Dock (Curly/Yellow), Rumex crispus

Flatulence: For abdominal flatulence, take Dill Seed Infusion before each meal. Harvesting: Harvest leaves throughout the summer until the flowers appear in late summer. Gather leaves in the late morning after the dew has dried and use them fresh, freeze them, or dry them for later use. I collect the seed heads once the flowers are fully open, if needed, or I allow them to completely ripen for seed collection. The brown seeds are collected and dried for storage. Warning: Consumption of dill can cause sensitivity to the sun in some people. People sometimes have a rash appear after exposure to sunlight. Recipes. Dill Leaf Infusion: Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon chopped dill leaves and 1 cup boiling water. Pour the boiling water over the dill leaves and cover the cup. Let it steep until cool enough to drink, then strain out the leaves. Dill Seed Infusion: You need 1 to 2 tablespoons dill seeds and 1 cup water. Bring the seeds and water to a boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot. Allow the infusion to steep for 15 minutes. Cool and strain out the seeds. Take one cup before each meal for digestive issues.

Docks and Sorrels, genus Rumex, is a group of over 200 different varieties in the Polygonaceae (Buckwheat) Family. Here I am referring specifically to Rumex crispus and its medicinal use, but broad-leaved dock, Rumex obstusifolius, is used in a similar manner. Curly Dock is a biennial herb that grows across the globe. The plant is also called yellow dock, sour dock, narrowleaved dock, and curled dock.

Identification: Flower stalks grow from the base (similar to a rosette) with smooth, leathery, fleshy leaves growing in a large cluster at the apex. Leaves are wavy or curly on the edges and have a coarse texture. These leaves can grow up to 2 feet (0.6m) long and are only 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide, making them long, narrow and wavy. Small veins curve out toward the edge of the leaf and then turn back towards the central vein. Leaves farther up the plant may vary in size and appearance. On older leaves the central vein is sometimes tinged with red. The flower stalk is approximately 3 feet (0.9m) in height with clustered flowers and seeds. Tiny green flowers grow in dense heads on the flower stalk during the second year. The 3-sided seeds are brown, shiny, and covered by a papery sheath that looks like heart-shaped wings. The root is a long yellow, forking taproot that regenerates the plant each year. Edible Use: Curly dock has a lemony flavor and its leaves are used as a cooked vegetable. Young leaves can

Curly Dock Weed, John Tann, [CC BY-SA 2.0]

1Curly Dock Weed, By Olivier Pichard [CC BY-SA 3.0]