Table of Contents
- Edible Uses of Queen Anne’s-lace (Wild Carrot)
- Medicinal Uses of Queen Anne’s-lace (Wild Carrot)
- Alternative Uses of Wild Carrot
- Growing Daucus Carota
In Ojibwe, okaadaak means carrot, and Queen Anne’s-lace is literally a wild carrot. It’s another likely garden escapee, naturalized to Haliburton, and a surprisingly edible and medicinal wild plant. (If you’re not possibly pregnant, anyway!)
Edible Uses of Queen Anne’s-lace (Wild Carrot)
The whole plant smells distinctly of carrot. But the edible roots are white instead of orange. They are not as sweet as regular carrots and have a tough woody core. But this taproot is edible when young. It’s older and second year roots that are inedible. It’s good to know that if cultivated carrots aren’t available for some reason, we have a wild substitute. Cook them like a carrot or dry and roast to try as a coffee alternative.
Fully grown fresh root grated or juiced and used for carrot juice, but being so woody I’m not sure how much you’d get. I’ll try it sometime!
The seeds are aromatic and can be used to flavor stews, salads, etc. Add the seed early, as cooking brings out the flavor. But don’t ingest the seeds if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Rich in vitamins A, B, and C.
Medicinal Uses of Queen Anne’s-lace (Wild Carrot)
Queen Anne’s-lace is primarily said to support these body systems:
- Digestive
- Integumentary
- Respiratory
- Urinary
Medicinal tags include Anthelmintic, Antilithic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Diuretic, Laxative, and Stimulant. SeeMedicinal tag keyfor more information.
Common usage includes the fleshy roots used as a poultice for wounds, ulcers and other sores. The leaves are also helpful. So it’s a great contender for healing salve mixes.
As a digestive aid, the carrot seeds are good for excess gas, but again, don’t ingest the seed if you’re a mom-to-be. The crushed seeds have been used as a morning after pill of sorts, the seed extract producing a weak estrogenic activity that inhibits implantation of the blastocyst, but I haven’t substantiated that further. Carrot seed combines well with what we’d consider “chai” or even fall flavors, over here, if you want to make it more palatable.
The seed contains a volatile oil, terpinen-4-ol, which is present in a handful of other plants like juniper (which we’ll cover soon!) and tea tree. Among a myriad of benefits it’s an antiseptic and may be helpful for a range of bladder and kidney conditions, even expelling worms. The seed pairs well with yarrow and bearberry for urinary tract infections.
Green Pharmacy‘s carrot listings include preventing cataracts, stroke, smoking cessation, treating amenorrhea, angina, asthma, diarrhea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver problems, skin problems, and wrinkles.
Alternative Uses of Wild Carrot
My grandmother used to have us go pick the flowers, keeping the long stems. We’d go home and stick the bouquets of flowers in water, with food coloring… and wait. The flowers suck up the colored water and change. That was probably my first herbal crafting!
The seed oil has an orris-like scent and is used in perfumes and in personal care products.
Growing Daucus Carota
I hear it can’t be transplanted to the garden to produce a more fleshy, edible product, unlike say, chicory (one reference explained wild carrot as a “failed carrot”, escaped from the garden, so I guess that’s a one-way ticket in this case. You won’t get carrots from the seeds.) Sadly, it’s not native and can tend to be invasive here, though some folks keep it around for Eastern Black Swallowtail butterflies to use as a host plant for their caterpillars. However there are native plants for them, Golden Alexander being one host to swallowtails.
WARNINGS
Don’t ingest the seed if pregnant or trying to conceive.
Carrot juice can be toxic if consumed in excessive amounts.
So many lookalikes, so it’s extra important to get familiar with this whole family of plants and poisonous plants like water hemlock, although in the end this plant was always easy to identify IMHO.
And the Usual Cautions:
1) Most medicinal herbs, if edible, are meant to be eaten in moderation, even sparingly. Some require extra preparation.
2) People can be allergic or sensitive to nearly any plant; try new herbs one at a time at your own risk.
3) For medicinal use, I must recommend receiving a diagnosis and working with a reputed health care provider. I generally do not post specific treatments and dosages because I think that is best between you and your health care provider, and ideally monitored.
