Hasty Helpful Weeds - Joe Pye Weed

 

‘Hasty’ Helpful Weeds – Joe Pye Weed

“Because sweet flowers are slow

And weeds make haste…”

Shakespeare

Joe Pye Weed -   (Eupatorium purpurea)

Description

Joe Pye weed, with its fuzzy purple flowers, and twisting leaves, is a striking vision in late summer. This native plant can grow to a majestic height of 6 ft., or more, often dominating wet, marshy landscapes in meadows and waste places. The lance-shaped, toothed leaves have a single main vein, and grow in whorls of 3-6. They are 3-8 inches long, with a fine downy hair on their undersides.

E. purpurea is a member of the composite family, which means that each “flower” is made up from 9 to 22 distinct individual flowers per head. The colorful flower buds can remain unopened for weeks before giving way to the feathery mature flowers, which are also long blooming. The flower cluster grows on a stout stem, which is purple, or purple spotted.

Part Used - Root

Folk Wisdom – According to legend, Joe Pye was the name of a Native American who is said to have cured typhoid fever using this plant. In fact there is a long history of the use of this plant as a medicinal, and early Americans are said to have used it extensively. It was used as a diuretic, hence its effectiveness in treating fevers (it causes copious sweating) and to treat urinary tract infections. A poultice was also made of the leaves to treat burns.

Medicinal Uses – An alternate common name is gravel root, which refers to the plant’s ability to help dissolve bladder and kidney stones, as well as possibly preventing them in the first place. The plant is also used to treat urinary tract infections, obstructions, and prostate enlargement, as well as rheumatism and gout. It is believed that the plant helps to remove waste from the kidneys, hence its effectiveness in treating these last two conditions.