About GROUND ELDER: Ground Elder (lot. Aegopodium podagraria) Herb is also known as the herb of St. Gerard (a patron saint of people with rheumatic diseases), bishop’s weed, goutweed or goutwort. It grows in Eurasia. Ground elder is one of the first abundant edible greens that appear in springtime, together with cow parsley and nettles. It has a long history of being used as medicine-food.
Past research on the chemical composition of ground elder indicates that this plant includes:
- Essential oils, mainly limonene (the same as in lemon, have antibacterial properties).
- Large amounts of vitamin C and provitamin A (carotene).
- Minerals: iron, copper, manganese, calcium, magnesium and potassium.
- Flavonoids, which are antioxidants.
- Saponins which have diuretic and expectorant properties.
A ground elder in traditional medicine is used primarily in the treatment of rheumatic diseases and gout.
