Amaranthaceae
Lamb’s Quarters
Chenopodium album
✓ Generally Safe
Safe in Pregnancy
Native to: Europe, Asia (naturalised globally)
Also known as: White Goosefoot, Fat Hen, Meldweed, Wild Spinach
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
LeafSeed
Therapeutic Uses
Nutritional supplementation (exceptional vitamin and mineral profile), digestive complaints, anaemia, anti-inflammatory. Ancient cultivated food plant — nutritious spring green.
Herbal Actions
Nutritive, anti-inflammatory, digestive, antioxidant, prebiotic (seed)
Active Constituents
Vitamins A, C, and K (exceptional), calcium (309mg/100g — higher than spinach), iron, magnesium, riboflavin, betaine, oxalic acid (leaves)
Preparation Methods
Food☕ Herbal Tea
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | Fresh or dried leaves per 250ml, steep 5 min, 2x daily |
| Tincture | As food: cup cooked greens daily |
| Notes | Cook leaves to reduce oxalate (blanch 3 min, discard water). Seeds: cook like quinoa. Traditional spring tonic vegetable. Rich in betaine (liver protective). One of most nutritious wild plants. |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Safe in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
Possible — consult doctor
Contraindications: High oxalate — kidney stones, kidney disease. Vitamin K — warfarin. Cook to reduce oxalate. Generally very safe.
Side Effects: Oxalate toxicity (large raw amounts). Reduced mineral absorption. Very safe cooked.