Health Benefits
Fireweed is a gorgeous herb – its blossoms glow magenta to pink in the full summer sun.
Apart from its beauty, it is also amazing in its benefits – for start, it is very high in iron, copper, potassium and calcium. It supports the lungs, immune system, lowers blood pressure and is great during fevers. It supports your hair, teeth and blood.
Fireweed is high in antioxidants as well, and they help burn fat, restore metabolism, and clean out toxins and heavy metals.
Fireweed also helps to quit smoking and alcohol addiction. The vitamin C content is several times higher then in lemons, which adds nicely as it is important to boost the immune system and help the body cleanse while we are quitting habits.
Apart from these over-all benefits, you can use fireweed specifically for a range of issues:
Digestive health
Skin health
Respiratory health and spasms
Bladder and kidneys
Anti-inflammatory
PMS and menstrual health
Warrior tea
Digestive health
Traditionally the Blackfoot Indians use the fireweed tea to help cure constipation. Likewise today, we use it to ease digestive upset and gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea, constipation or dysentery.
It is helpful for intestinal irritation and it has amazing anti-fungal properties, which makes it a beneficial herb in balancing Candida overgrowth in the gut, and to generally help normalize gut flora.
Skin health
Traditionally the plant is used to cleanse, soothe and heal the minor burns, ulcers, skin rashes, afflictions and skin irritations.
Respiratory health and spasms
A cup of fireweed tea is excellent for respiratory conditions, including sore throat and lung congestion.
Drink it cool to treat hiccups, asthma and whooping cough, slowly and in sips until the spasms stop.
Bladder and kidneys
In the 20th century, fireweed was introduced as help for swollen prostate and difficult urination with thousands of wonderful results.
Therefore, it also is great as supporting bladder, kidney and urinary tract health in both men and women.
Anti-inflammatory
Today it is known that most illnesses come from inflammation.
Luckily, the modern research shows fireweed suppresses inflammation more effectively then cortisone.
Therefore, firewwed is an excellent choice for conditions such as gout, sciatica, and rheumatism, as well as fever management.
Its combined effects on the bladder and kidneys, as well as the anti-inflammatory properties make it a helpful herb to help you get rid of excess fluid in your body (oedema).
PMS and menstrual health
Fireweed can help you relieve menstrual related symptoms. From more common ones, like cramps and mood changes related to PMS, to more difficult ones – like heavy bleeding, vaginal discharge and bleeding between the cycles.
Warrior tea
In Russia it is called a warrior tea, as it provides stamina and energy, physical strength and renewal.
It works as balancer of will power and anger, helps to master the will.
Wild and overactive kids calm down, and the shy children become stronger. It balances our moods, and if our bodies need rest, it will relax us.
And if we need a little pick me up, then we feel energized due to the protein and minerals in the leaves.