Part 2

DIRECTIONS.--Take a handful of the flowers and leaves, and half the quantity of tanzy; make a good strong tea, and take a quantity on going to bed, if you can; if not, take it, but do not go out in the cold. The best time is bed time.

SINGLE-CELLED BERRY.

Grows in hedges, and along the road sides, in almost every part of America; flowers in July and August; the berry contains three irregular shaped seeds.

MEDICAL VIRTUES.--A decoction of the berries and roots, has been found most efficacious in curing dropsies.

PREPARATION.--Boil two ounces of the dry root, in two quarts of rain water, down to one half, and strain the liquor. In dropsy, a gill of the decoction must be taken morning and night. A gill of the juice made from the inner, or green bark, works powerfully, both upwards and downwards, and has frequently cured dropsies. One ounce of the inner bark, dried, and one ounce of the dry roots, may be boiled in four quarts of rain water, down to two quarts; a teacupful, taken three times a day, works powerfully as a diuretic, and is an excellent remedy in suppression of the urine.

DRAGON’S CLAW, OR FEVER ROOT.

This is a newly discovered plant, known to but few botanists in the United States. It rises six or seven feet; the leaves grow in a cluster from the root to the top; blossoms, yellow; roots, small and black, about the size of cloves, and very tender, very much resembling the claws of an animal, and so full of nitre that the powder of the root, if kept in the open air, will liquify.

HISTORY.--This plant grows upon mountains and the sides of hills, in the Genesee country, and about Albany: the leaves ovate, and are two or three inches long.

MEDICAL VIRTUES.--It is a powerful febrifuge, and I have found it a sure and quick medicine in exciting perspiration, without increasing the heat of the body. The root is effectual in all remittent, typhus, and nervous fevers, and will relieve the patient of all pains caused by colds.

PREPARATION.--After prescribing a mild puke of the American ipecacuanha, and the physic has done working, I give one or two ounces of the root, to be put into two quarts of rain water, and boiled down to one, and giving the patient, in bed, a teacupful of the strained liquor every hour, which causes a plentiful perspiration, and generally stops the fever in a few hours. The night-hectic fever, in a consumptive patient, I have relieved by the above treatment. It is an excellent medicine in pleurisy, and a sure remedy in erysipelatose fever.

Pulverize the root, sift the powder through a fine hair sieve, and put it in bottles, well stopped from the air. A teaspoonful of this powder may be taken every two hours, in a teacupful of black snakeroot tea, in order to raise a speedy diaphoresis, or perspiration, in pleurisies and fever, when they are violent.

BLACK ALDER

Rises to the height of a small tree, and is much branched towards the top; the young shoots are full of pith--the old ones empty; the leaves are pinnated, consisting of two or three pair, with an odd one at the end; flowers, sweet smelling, white, and produced on large, flat umbels, or clusters. The fruit is a round, succulent berry, of a blackish purple color, and contains three seeds.

HISTORY.--This tree grows in hedges and clumps, along the borders of meadows or flats, in every part of the United States; flowers in July, and the berries are ripe in September.

MEDICAL VIRTUES.--An infusion, in wine, of the inner bark of the trunk, or the expressed juice of the berries, in a dose of an ounce, will purge moderately, and, taken in small doses,--say a teaspoonful every hour,--proves an efficacious diabetruent, capable of promoting and assisting all the fluid secretions. The following is a good medicine in families, for the cure of recent colds and coughs:—

Take of the juice of elderberries, strained, ten pounds, and add three pounds of loaf sugar; evaporate in a bake pan, over a slow fire, into the consistence of thick honey. A tablespoonful or two may be taken at bed time; and two teaspoonsful, for children, in coughs and costiveness, will prove effectual. taking a teaspoonful or two every hour.

