Bushy Knapweed: Applications, Treatments, Health Benefits

A member of the balsamina family, glandular touch-me-not looks beautiful with its gorgeous pink flowers. At the touch of its seeds, the herb shoots up meters high, but it is precisely this characteristic that makes the balsam fountain weed dangerous for the native flora, as it can multiply uncontrollably. However, the small plant also harbors healing powers, which will be discussed below.

Occurrence and cultivation of the knapweed.

Englishmen brought seeds in the 19th century to cultivate the hawkweed as an ornamental in gardens. The pretty pink flowers of the annual plant, glandular touch-me-not, are reminiscent of orchids. The thick but hollow stems branch profusely at the top. They are reddish and elongated egg-shaped leaves grow on them, serrated at the edge and with a point at the end. The flowers, which hang loosely from the thin flower stalk, develop into seed pods that are up to five centimeters long. Horseweed has unpleasant smelling glands located on the leaf stalk and base. It can reach a height of two meters and blooms from July to early October. However, the herb requires an adequate water supply for rapid growth. On one plant, the buds, flowers and mature capsules are often present at the same time. The glandular touch-me-not is native to India and parts of the Himalayan region. Englishmen brought seeds in the 19th century to cultivate the touch-me-not as an ornamental in gardens. However, the plant spread rapidly and uncontrollably through overgrowth, including in other countries. Meanwhile, the herb grows throughout Central Europe.

Effect and application

For many people, the glandular touch-me-not is a beautiful, very decorative and low-maintenance plant that grows densely and adds an exotic touch to the garden or yard. For others, it is a major nuisance as it spreads quickly and crowds out native plants. The herb does not respect the boundaries of the flower bed, but instead spreads unrestrained wherever it wants. Children, on the other hand, take pleasure in touching the ripe fruits, as they then burst open with a force, flinging their seeds by the meter. This happens at the slightest pressure or shock, for example, from a passing truck. This peculiarity gives the plant its name. The seeds of the plant can be eaten. They have a slightly nutty taste. However, they are difficult to harvest in large quantities. The oil that can be extracted from the seeds is suitable for eating or for use as lamp oil. The flowering, which starts in summer, also contributes to the nectar and pollen supply of some late-flying insects, such as bumblebees and honeybees. It provides them with protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Bees that have visited the flowers of touch-me-not are often heavily dusted with the whitish pollen. Naturally occurring pollen donors bloom comparatively sparsely in midsummer. Therefore, bees have a high demand for pollen at this time of year in particular, which means that the plant can contribute significantly to the supply of nutrients. European honeys also contain fritillary components. The flowers can be processed into parfait or jelly. Cooked, the leaves are edible only in small quantities, for example in a wild herb soup. In addition, the freshly collected leaves can be boiled in lard or oil to prepare an ointment to help with hemorrhoids and rashes. For immediate consumption, the seeds can be briefly roasted and sprinkled on salads, soups and pastries. In the Caucasus, the seeds serve as a substitute for crumble or almond brittle. If they are baked with, they do not need to be roasted beforehand. However, unroasted, they should be well stored in jars and protected from moisture. Here they serve as a stock. Besides the seeds, the flowers are also edible. On the dishes they are a beautiful decoration. The taste is mildly sweet. The leaves should not be eaten raw, but pre-cooked, but even in this form of preparation there is not much to gain from them. Perhaps they can be used as an addition to other dishes.

Importance for health, treatment and prevention.

The glandular touch-me-not has such a great importance as a medicinal plant, as it is the case with other plants.The reason for this is that the healing effects on the one hand have not yet been sufficiently studied and poorly documented, and on the other hand, the use in excess is classified as slightly toxic. Leaves consumed raw and in large quantities cause nausea. As a medicinal plant, when eaten in smaller amounts, the glandular knapweed is diuretic and also aids digestion. However, those who suffer from a sensitive stomach should enjoy the herb with caution. In Bach flower essences, it is used for its calming effect against restlessness and stress to restore mental balance. The glandular touch-me-not represents an important plant in homeopathy. In the medical field, it is only known that the plant can be used to prepare a diuretic tea and the leaves can be boiled with oil or lard to prepare an ointment. This is said to lead to relief from hemorrhoids. In the fresh state, all species of the springwort plants are slightly poisonous. Therefore, the herb has no special place in folk medicine.