The common sorrel, or spinach dock, is a perennial herb, which grows abundantly in meadows in most parts of Europe and is cultivated as a
Are dock leaves the same as sorrel?
Sorrels are really just small species of dock and there is no clear, botanical difference between them. Sorrels do tend to have their flowers less clustered or whorled and often carried singly along the branches of the flower spikes.
What is the proper name for sorrel?
Rumex acetosa
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), also called common sorrel or garden sorrel, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Polygonaceae. Other names for sorrel include spinach dock and narrow-leaved dock (‘dock’ is a common name for the genus Rumex).
What is the proper name for a dock leaf?
Rumex obtusifolius
Rumex obtusifolius, commonly known as bitter dock, broad-leaved dock, bluntleaf dock, dock leaf or butter dock, is a perennial plant in the family Polygonaceae.
What does sorrel dock look like?
Sorrel grows as a rosette and the flowers are small, round and red/green/yellow. Large mature sorrel leaves can look a bit like young Lords & Ladies leaves. The sharply pointed “tails” (lobes) of sorrel leaves distinguish it from the rounded lobes of the Lords & Ladies leaves.
What are dock leaves good for?
Herbal Medicine Uses of Dock
The leaves are famously used to soothe nettle stings and often grow nearby the offending plant. The cooling properties were also used to soothe insect bites and stings, as well as scalds, blisters and sprains. They were a popular remedy for staunching bleeding or for purifying the blood.
Can dock leaves be eaten?
Benefits: Dock leaves can be eaten in salad or soup when very young – before they get too bitter. They contain high levels of oxalic acid (like spinach, sorrel and parsley).
Does sorrel raise blood pressure?
It’s full of minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. It also has key B-vitamins like niacin and folic acid, and can lower blood pressure. Sorrel is a known anti-inflammatory: The ascorbic acid and other compounds in sorrel make it a potent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drink.
What does sorrel do for the body?
Sorrel is especially high in vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin that fights inflammation and plays a key role in immune function ( 3Trusted Source Trusted Source ). It’s also high in fiber, which can promote regularity, increase feelings of fullness, and help stabilize blood sugar levels ( 4 ).
Does sorrel lower blood sugar?
Flavonoids in Sorrel:
It helps to lower blood sugar. It helps decrease the cholesterol of ‘poor cholesterol’ or low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and boost ‘healthy cholesterol’ or high-density lipoproteins (HDL).
Why do dock leaves cure nettle stings?
Many believe that the sap in dock leaves contain an antihistamine, which can help to soothe the stinging sensation. It has also been suggested that the cooling sensation of the sap evaporating from the skin affected can also relieve some of the stinging sensation.
Are dock leaves poisonous to dogs?
Dock is a type of plant in the buckwheat family that can potentially be fatal to your dog if he ingests it. If you believe your dog ingested a part of this plant, it needs to be treated as a medical emergency.
Do dock leaves work against nettle stings?
Dock leaves are a sworn analgesic proof against nettle stings. You need only plunge some part of your anatomy into stinging nettles and then rub the crushed leaf, vein-side down, across the affected part, to effect instant relief and an empirical proof.
What types of sorrel are edible?
Sorrel Plant Types
The two most popular varieties of sorrel for veggie gardeners are English (garden) sorrel (Rumex acetosa) and French sorrel (Rumex scutatus). Both have a citrusy taste that makes them excellent for cooking.
What sorrel can you eat?
You can use both French sorrel and garden sorrel to add flavor to soup, salads and casseroles, although choose French sorrel for a milder lemon taste; garden sorrel has a more acidic aspect. Both varieties of sorrel pair well with egg dishes, depending on your palate.
What can sorrel be confused with?
A large Common Sorrel leaf could be confused with a small Lords and Ladies (Arum maculatum) leaf. Lords and Ladies, or Cuckoo Pint, is a serious irritant. It contains calcium oxalate, as well as other oxalates, which have sharp needle-like crystals.
Is dock poisonous?
Dock leaves are a traditional remedy for Nettle stings, and suitable larger docks often grow in similar habitats to the Common Nettle. Some literature considers Broad Leaf Dock to be poisonous.
Do dock leaves contain antihistamine?
Dock leaf sap contains a natural antihistamine, which helps to ease the stinging sensation. The dock leaves themselves contain oxalic acid, which deters herbivores from eating them.
Do you spit on a dock leaf?
If you pick a dock leaf and break it up to release the chemicals and then add some spit to the crumpled up leaf prior to applying it gently to the stings, both the antihistamine and the natural healing properties of saliva will ease the pain.
How do you cook dock leaves?
In the Kitchen. Like so many greens, docks reduce in volume when cooked, by about 20 to 25 percent of their original volume. Boil or saute dock greens to make the most of their flavor. They are excellent in stir-fries, soups, stews, egg dishes, and even cream cheese.
Is dock the same as burdock?
Most people can recognise a dock leaf from childhood when they used it to rub on a nettle sting and burdock leaves tend to be relatively wide and are hairy. All of the leaves above are a slightly different colour and texture.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.