Watercress | Water Dock | White Bryony | White Horehound | White Willow | Wild Pansy | Witch Hazel | Woad | Wood Betony | Woodruff | Wormwood

Note: This information is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor who is familiar with your medical needs.

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale). Stem up to 60 cm (2 ft).
Creeping root under water, white flowers.
Found everywhere in streams, and ditches.
Culinary use in salads, older leaves have stronger flavour but wash very carefully as liver fluke eggs may be in hollow stem. High Vitamin C content.
Medicinal use of diluted juice for eczema and anemia.
Excessive use can lead to kidney problems.

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Water Dock see Dock

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White Bryony see Bryony

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White Horehound see Horehound

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White Willow (Salix alba).
The familiar tree form of the willow.
Medicinal use of the rough, grey bark to alleviate pain and reduce fever has been known for two thousand years.
Bark is collected in spring time and soaked in water.

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Wild Pansy see Heartease

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Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).
Deciduous shrub of small tree growing particularly in N. America.
Medicinal use of bark and leaves for familiar preparation which acts as an antiseptic and general healer internally and externally. Can be bought at most chemists.

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Woad (lsatis tinctoria) 30-100 m (1-3 ft).
Yellow flowers, lobed leaves growing direct from root, whole plant has greenish-blue sheen.
Found in U.K. mainly in Gloucestershire.
Used to make traditional dye.

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Wood Betony see Betony

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Woodruff (Galium odoratum or Asperula odorata) 15-30 cm (6-12 ins).
White star-shaped flowers rising out of dark-green whorls of leaves which are slightly shiny and edged with minute forward-pointing prickles.
Found wild and can be cultivated in a suitably wild habitat.
Culinary use of leaves for enhancing the flavour of drinks and adding a sparkle.
Medicinal use of tea as a stimulant.

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Wormwood (Artemesia absinthium) 60-120 cm (2-4 ft).
Numerous tiny yellow-green rayless flower-heads. Bushy stems with leaves having long involved lobes.
Found wild along roadsides.
Medicinal use of oil from flowers and leaves as a cardiac stimulant and to remove worms, tea relieves pain during labour. Pure oil is a poison and care should be exercised in use.

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