First came the deadnettle, then the chickweed, then the speedwell, and a short while ago I started noticing gill-over-the-ground, aka Glechoma hedercea. This plant is a mint, commonly referred to as creeping charlie or ground ivy. Emily, Meg and I tasted it out in the garden, and it was the first of all these herbs that Emily liked! It's minty and fresh, and the base of the little purple flowers are sugary sweet.
Gill-over-the-ground can be used as a vitamin C rich tea, eaten in salads, or used as a pot-herb. As a member of the mint family, it is an aromatic and anti-microbial herb. With it's hairy little leaves, it has been used to treat lung conditions and coughs. It is also known to be a blood purifier, act on the kidneys, and be a general tonic. It has been used as an anti-inflammatory and to treat ulcers. I've also read that it was used to clarify and flavor beer before hops. The juice of the plant is diuretic, astringent, and diaphoretic. It has also been used to treat eye irritation. This Culpepper person seems to think the plant is associated with Venus. I'd like to look more into the astrological aspects of plants.
Since this magical sort of stuff really gets me going, I'll also include that I read that ground ivy was used by milkmaids to ward against sorcery. For the first milking of the year, the cows would be adorned with wreaths of ground ivy. What a sight to see! Teas of ground ivy are meant to help the drinker overcome shyness, and if placed on the floors of a home the plant brings serenity and peaceful dreams.
AS A GROUNDCOVER, gill prevents soil erosion and attracts bees and butterflies. Katherine Turcott says in Susun Weed's ezine that if you mow it over, it will release it's aromatic scent, and grow right back.
Gill is sitting on my floor right now. I could sure use some peaceful dreams.
Resources
http://www.susunweed.com/herbal_ezine/February09/goddess.htm
http://www.altnature.com/gallery/Ground_Ivy.htm
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