Sheep Sorrel Leaves-The Eatable Sour Herb

Sheep sorrel leaves are also known as sour dock or sour grass. Sheep sorrel plant is native to Eurasia but also it has been introduced to most of the rest of the northern hemisphere. In North America it is found in fields, grasslands, and woodlands. It favors moist soil. It is one of the most eatable wild edibles in North America. Sheep sorrel grows from coast to coast, in Canada, in Mexico, and in fact it is equally at home in the wilderness and also in the front yard. Sheep sorrel likes sunny sites that are sparsely vegetated, especially sites where the soil consists of sand or gravel. It seems to have a real preference for acidic sites. This herb needs well-drained soil, moisture requirements of it prevents it from growing in arid areas. The right places to find it are old fields on sandy soil and sand pits, and naturally bare sites like steep slopes and banks. It’s as broad as barn door. All the parts of sheep sorrel like leaves, flowers, roots, and stems are usable. Its leaves and stems must be harvested in the spring or in the summer before the flowers form. Its roots are harvested in the fall .Essiac is a brand which uses Sheep sorrel leaves in its products such as Essiac Products, Essiac Capsules, Essiac, tonic and Essiac Pills. 

Health benefits of Sheep sorrel: Sheep sorrel gives a great number of vitamins and minerals, including about 60 milligrams of vitamin C in a cup of chopped leaves and more than 5,000 international units of vitamin A, also small amounts of several B vitamins in the same serving. This herb also has calcium, with about 60 milligrams per cup, plus more than 500 milligrams of potassium, adding some magnesium, phosphorus and a small amount of zinc. Sheep sorrel contains a number of natural photochemical, like several flavonoids as quercetin. Lemony taste of sheep sorrel is because of Oxalic acid, a substance that gives the leaves a sour lemony taste. Sheep sorrel can be poisonous due to the oxalic acid content if taken in a large amount. It is also been considered that large consumption of sheep sorrel can cause dermatitis in some of the animals. A huge amount of oxalic acid can prevent the body from using important nutrients, such as calcium. While the plant is cooked, the oxalic acid content is decreases.