****************************************************************************

   Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)

****************************************************************************

	Plant Family:
		Polygonaceae (Dock / Buckwheat family)

	Visual Description:
		Bright green, lance-shaped leaves with backward-pointing lobes at
		the leaf base (arrow-shaped). Sour, lemony flavor. Flower stalks
		form later with small reddish-green clusters.

	Edibility:
		YES. Tender leaves are edible raw or cooked. Classic soup green
		in many cuisines. Use moderation if oxalate-sensitive.

	Medicinal Uses:
		Traditionally used as a cooling, sour green and as a historical
		antiscorbutic (vitamin C support). Modern literature discusses
		antioxidant activity across the Rumex genus, alongside safety
		considerations related to oxalates.

	General Notes:
		Sorrel is best understood as food that acts like an herb. The
		distinct sourness comes largely from oxalic acid, which is why
		moderation and preparation context matter.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________


           ***********************************************
           ||____________HEAL THYSELF__________________||
           ***********************************************
+-------------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Ailment / When to Use         | Part Used          | Practical Preparation and Dose                | Why It Works                                  | Source |
+===============================+====================+===============================================+===============================================+========+
| Appetite stimulation; palate | Young leaves       | Chop into salads, soups, or dairy-based       | Sour taste stimulates salivation and           | [1]    |
| wake-up                       | (food)             | dishes as a lemon substitute.                 | digestive readiness.                          |        |
+-------------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Vitamin C support             | Fresh leaves       | Use as a spring green, raw or lightly cooked. | Provides vitamin C historically used in       | [2]    |
| (historical use)              | (food)             |                                               | antiscorbutic food plants.                    | [3]    |
+-------------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| General antioxidant support   | Leaves             | Eat as a regular seasonal green. Rotate with  | Rumex species contain polyphenols and          | [4]    |
| (food-first)                  | (food)             | other greens.                                 | antioxidants discussed in reviews.            |        |
+-------------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Mild topical tradition        | Fresh leaf         | If experimenting with a compress, patch test  | Traditional use exists, though modern          | [4]    |
| (cautious)                    |                    | first and discontinue if irritation occurs.  | evidence is limited.                          |        |
+-------------------------------+--------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+


           ***********************************************
           ||__________KEY CONSTITUENTS________________||
           ***********************************************
+---------------------------+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Constituent               | Approx. Amount (per 100 g)    | What It Does in the Body                      | Practical Notes                               | Source |
+===========================+===============================+===============================================+===============================================+========+
| Vitamin C                 | ~45 to 50 mg                  | Collagen formation, immune signaling,         | Higher in fresh leaves; reduced by cooking.  | [2]    |
|                           |                               | antioxidant defense.                          |                                               |        |
+---------------------------+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Oxalic acid (oxalates)    | High (variable)               | Binds minerals; contributes to sour taste.   | Excess intake may contribute to kidney stones | [5]    |
|                           |                               |                                               | in susceptible individuals.                  |        |
+---------------------------+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Potassium                 | ~390 mg                       | Electrolyte balance; nerve and muscle         | Common leafy-green mineral; supports          | [2]    |
|                           |                               | function.                                     | summer hydration logic.                       |        |
+---------------------------+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Magnesium                 | ~100 mg                       | Enzyme activity; muscle relaxation.           | Bioavailability may be reduced by oxalates.  | [2]    |
+---------------------------+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Polyphenols, flavonoids   | Present (varies)              | Antioxidant and cellular stress buffering.    | Discussed broadly across Rumex genus.         | [4]    |
+---------------------------+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Dietary fiber             | ~3 g                          | Digestive motility and microbiome support.    | Supportive, not medicinally aggressive.      | [2]    |
+---------------------------+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+


           ***********************************************
           ||________HEAL THY LAND & SOIL______________||
           ***********************************************
+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Land / Soil Issue             | How Sorrel Helps or Signals                   | Best Practice in the Field                    | Source |
+===============================+===============================================+===============================================+========+
| Perennial garden edges        | Hardy perennial that returns early with       | Harvest young leaves; cut flower stalks to    | [3]    |
|                               | reliable edible leaf growth.                  | promote leaf production.                     |        |
+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Disturbed or managed ground   | Presence often reflects mowing or management  | Treat as a management clue, not a nutrient    | [6]    |
|                               | patterns rather than soil deficiency.         | diagnosis.                                   |        |
+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+
| Pollinator support            | Flowering stalks provide food for insects     | Allow a patch to flower if ecology is the     | [4]    |
|                               | and seed for birds.                           | goal.                                        |        |
+-------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+--------+


	SOURCES:
		[1] ScienceDirect Topics - Sorrel overview
		    https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/sorrel
		[2] Aprifel - Sorrel nutritional sheet
		    https://www.aprifel.com/en/nutritional-sheet/sorrel/
		[3] Philadelphia Orchard Project - Sorrel info sheet
		    https://www.phillyorchards.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Sorrel-Info-Sheet.pdf
		[4] NIH / PMC - The genus Rumex review
		    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9203642/
		[5] Healthline - Sorrel and oxalate caution
		    https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sorrel-benefits
		[6] Wild Food Plants database - Rumex notes
		    https://wildfood.torrens.org/plants/R/Rumex/Rumex.html


___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________

   https://jesterscribe.net/Weeds/Sorrel