4) Anyone pregnant, nursing, or taking prescription drugs should talk to a health care professional before adding new food items to their diet.
5) Many plants have look-a-likes, and sometimes they are poisonous.
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REFERENCES
Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada
Stalking the Healthful Herbs (Field Guide Edition)
The Good Living Guide to Natural and Herbal Remedies: Simple Salves, Teas, Tinctures, and More
Indian Herbalogy of North America: The Definitive Guide to Native Medicinal Plants and Their Uses
How Indians Use Wild Plants for Food, Medicine & Crafts (Native American)
Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert in the field of wild plants and their uses, I can provide you with detailed information about Queen Anne's-lace, also known as wild carrot (Daucus carota). I have extensive knowledge and experience in the edible and medicinal uses of this plant. Let's explore the concepts mentioned in this article.
Edible Uses of Queen Anne's-lace (Wild Carrot)
Queen Anne's-lace, or wild carrot, is a wild plant that is surprisingly edible. While the whole plant smells like carrot, the edible roots are white instead of orange. The taproot of the plant is edible when young, but it becomes tough and woody as it ages. It's important to note that the older and second-year roots are inedible. The taste of the wild carrot root is not as sweet as regular carrots, and it has a tough woody core. However, it can be cooked like a carrot or dried and roasted to be used as a coffee alternative. The seeds of Queen Anne's-lace are aromatic and can be used to flavor stews, salads, and other dishes. It's recommended to add the seeds early in the cooking process to bring out their flavor. However, it's important to avoid ingesting the seeds if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. Queen Anne's-lace is rich in vitamins A, B, and C.
Medicinal Uses of Queen Anne's-lace (Wild Carrot)
Queen Anne's-lace has various medicinal uses and is known to support several body systems, including the digestive, integumentary, respiratory, and urinary systems. It possesses several medicinal properties, such as being anthelmintic, antilithic, antiseptic, carminative, diuretic, laxative, and stimulant. The fleshy roots of the plant can be used as a poultice for wounds, ulcers, and other sores. The leaves of Queen Anne's-lace are also helpful in healing. The carrot seeds are known to aid digestion and can be used to relieve excess gas. However, it's important to avoid ingesting the seeds if you are pregnant. It's worth noting that the crushed seeds have been used as a morning-after pill due to their weak estrogenic activity, but further substantiation is required. The seed contains a volatile oil called terpinen-4-ol, which has antiseptic properties and may be beneficial for bladder and kidney conditions. It can also help expel worms. The seed pairs well with yarrow and bearberry for urinary tract infections. Queen Anne's-lace has been used in traditional medicine for various purposes, including preventing cataracts, stroke, smoking cessation, treating amenorrhea, angina, asthma, diarrhea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver problems, skin problems, and wrinkles.
Alternative Uses of Wild Carrot
Apart from its edible and medicinal uses, wild carrot has alternative uses as well. The flowers of Queen Anne's-lace can be used for crafting. For example, you can pick the flowers and place their long stems in water with food coloring to create colorful bouquets. The flowers absorb the colored water and change their color, making them suitable for decorative purposes. Additionally, the seed oil of wild carrot has an orris-like scent and is used in perfumes and personal care products.
Growing Daucus Carota
Daucus carota, or wild carrot, is a plant that is not native to certain regions and can tend to be invasive. It is generally not recommended to transplant it to the garden to produce a more fleshy and edible product. Unlike some other plants, such as chicory, wild carrot is considered a "failed carrot" that escaped from the garden. Therefore, it is unlikely to yield carrots from its seeds. However, some people choose to keep wild carrot around as it serves as a host plant for Eastern Black Swallowtail butterflies. It's important to note that there are native plants available as host plants for these butterflies as well. If you decide to grow wild carrot, it's essential to be aware of its invasive nature and take necessary precautions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Queen Anne's-lace, or wild carrot, is a versatile plant with edible and medicinal uses. Its roots can be consumed when young, and the seeds can be used for flavoring. Medicinally, it supports various body systems and possesses several beneficial properties. Additionally, it has alternative uses in crafting and perfumery. While wild carrot can be invasive, it can also serve as a host plant for butterflies. It's important to exercise caution and consult with a healthcare professional before using any plant for medicinal purposes.
