Black-Eyed Susan by Terri Glass

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta

Family
Asteraceae

Description
0.3-0.9 meter (1-3ft) biennial with lance-shaped leaves that are bristly. Flowers are distinctively daisy-like with yellow rays around a dark brown center. Flowers present June through October.

Location
Found in fields, roadsides, and waste places. Ranges throughout North America.

Uses and Parts Used

Root
Root tea used for worms and colds. Root wash used for sores, snakebite, and swelling. Root juice used for earaches.

Notes
Black-Eyed Susan has been found to have immuno-stimulant activity similar to Echinacea. Dermatitis from contact is rare, but has been reported.

from: http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/medicinal_plants/pages/Black_E...

Latin: Rudbeckia hirta

Other Names:
Brown-eyed Susan, Brown Betty, Brown Daisy (Rudbeckia triloba), Gloriosa Daisy, Golden Jerusalem, Poorland Daisy, Yellow Daisy, and Yellow Ox-Eye Daisy

Magickal Attributes:
Justice, Legal matters, Strengthen spells

Medicinal & Other Uses:
Antibiotic, Blood purifier, Fever, Immune system, Venereal disease

Deities:
N/A

Gender: M
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Air

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Harvest Time:
Mid to Late Summer

Garden Uses:
Edging & clumps for ornamental garden decoration
Important Butterfly plant

Culinary Uses:
Soup

Other Uses:
Bouquets, Dried arrangements

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Parts & Their Uses
Antimicrobial
Astringent for wounds
Colds
Diuretic
Earaches
Fevers
Intestinal worms
Poultice for snakebite

More effective than Echinacea at immune system stimulation.

Flowers:
Ground up to make a tea or soup, this can be used as a tonic or diuretic.

Yellow dye can be made from the flower petals.

Drying Flowers:
Bundle upright until dry, to keep their natural downward turning petals. Then if you’re wanting the seeds, turn the bundle upside down and shake gently over a bag or cloth to catch the seeds that fall off.

Leaves:
Macerated juice from the leaves & roots can be used for snakebites and swellings.

Roots:
Boil to make a tea for colds and intestinal worms. Strain before consumption to remove its irritating hairs.

Whole Plant:
N/A

Tinctures:
Use on cotton pad to dab on skin swellings.

Oils:
N/A

Infusions:
A hot tea will speed the recovery from colds, flus, & fevers.

Infusion Recipe:
Use approximately a 10:1 ratio of fresh or dry plant material to boiling water to make a tea.
Posted by Granny Tackett at http://hoodoohillrootworksupply.blogspot.com/2012/05/wildcrafting-b...