The
native perennial Wild Bergamot grows in abundance in
Saskatchewan
. The shaggy flower heads show themselves in clearings, thickets, and
along field edges. The flowers appear in terminal clusters of dozens
of tiny, rose to purple-coloured blossoms. The opposite, lance-shaped
leaves are toothed and have a tendency of curving backward toward the
ground. Unlike most mints, this plant is drought-tolerant, so I would
estimate that it will be predominant in the landscape.
After
the flowers have died back, a perfectly rounded seed head appears, if
you look closely you will see the little holes in it where the
individual flowers once blossomed. Quite often you can still find last
years seed head among this years blossoms, keep an eye out for them,
they’re worth noting.
Wild
Bergamot Seed Head
(Photo
Courtesy of Kahlee Keane)
The
common name bergamot has been bestowed on the Monardas
because of their flavour resemblance to Citrus
bergamai, a bitter orange tree grown in
Italy
and
Morocco
. This tree produces an essential oil used in perfumery and in
providing the refreshing, unique flavour to the Earl Grey Tea. When
bruised both the leaf and flower of wild bergamot send off a rich
scent reminiscent of Earl Grey Tea, and may be used with any black tea
to imitate the unique smell and taste of this well known aromatic
drink.
Collect
the whole stem of this plant in mid or late summer, dry in a shaded
and well ventilated space. Its volatile oil dissipates readily if
dried improperly and the medicines contained in the oil will be lost.
This oil’s constituents are citral,
menthol, menthone and other aromatics that vary according to the
habitat in which the plant grows.
This
herb will keep up to three years if it is dried properly and the whole
blossom and leaf stored in airtight containers out of the light in a
cool place.
Wild
Bergamot
(Photo
Courtesy of Kahlee Keane)
In
the traditional medicine of the Plains Cree there were many uses for
this plant. Chewed leaves were placed in the nostril to relieve a
headache, a decoction of the root and flower was administered for
worms. A poultice of moistened dry flowers and leaves was used as a
dressing for burns. An infusion of flowers and leaves was used as a
skin wash, and a steam of the boiled plant was inhaled to treat
respiratory problems.
Scientific
research has confirmed that wild bergamot contains up to 20,000 parts
per million of a chemical called geraniol
which prevents tooth decay. Given this information I would say that it
makes sense to make a mouth wash from the leaf of this plant.
‘Listerine’,
a powerful antiseptic mouthwash, has thymol
listed as one of its ingredients. This same chemical is found
plentifully in wild bergamot. You can use a tea of this plant as a
gargle for sore throats just as you would use Listerine with the added
benefit that it is mildly anaesthetic.
There
are many more mints growing in
Saskatchewan
, in all manner of habitats, whether you want to use them for a tasty
tea or for their medicinal attributes. Keep your eyes and nose alerted
for them this season.
