Groundsel uses?

[Jacko]

Hi folks,
Anybody out there know of any uses for Groundsel at all?
See it all the time but not found anything in the books that I have......
Any input and I'll be really greatful.
Cheers and thanks,
Jacko.

 

[harryhaller]

according to Hamlyn's "Edible and Medicinal Plants", it, Senecio vulgaris, is poisonous but can be used for menstrual disorders and nosebleeds.

Active ingredients: the alkaloids senecionin and senecin, inulin.

It then adds, ominously, "not to be used for domestic purposes".

"The forager's handbook" (p.22) also warns strongly and recommends avoiding groundsel because of the pyrrolizidine alkaloids- they cause liver damage.

 

[falling rain]

In Readers digest field guide of wild flowers, it says goundsel was used as a poulticing herb as early as the Anglo-saxon times. Culpepper recommends it as a poultice for sore skin and it can apparently be a useful feed for rabbits and canaries. Don't sue me if 'tweety pie' carks it though, that's what it says in the book

 

[Jacko]

Oh er!!!
Sounds like I shall be leaving this one well alone then!
Thanks guys, also thanks for mentioning the books as I have niether of those so added to Xmas list.....
Cheers,
Jacko.