In erysipelatosed fever, a teacupful of the infusion of dry flowers, (made by pouring a quart of boiling water on a handful of the flowers,) may be taken every hour, and the parts wet with the following wash:--Boil four ounces of beech drops, in four quarts of rain water, down to one half; strain the decoction, and add to it a teaspoonful of sugar of lead. The face and arms may be wet with a linen rag, dipped in this lotion, four or five times a day, which never fails to cure, after necessary evacuations.

The above is also very good for children having the whooping cough, by

SOUTHERN WOOD, OR OLD MAN.

There are few who are ignorant of the existence of this plant, or unacquainted with its aromatic fragrance. It is to be found in almost every garden; flowers of a lilac-tinged, grayish color.

MEDICAL PROPERTIES.--There are very few who really know how useful this plant is. It is stimulant, sudorific, antiseptic, anti-hysterical, and, I consider it, a great nervine. It is an excellent remedy for the headache, and to check a too profuse flow of the menses; is also good for worms.

BLACK MUSTARD SEED.

Take a handful, pound and mix with rye meal; good for pains in the chest, or elsewhere. Mix with water only; put the poultice on the soles of the feet.

WHITE MUSTARD SEED.

Very little known; it is a valuable medicine,--simple and efficacious in all cases where the stomach is weakened by taking too much medicine; it creates warmth in the stomach, that is, it expels wind and removes that cold mucous from the stomach, assisting the digestive organs in their functions, and creates a regular appetite. I have found it good for worms.

DIRECTIONS.--Take two large tablespoonsful of seeds, clean and free from dirt, and put them into a half teacupful of spearmint tea; take a teaspoonful morning, noon, and bed time. Keep the decoction covered close, and should they become dry, add more tea. You must not chew them, but swallow them whole. Follow this treatment for fifteen days in succession. Give less to a child, in proportion to age and constitution, sweetened with sugar or molasses.

CATNIP.

Notwithstanding this plant is but little thought of in regular practice, it is a very valuable herb. I have used it, with motherwort, for menstruation, and found it gave relief instantly, especially where they were swollen or bloated. I have often used it successfully in treating children in cases of fits, caused by worms. Make a half pint of strong, catnip tea, add an even teaspoonful of fine salt, two or three tablespoonsful of molasses, one tablespoonful of sweet oil, or hog’s lard; inject two-thirds of it, and keep it up ten or fifteen minutes, which may be done by compressing the parts with the hand. It will bring away the super-abundance of mucous slime which, in such cases, collects on the internal surface of the intestinal canal.

Catnip tea is very useful in fevers, producing perspiration without increasing the heat of the body; it is also an excellent remedy in spasmodic affections. I have used it instead of pennyroyal for an emetic; but I prefer pennyroyal in all cases where a vegetable emetic is to be given.

GARDEN LEAK.

Though having a very offensive smell, is good for the gravel and all diseases of the urinary organs.

JACOB’S LADDER.

Good for retention of the urine, pain in the back, loins, &c.; can be taken as a tea.

UVA URSA LEAVES

Are excellent for consumptive persons, and, I would say, drink plentifully of the tea, by steeping it well; add a little licorice root.

SPEARMINT

Is a native of the States. It is warming and exhilarating in its nature, and has all the properties of the peppermint, but works more on the kidneys, and causes a copious flow of urine and perspiration.

MASTERWORT.

The roots and seeds are aromatic, expectorant and laxative; they are good to promote menstrual discharge. I can highly recommend it to all who are troubled with cholic and flatulent disorders; it helps digestion, and warms the stomach.

MARSH ROSE MOSS.

This I have used successfully in cases of gleet and gonorrhœa; use a decoction made from the roots.

SUCCORY.

This plant grows wild, and is generally found in pastures; has long leaves, with a rib down the middle; very bitter. The wild succory is the strongest, and I generally prefer it in my practice. It is laxative, and excellent in fevers, cutaneous eruptions, and weak bowels.

BLACK SNAKE ROOT.

This root is diaphoretic, very warming, and promotes perspiration; in a word, it is a strengthening cordial for all feeble persons. Steep it and sweeten with sugar; good as a drink in all fevers; its use will prevent mortification in a fractured limb.

