You might declare war on them in your backyard. They fight back, refusing to surrender the space they decide to take. They put others of their kind in a chokehold, with every intention of winning the battle. What are they? Weeds! These wild plants seem to grow wherever they choose. We realize they can be a nuisance, but they have another identity: medicine. When traveling, it’s important to take care of your health-you never know which weed might come in handy. Here are four impressive ones:

Dandelion Dare

Okay, this isn’t grade school, but we dare you to drink dandelion tea! Contrary to common belief, dandelion is not simply an unwanted flower with no use besides popping up in random places. Rather, dandelions are high in antioxidants A and E and have incredible healing properties. You can use the inside part of the flower to reduce inflammation.

Love for Lavender

Lavender is generally more popular than dandelions, perhaps because many people like its smell. But the reality is that lavender is indeed a weed – a lovely one. People often infuse towels, lotions, and hair products with lavender, but there is more to the plant than its scent. Lavender has a calming effect so powerful that it’s used to treat anxiety. It can also be used to help clear acne.

Weed Wonder

Whilst cannabis would struggle outside as a garden weed, its nickname earns it a place on this useful weeds list. Weed comes in so many strains, like purple ayahuasca, and each one has different properties. Some are grown to reduce anxiety, some are grown to improve sleep, whilst hemp varieties can be used to treat skin conditions and weave fabric. Some weed varieties are also used to make edibles like brownies. These edibles seem to be very popular and many tend to look at how to make cannabutter brownies with many available varieties of weed. Marijuana is almost the ultimate plant – it’s just a shame that it’s illegal to grow in most places, so you’ll have to find it online or in a pharmacy if you want it. For those who have the fortune of living in Canada for example, finding low price bud is now easier than ever before. What lucky Canadians!

Milkweed Mania

This weed has small purple flowers and has several healing properties. Like lavender, it can be used on the skin. The difference is that the sap from milkweed can combat warts, moles, and even ringworm. Milkweed can also soothe the stomach and kidneys. Be careful with milkweed, as some varieties are not safe for consumption. If you’re going to use this, learn to identify which ones are safe and which ones aren’t safe.

Goldenrod Goodness

This weed is another popular one. Many mistake goldenrod for ragweed, but in reality goldenrod has healing properties. People use this weed to reduce inflammation and take advantage of its anti-fungal properties. It can also be used to fight depression and stress. Goldenrod is far from rare with plenty to go around, so remember that you can use this natural treasure!

In George Washington Carver’s book, Fruits of Creation, he describes how he discovered many weeds and why they matter to us. As you travel, think about the simple “weeds” in your life and how they might be useful.