Canadian professional herb (Conyza canadensis ) belongs to the family Asteraceae (formerly Compositae). The composite herb is also popularly known as droughtwort, witchweed, witches’ broom, cat’s tail, wild hemp, old man’s weed, revocation and pungent herb. The English names Butterweed, Horseweed and Canadian Fleabane are also common in Germany.
Occurrence and cultivation of the Canadian professional weed.
The leaves are collected in spring and can be used as an admixture in herbal salt and herb butter. In North and Central America, Canada penkweed is very common in wild stands, while in our country it is a neophyte, an immigrant plant that has spread most rapidly of all pioneer species. Originally, the pungent herb was introduced to Germany in the 17th century as an ornamental plant, and then quickly multiplied in all parts of the country. After the end of World War II, the herb multiplied explosively as a rubble plant, which testifies to its adaptability and undemanding nature. Every possible habitat is reached and colonized by the flying seeds, often in places where the competition is not very great. Witchweed easily tolerates heat and can even be found between paving stones in cities. Preferably, the composite plant feels at home along roadsides, in gardens, vineyards and fields. The German, somewhat strange-sounding name “Berufkraut” has a historical background. The herb was used in folk medicine for “discussing” or “calling diseases”. People believed that they could protect themselves from all sorts of enchanted ailments and witchcraft with this “witch plant”. Clusters of the flowers and leaves were hung in stables and houses and in rafters against striking lightning. The alternative names witchweed, cat’s tail or witch’s broom can be traced back to this tradition. The name wild hemp is derived from the yellow color of the plant, which actually looks very similar to hemp plants. The annual plant can grow 1.5 meters high under good growing conditions with sufficient moisture and nutrient supply, even 10 meters is possible under less positive conditions. The old man’s weed stands out for its upright and tight growth and the bright yellow color of its many flowers. As a deep rooter, the Canadian professional weed records roots to a depth of one meter, and the stem is branched only in the upper part. At the edge, the leaves are bristly hairy and linear lanceolate like the whole plant. The small terminal flower baskets bear white, dainty ray florets. Cattail forms several tens of thousands of fruits per plant, which spread with the wind as umbrella fliers. The color of the pappus, the flying hairs, is grayish yellow. The Canadian professional weed flowers in the form of a rosette. Under good growing conditions, the size of the rosette is quite considerable. As soon as the temperatures rise in spring, the rosette grows in height and the plant with only one main stem easily attracts attention. Before the yellow-white flowers sprout in late summer, they are arranged in panicles and protected by the sheathing scales of the flower heads. In the upper part, the plant often branches. The seeds remain brightly colored for a long time and are quite large in relation to the plant’s umbrella. At this stage, wild hemp bears a large number of flowers and seed heads that look similar to common dandelion. Despite its extensive distribution, Canada professional hemp does not cause significant damage because it cannot invade existing plantings.
Effect and application
Although the pioneer plant lists many beneficial properties, its use in medicinal herbalism has not gained as much acceptance in Europe as it has in the Americas. This is because it was introduced to Europe relatively late and was hardly known by medieval herbalists. These usually referred to the classics of antiquity and therefore did not mention witches’ broom in their books. In folk medicine, the neophyte was slow to catch on. The effects of the plant, unlike other medicinal herbs, are not so strongly developed. However, in the absence of other available herbs, cat’s tail got the opportunity to prove itself. The leaves are collected in spring and can be used as an admixture to herbal salt and herbal butter.Essential oils, tannins, tannic acid, linanol, citronellal, choline, caffeic acid, resin, gallic acid and flavonoids are the natural ingredients of the medicinal plant. Naturopathy uses the flowering shoot tips and the fresh sap of the plant. The taste is spicy bitter. The daisy has anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, astringent, diuretic, vermifuge, blood sugar lowering, menstrual and tonic effects. The medicinal plant is used against arthritis, cellulitis, rheumatism, gout, diarrhea, albuminuria, bleeding from the nose, gums and stomach, bladder stones, colic and white discharge. Used as a plant extract, cosmopolitan records positive psychological effects. It is used for anxiety and insecurity and helps to achieve impartiality and light-heartedness. Fears of loss stemming from the past can be overcome with it. In addition, old man’s weed is used as a Bach flower essence, which is also suitable for small and anxious children. The old man’s herb contains beta-sitosterol, a natural active ingredient that is very similar to estrogen. For this reason, the natural healing substances of the plant are also popularly used in the field of gynecology. In this context, the composite plant is known as a gynecological herb. A soothing herbal oil for external rubbing for bleeding, circulatory disorders of the veins and against hemorrhoids is easy to prepare. Canadian professional herb is very good as a tea for kidney pain, diarrhea, and bladder stones. The flower heads have a bitter-pungent aroma and can be used to prepare a wild salad or to flavor dishes.
Importance for health, treatment and prevention.
Although medicinal herbs are believed to have a positive effect in the treatment against various ailments and diseases, it is advisable to consult a doctor or pharmacist before use, since many ingredients of medicinal plants in pure form may well cause strong reactions. In homeopathy, the old name Erigeron canadensis is still used. Homeopathic products are available in various combinations and in all potencies. As a combination preparation, the use of the natural active ingredients is safe. As a mail-order herbal mixture, however, the composite is difficult to obtain, as only a few suppliers carry this herb in their program. Canadian professional herb should not be used by pregnant women and mothers while breastfeeding, and in case of hypersensitivity to the individual ingredients and other composite herbs. Caution should be exercised in case of possible confusion with poisonous buttercups and flowering umbelliferous plants, to which the duerwort visually resembles.