WILD POPLAR BARK.

A great tonic, as well as a pleasant bitter; valuable, and far superior to peruvian bark for intermittent fever. Take it when the fever is off.

Put a handful of the inner bark in a quart of luke-warm water, and let it stand a few hours; take a wineglassful in the morning, at noon, and at bed time.

DANDELION.

The roots and leaves are opening, cleansing the liver and gall; it opens all the secretions of the viscera, cleanses the blood, and is good in fevers and general debility.

VERVAIN.

This herb is good for headaches. Steep in good vinegar, and bind on externally.

CROSSWORT.

This herb is excellent in all bowel complaints, and is a good drink with your meals. The Shakers use this instead of tea and coffee; it makes a very pleasant drink when made weak; boil, or steep it in hot water, ten minutes, in order to make it palatable.

FUMITORY

Is an excellent herb, and makes a good, pleasant tea; is cooling; good for humors, and all cutaneous eruptions of the skin.

QUEEN OF THE MEADOW.

Leaves and flowers possess the same virtues. It is very seldom used by females in the United States. This herb should be in every collection; an excellent regulator in all urinary difficulties, where the evacuations are scant, or too profuse; strengthens the kidneys and bladder.

BITTER ROOT, OR AMERICAN IPECACUANHA.

Grows in wood bogs, and on low, sandy land; is emetic, and an excellent hydragogue, causing the water to pass off freely; is diaphoretic, possessing the same virtues as the English Ipecacuanha, but I prefer it as it is rather milder. It is the bitterest root we have it Botany. In another part of this book may be found a recipe for making the tincture. When properly administered, it is good in almost all ailments.

LOBELIA,

Sometimes called “emetic weed,” or “Indian tobacco.” I have used this herb with success; not sufficient to cause vomiting, but merely to loosen the phlegm and the gall cakes, or gall stones, which are formed by inward heat. It will act as an emetic and diaphoretic, but always have some balsamic herb with it, when used as such.

I have found it excellent in asthmas, whooping cough, and phthisic. Take the seeds, mandrake root, and blood root, equal parts of each, say 2 oz., and put them into a quart of good rum or whiskey; add a teaspoonful of coriander seeds, pulverized fine; let them stand ten hours near the fire, shaking often; give a half teaspoonful in sweetened water; give six to ten drops to a child having the rattles, or croup; it will loosen colds immediately, and act beneficially on the whole system. Keep this herb always at hand; do not be afraid of it; give a little at a time, until relieved; I have saved the lives of hundreds with it. In severe cases, put boiled, or bruised onions on the soles of the feet, and, likewise, take a half teaspoonful of spirits turpentine, added to a tablespoonful of goose grease, or hen’s oil, and rub it in briskly between the shoulders and on the breast; repeat often if necessary, but this will not be required except in very severe cases. Lobelia is also good to smoke for asthma.

RED RASPBERRY.

The leaves are the only part of this that is used in practice, although the berries are very healthy in their season. I have used the leaves in combination with those of mullen, for canker, dysentery, diarrhœa, and sore mouth, both in adults and babes; it heals and removes all canker from the bowels. Let the patient drink plentifully of it.

HOPS.

Narcotic, but very useful in poultices; they are good for pain in the bowels and intestines, and in falling of the womb. Steep hops in whiskey, heat them hot, and spread on a cotton cloth, sprinkle on a little black pepper, and apply to the abdomen. Drink a strong tea made of hops, at bed time, for nine nights in succession. A pillow made of hops is excellent for persons having weak nerves, and is far healthier than feathers; so, also, is sweet fern.

MAIDEN HAIR.

This herb is pectoral and vermifuge; an excellent remedy in coughs, and for all female complaints,--general debility, &c. For a cough, take a handful, the same of upper mullen leaves, a half handful hoarhound, three cents’ worth licorice; put these into one quart of water and boil six minutes, then strain, adding two teaspoonsful cider vinegar and half pound of honey. Take a tablespoonful every time the cough is troublesome.

