Plants That Will Save Your Life: 5 Plants With Nutritional And Medicinal Value

If you happen to find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere, forced to survive and whatever it is you come across, you might think you’re done for. But you’re not. Plants in general make a great source of food as they’re available, obtainable and can meet most of a person’s nutritional needs. But the key point in eating whatever it is you come across consists in identifying the plants first. This is crucial in a survival situation as many of the plants you’ll stumble across could easily kill after one bite. Many are edible, many are poisonous, and telling the difference is what will make you another day! You have to be very thorough and precise, as many poisonous plants look a lot like their harmless relatives. Many cases have been recorded in which people died for confusing hemlock with wild carrots.

Aside from identifying plants, there are other factors you’ll need to consider. Even apparently harmless plants can be life-threatening for various reasons. For example, plants growing near urbanized zones (near houses, along the road) should be avoided. If avoiding them is not an option, washed them carefully before consuming them, as they most like are sprayed with pesticides or contaminated by noxious vehicle fumes. The plants that grow in water should not only be washed, but also boiled properly, due to the fact that the surrounding waters could be contaminated. The boiling process reduces the risk of indigestion or even worse complications (like Giardia lamblia, an intestinal parasite).

Many wild plants are abundant in oxalic acids or oxalate compounds, which can permanently damage the kidneys and cause distress to your throat and mouth. The acid however is usually destroyed during the process of boiling, baking, roasting or frying. So, if it’s possible, best prepare the plants before eating them. Let’s have a look then at what’s safe to eat and what’s not, in case if you find yourself forced to survive on wild “greens”.

The water lily (Nymphaea odorata)

It’s most common to the subtropical and temperate regions and is found floating freely on the surface of the water. It’s set on large, triangular leaves that act as a floater. The corolla (the total of petals) is generally white, sometimes red, and very thick. The flower can be eaten raw, as can the seeds. Its fleshy rhizomes that grow in the mud are what it uses for feeding (similar to a root). The rhizomes must be peeled first before consumption, so make sure to peel off the corky rind. You can boil the root, and the resulting concoction is very useful to cure diarrhea or sore throats.

The baobab (Adansonia digitata)

This tree most commonly grows in Africa, Australia or Madagascar, in savannas only. It’s one of the most massive growing trees in the world, as it can reach a total height of 60 feet and a total with of 30 feet. It has short branches, thick gray bark, segmented palm-like leaves and white flowers, which hang from the branches. The fruit is about 18 inches long, shaped like a football and cover in thick hairs. Parts of the tree are edible only if the tree is still young. For example the young leaves can be used for soup and the tender root can be simply eaten raw. The fruit is also fit for human consumption, but only after peeling the outer coating. The seeds can be roasted and grinded intro flower. It also has curative properties, easily curing diarrhea if you drink the mixture resulted from the fruit pulp and drinking water.

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.)

This cactus is very common to dry and arid regions throughout the U.S. and central South America, but not only. It’s easily recognized by its green flat stems, covered in tiny round dots, covered by pointy hairs. It’s 100% edible (except for the prickly hairs), as most of its mass is comprised of assimilatory tissue, characteristic for plants that grow in arid areas. This tissue is full of water and nutrients. The fruits can be pealed and eaten fresh or mixed with drinkable water to prepare a refreshing drink. The pads can be also used as a natural bandage if you split them in half and apply them over an affected area. CAUTION: do not eat or touch if the cactus plant is covered in a milky sap!!!

The tamarind (tamarindus indica)

It normally grows in dry regions all across Africa and Asia. It has been cultivated for a long time in India and it can also be found in parts of the American tropics, Central America, South America and even the West Indies. It’s a fairly large tree (can grow up to 85 feet tall) and its leaves are divided like feathers (pinnate), with 10 – 15 pairs of leaflets. The pulp of the fruit is very nutritional, as it’s abundant in vitamin C, which is practically fuel for the immune system. The pulp can be mixed with water and sugar (or honey for those with a sweeter-than-average tooth), and if you leave it to mature for several days it will result in a delicious acid drink. The young leaves are excellent for soup, the seeds can be roasted and even the bark can be nutritious if chewed raw.

The ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa)

Its natural habitat is tropical forests, growing towards the margins. Although it originated in the Far East, it has been planted tropical areas from all around the world. Growing up to 15 feet tall, the Ti has unbranched stems, the leaves being clustered toward the end of the stem. The leaves vary in color according to species, from green to red. The flowers too are clustered together towards the top of the plant. The roots (which can be boiled or baked) and the tender young leaves (best boiled) are very nutritious and highly recommended as survival food. The leaves have a lot of other uses as well: you can craft footwear from ti leaves, use as shelter covers and the terminal leaf (if it’s not unfurled) can be a very efficient natural sterile bandage.

Be aware of the fact that, if you find yourself stranded, nature is not only out to get you, it can also help your cause. However, be very very thorough in deciding what you are going to eat or not, as this wrong decision might be last one you’ll ever make. Want an endless supply of clean fresh water?

by Alec Deacon