Butterbur, Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot, Petasites frigidus

Identification: A single smooth stalk, 1 to 3 feet (0.3m to 0.9m) tall, grows from the rhizome, and contains a single three-lobed leaf and a fruiting stalk. Its leaflets are serrated at the tip and the leaves turn a bluish-green hue when mature. It has deep blue fruits. Medicinal Use. Childbirth: The root has oxytocic properties that promote childbirth. Do not take during pregnancy until 1 to 2 weeks before the due date and only under a doctor’s care. It causes powerful

uterine contractions that are regular and productive, encouraging a quick and easy birth. It also has a calming effect, helping the mother relax between contractions and reducing pain. Menstrual Problems: Blue cohosh root is used for menstrual problems, including delayed menstruation, cramping, and profuse hemorrhage. Harvesting: Harvest blue cohosh root in late autumn, when it stores its strength. You can also harvest the rhizomes in the spring, just as the new growth begins, if needed. Dry and store the roots for future use. Blue Cohosh, by Carol, CC by SA 3.0 Warning: Do not use during pregnancy. Do not use for estrogen-sensitive diseases such as endometriosis, fibroids, and certain cancers. Blue cohosh can elevate blood pressure so careful using for heart patients and people with high blood pressure. Excessive dosage can cause nausea, vomiting, and a lack of muscle coordination.

Butterbur, Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot, Petasites frigidus

Butterbur, or Sweet Coltsfoot, is a plant that grows in moist areas throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The name butterbur reportedly came about because the leaves were used to wrap butter for keeping. It is also called bog rhubarb. It is in the Aster/Daisy Family. Note that Arrowleaf coltsfoot (P. frigidus var. sagittatus) has the same medicinal properties as butterbur; it has arrow-shaped leaves. Butterbur or Sweet Coltsfoot is not the same plant as Tussilago farfara, known commonly as coltsfoot and also in this book, though they are closely related. Identification: Butterbur or sweet coltsfoot flowers appear in February and March, before the larger basal leaves that arrive in late spring. The flowers have a sweet scent, and are often the first flowers seen in the new year in the cold wetlands in the North. A cluster of white to purple-pink flower heads appears on the tip of a fleshy stalk, which is covered with sheathed leaves. The flowers give way to silver-white seed heads and its large basal, rhubarb-like leaves arise near the flowering stalk directly from an underground rhizome. The basal leaves are palmately divided and their underside is “wooly” with white hairs.

Edible Use:

The flowers, flower stalks, and leaf stalks are edible cooked in limited amounts. The ash (after burning the aerial part) is a good salt substitute. Medicinal Use: The roots, mature leaves, and stems are all used medicinally. It is antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, a vasodilator, and mucilaginous. I use it as a tea or a tincture. Only collect mature leaves,

Petasites frigidus by Walter Siegmund (talk), Own work, CC-BY-SA-3.0