Medicinal Monday - Simply Smartweed!

Polygonum is a genus of 130 species of flowering plants in the buckwheat and knotweed family. As a plant that grows in the northern climate, the Algonquin and the Paiute found medicinal and culinary uses for this handy plant. Smartweed is an herb and the entire plant was sometimes used to make medicine. It has a long history of herbal use in both the East and West as it came to the U.S. from Eurasia in the 1800s.

About Smartweed

There are 46 species in the genus Polygonum in the northeastern United States and smartweed is one of them. It is not easy to tell the species apart. One distinguishing characteristic of smartweed is that its flowers are in spike-like terminal clusters whereas, in knotweed, the flowers are clustered on the axils of the leaves. The leaves of this plant are simple and spear-like and grow on a thick section of the stem, with the base of the leaf forming a sheath over the stem where they join. The flowers of this plant are pink or white and bloom from June - November in elongated clusters. The plant can be found in shallow water in ponds and in wetlands.

Medicinal and Culinary Uses

Smartweed is an herb and contains chemicals that are thought to help stop bleeding. The Algonkian made a smartweed tea to stop bleeding from hemorrhoids, and to treat diarrhea and menstrual bleeding. They also used the leaves to wash bloody wounds and to treat them. Smartweed contains warfarin (coumadin) which is used to slow blood clotting. Another use for the tea was as a foot soak for pain in the legs and feet. A poultice was made out of the entire plant and applied to treat poison ivy, rashes, and general pain.

In the culinary area, this plant has a peppery taste and is used for seasoning stews. It should be used with caution because it can overwhelm like cayenne pepper, it is hot! The Algonquins also cook the young tender leaves of this plant and eat them in moderation.

Did You Know...

Polygonum is Greek for many knees. This plant got its name because it has many freely branching stems and joints.  

The juice from this plant may cause dermatitis.

If you crush a bunch of smartweeds and put them in a small body of water it will force fish to float to the top because it interrupts their oxygen intake.

A golden yellow dye can be obtained from the stalk.