The hedge mustard plant is much more than just an invasive pesky weed; did you know that it is also known as the singers plant and was used medicinally by many a famous person in times gone by!
This page features plant information, health benefits, remedies and other interesting facts about hedge mustard.
Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale)
The singers plant is easy to recognise and found in abundance all over the world, viewed as an annoying weed by most, it is an annual and grows up to eighty centimetres high. Hedge mustard has a rosette of larger, serrated leaves around its base and thin stems (with a few smaller, serrated leaves) which protrude from the main stalk at right angles.
The hedge mustard plant flowers from spring thru to autumn, the flowers are pale yellow and very small, their petals form a cross shape. Flowers are followed by long hairy, ribbed seed pods. Hedge mustard can be found growing almost anywhere, in hedgerows as its name suggests, or on wasteland, in fields, meadows, borders of woods, along streams and ditches, dunes and on cliff tops.
How to gather and store Hedge Mustard
Gather the leaves with the flowers from the singers plant in spring, gather from plants that are away from busy roads etc, use fresh or dry and store in an air tight jar for future use.
Hedge Mustard Benefits
Hedge mustard benefits: In France hedge mustard was thought to be able to give people the voice of an angel, it is known as 'singers plant' and was used widely as a gargle by singers, actors and actresses, politicians and poets.
In the kitchen the leaves can be used in a sauce for fish, in soups, stews, and omelettes, you could also try a few of the young tender leaves in a salad.
Medicinally, hedge mustard is good for the treatment of sore throats, coughs, voice loss, laryngitis and inflammation of the airways. It has properties that stimulate the gastric juices and also good for helping combat many digestive problems.
Hedge Mustard Remedies
Singers Plant Throat Gargle: Take a tablespoon of hedge mustard flowers and place in a mug, pour on hot water and leave to infuse until cool, strain and use as a gargle for hoarsness or a sore throat.
Hedge Mustard Warnings!
Not for use by children.
Use sparingly if pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do not use excessively or for too long a time.
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