The shoots of some species eaten as vegetables. Roots boiled and mixed with beeswax and fresh butter made a healing ointment. Roots plus iron, and yarn mordanted in iron gave a rich dark brown, black can also be obtained but this can depend on the size and age of the plant. Seeds used with wool mordanted with alum produce colours ranging from amber to oxblood red depending on how long the dye is boiled. If the seedheads are picked late only dull brown colours will be produced.
Whole plant is used.
Roots lifted in Autumn with yarn mordanted in iron produce black. If sorrel roots are used as a mordant a bluish colour will be made. Plant also used for tanning leather. Leaves used to make a gargle for sore throats, mouth ulcers and gum infections. As a drink it was used to treat heartburn and stomach ache.