If you see this weed, don't try and kill it. Here's what it can do for your body

If you see this weed, don't try and kill it. Here's what it can do for your body

When you think about weeds, you most likely think about picking out or killing plants that invade your garden and pop up between the cracks of stones. What you might not know is that there are quite a few weeds with some major health benefits.

Anthony, of Revolution of Thought, discusses in the Youtube video below the health benefits of a plant sometimes called purslane, other times known as pigweed or little hogweed. Purslane can be found just about anywhere and is a super healthy food that contains vitamins A and C, as well as B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and zinc. It has been used throughout history to help with digestion and heal bug bites

Alfalfa is yet another "weed" with spectacular health benefits. It is found in both rural and urban areas, says Edible Wild Food. Both the shoots and leaves are edible and can be consumed raw or cooked. According to Global Healing Center, the alfalfa leaf has long been used to detox the urinary tract, purify the blood and liver, aid digestion, and lower cholesterol.

Dandelion is a beautiful, yet invasive species that grows everywhere from rocky hillsides to manicured front lawns. Before you rip those yellow flowers out of the ground, consider their health benefits. Edible Wild Foodsays just 1 cup of dandelion greens contains more than your daily recommended intake of vitamin A and more than 5 times that of vitamin K.

Milk thistle is a fantastic treatment for liver and gall bladder disease. It has been used to save people from mushroom poisoning and even to aid people fighting alcoholism. It grows in dry, rocky soils and can be consumed raw or cooked, says Edible Wild Food.

St. John's Wort is an attractive "weed" with bright yellow flowers featuring dots both dark and transparent. These pretty flowers are also healing. They are a natural pain reliever, antiseptic, diuretic, and sedative. St. John's Wort is sometimes used to treat depression, says Edible Wild Food, and can be found in sunny fields and pastures worldwide.

Purslane, alfalfa, dandelion, milk thistle, and St. John's Wort represent a small fraction of weeds with serious health benefits. Others include sweet rocket, stinging nettle, bugleweed, catnip, burdock, elderberry, chamomile, horsetail, marsh marigold, and milkweed. Next time you see a weed growing in your garden, try to identify it and find out if it is good for you.

Which weeds do you consume? Tell us and SHARE this article on social media