Eat Garlic Mustard for Virus Protection?

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) grows at the edge of woodlands, around gardens and anywhere the forest has been disturbed nearly all over the USA. Arborists, gardeners and others concerned about maintaining existing ecosystems consider garlic mustard dangerously invasive, fearing it will take over and push out native plants. They're not wrong to sound the alarm. In fact, recent research suggests that garlic mustard even hijacks the underground mycorrhizal fungi system to suit its needs at the expense of other plants. Pulling these weeds would be a service to the environment, some say.

After the first year, garlic mustard grows taller. The flowers, seeds,
leaves, stems and roots are all edible.

But before you remove garlic mustard from the yard, consider that it has a nutritional and medicinal track record spanning centuries. The entire plant may be eaten, leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, even the roots. The leaves taste very much like garlic with quite a bite of flavor and a familiar sulfurous, mustardy aroma. When cooking, garlic mustard works as a substitute when garlic cloves are in short supply or as a supplement to real garlic cloves. The whole plant can be put into a crock pot for seasoning beef, lamb and chicken. Or cut the fresh leaves and stems for a salad, or pesto, throw them in the juicer or use the dehydrator to make your own garlic mustard powder. Tear the leaves first to unleash the flavor on your palette - young leaves taste better.

Nutritionally, garlic mustard delivers Vitamin A, Vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients, and helps promote blood flow. As a staple in herbal medicine, garlic mustard gets the nod for natural treatment of respiratory conditions like asthma and skin irritations like eczema. It is known for its anti-bacterial abilities and as an anti-viral, may also offer protection against the corona virus, according to Dr. Eugene Zampieron, ND of Restorative Formulations.

If you get stuck in a government-imposed quarantine and vegetables get hard to find, or if you'd feel better with natural antiseptic support, take a stroll around the yard foraging for garlic mustard. The native plants may thank you, too.
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