Whether found wild at the edge of the forest or in a pasture or planted on purpose in the garden, the lady's mantle likes to grow rampantly. This great offer should not be ignored. It is worth harvesting and drying the herb.

Step 1: Harvest properly

The best time to harvest lady's mantle is when it is in bloom (June to July). Then the content of active ingredients in the leaves is highest. If you cut off the withered flowers, you can expect a rebloom in August. This results in a wide time window for the harvest.

Both the herb and the flowers can be harvested. Rarely do the roots fall victim to the harvest. You should wait until the morning dew has dried on the leaves before harvesting. Use scissors to cut off the leaves and flowers to just above the ground.

Step 2: Spread out

Next, you should spread out the lady's mantle leaves and flowers on a suitable surface so that they can dry well. Undyed paper, baking trays and grids, among others, are well suited. Be careful not to lay the plant parts in several layers on top of each other. Otherwise there is a risk that they will turn brown.

Step 3: Let it dry

A shady and well-ventilated room should be chosen for drying. The herb can also be dried on a north-facing balcony. Lady's mantle can also be dried well in the dehydrator. An oven is not recommended for drying. Drying in the dehydrator at 35 to 40 °C takes around 24 hours.

Step 4: Store

After the lady's mantle has dried, it should be stored in a sealable container. Dark screw-top jars, for example, are suitable. In addition, the dried herb can be stored well in paper bags and bags.

What can you do with the dry goods?

A tea from the dried lady's mantle is often prepared. You can also use the dried herb for poultices, ointments, mouthwashes and as a bath additive. The lady's mantle is known for its broad spectrum of effects. Among other things, it has a soothing effect on:

  • a headache
  • insomnia
  • Gastrointestinal problems such as gas and diarrhea
  • menstrual pain
  • abscesses

tips and tricks

Lady's mantle is edible and can also be used fresh, for example in wild herb salads, stews and smoothies.

KKF

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Category:

Herbs