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NAME: Bird's Eye Speedwell

SPECIES / FAMILY:  Veronica agrestis - L / Plantaginaceae

OTHER COMMON NAME(S):  field speedwell, gypsy weed, Persian speedwell

CONDITIONS: sun/shade
 

PORTION: small

COMMENT: Leaves and shoots- raw or cooked. "Speedwell was a popular European tea used by the French in the 19th century. It is also used as a kitchen herb or a medicinal herb for treating various ailments."(5)

CAUTION:

NUTRITION/MEDICINAL: "This plant has “remarkable medicinal powers out of proportion to its size”. Used by gypsies as a blood purifier. Removes excess mucus, soothe internal tissues, treat coughs, asthma, pleurisy. A tea made of speedwell is used to clear sinus congestion, help eyesight and ease sore eyes. Afghani herbalist, Mahomet Allum, used the plant to treat patients with heart trouble, in Adelaide, Australia, in the mid-20th century. It is also used for snakebite treatment, hemorrhaging, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and as an expectorant. The use of Speedwell in healing to clears sinus congestion; eases eye soreness and helps eyesight. Goes to areas of tension, specifically the neck and shoulder areas and relaxes the muscles. A decoction of the plant is used in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea and hemorrhage. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_persica // This plant has “remarkable medicinal powers out of proportion to its size”, used by gypsies as a blood purifier, removes excess mucus, soothe internal tissues, treat coughs, asthma, pleurisy, a tea made of speedwell is used to clear sinus congestion, help eyesight and ease sore eyes. I had a swollen top eyelid and sore eye – bathing it with speedwell healed it quickly" (3) http://www.juliasedibleweeds.com/edible-weeds-flowers/speedwell-pretty-blue-flowers

LOOK-A-LIKES / RELATED: Speedwell looks a lot like Chickweed when it is very young. Many species of Veronica - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_(plant) and has a native species - https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Veronica+americana 

POISONOUS LOOK-A-LIKES: 

OTHER USES:

SOURCE LINKS (may include nutritional and medicinal info, plus other uses):

1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Veronica+agrestis  
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_persica
3. https://www.ediblewildfood.com/field-speedwell.aspx
4. https://foragingguru.com/veronica-persica
5. https://thelostherbs.com/speedwell
6. http://www.juliasedibleweeds.com/edible-weeds-flowers/speedwell-pretty-blue-flower