in gardens or even new construction.

It has been used as a food for a long time as it is a cousin to Spinach. When the plants are less than 10 inches high they are tender and can be cooked as a pot herb. They have the taste of pea pods. They are very high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin and Niacin.

What I am finding in Duke's Database states that this plant has some things in it that are: Anticataract, Antiasthmatic, Antimalarial, Antidiabetic, Antieczemic, Antiparkinsonian, and Antipapillomic (This is the virus that they give young girls a vaccine for so that they can be "one less" but there are 72 papillomas and the shot takes care of only four of them. Even men can get this virus.) Hey, this plant isn't going to do it all if you nibble on a leaf here and there but it sure gives the body more than what we are getting in our food supply.

According to Dr. Christopher founder of the School of Natural healing, it is a very good source of usable calcium. I eat the leaves raw while I am in the yard or put them into a salad with tomatoes, celery, purslane, chickweed and add any dressing, my favorite being oil and vinegar. This is a great way to get my calcium with lots of flavors.

The American Indians used the leaves to treat stomachaches and prevent scurvy. Using the cold tea is known to check diarrhea. A leaf poultice is great for burns. As a folk remedy Lamb's Quarters is used for vitiligo, a skin disorder.

The next time you see this plant, taste a leaf, I think you will like it.