HUCKLEBERRY, OR WHORTLEBERRY.

This berry is very beneficial in retention of the urine, and derangements of the kidneys and bladder. Make a tea of it, and use as occasion requires.

FIR BALSAM.

This balsam grows mostly in Maine. I can highly recommend it in coughs, for which take a little on sugar. For sore breast, anoint the nipples every night on going to bed, or, it may be used during the day, though I prefer the former. It is good for all kinds of sores, and may be used internally and externally, without danger, being simple and efficacious.

CAMOMILE.

For pain in the side, take the flowers, pulverize, and mix with honey and sweet oil; good in agues, swellings, shrunk sinews, and in colic, jaundice, bilious colic, and gravel.

CARROT SEED.

Good for wind, and as an assister in monthly courses. The leaves, pounded, are good for sores and ulcers; the juice of the root is excellent in salves, as it is both cleansing and healing.

CARAWAY SEED.

May be effectually used for retention of urine, and for wind; also, in poultices for bruises.

CELANDINE.

Boil in rain water until the strength is out, then mix with old rum, is excellent for sore eyes; for film on the eye, make a salve with it and fresh butter; or, the juice may be squeezed into the eye, and for the same purpose, it can be mixed with breast milk.

A decoction, in wine, is good for jaundice; the root is good for dropsy, and when powdered and put into a hollow tooth will stop the toothache. The leaves, made into a tea, are good for a sweat, to be taken on going to bed; for a fever, if taken in its early stages, and as a component part in ointments.

PILLWORT.

This is a smaller species of Celandine and is highly recommended as a wash, or ointment, for king’s evil.

CRANESBILL.

Excellent for bilious colic, gravel, and soreness of the stomach and lungs. The leaves, pounded and scalded, are good to cleanse and heal sores and fresh wounds; and wet in rum or hot vinegar, makes a good outward application for rheumatism.

DWARF ALDER.

A tea, made of the inner or middle bark, is good for dropsy, for coughs, and for affections of chest and lungs. The leaves are good for inflammation of the eyes. The juice of the berry, boiled in honey, and a few drops put in the ear, will stop the earache or headache. A tea, made from the roots, will assist the monthly courses, and remove obstructions; is also good to bathe the head when affected by cold. A tea, made from the blossoms, I recommend in retention of urine, for the piles, and to cleanse the blood. Striping the bark _up_, it will act as an emetic,—_down_, as a physic.

SLIPPERY ELM.

The bark from the root, scraped fine, relieves swellings, inflammations, and contracted sinews; the root should be boiled some hours, skimmed and allowed to cool. A poultice, made of the bark from the root, boiled one hour and strained, is good for bald head, and will make the hair grow; also, an excellent application for burns, scalds, and inflammations, inwardly or outwardly.

ELECAMPANE.

This is one of the best roots we have in coughs and consumption, or phthisic, when used as a syrup. It is good for the teeth, preventing their aching and decaying; good as an ointment for the itch, and, used with tobacco, is good for all kinds of sores. The tops, made into beer, are good for the sight, cramps, convulsions, spitting of blood, &c.

WHITE BRYONY.

DESCRIPTION.--The stem of this plant twists around bushes, shrubs and trees, and shoots out to a great extent; its tendril leaves are very large, diminishing gradually to the top one; palmated lobes, pointed irregularly, and standing upon long foot-stalks; flowers of a yellow green, male and female, and from the alaæ of the leaves, which are striped with green veins, turns into a red berry. It grows in low meadows and swamps; the roots are white and large.

MEDICAL PROPERTIES.--The root is a powerful drastic purgative; it was formerly much used by the celebrated Dr. Sydenham as a hydragogue purge in dropsies.

DIRECTIONS.--In all dropsical swellings and suppressions of urine, the patient may take 2 to 3 drachms, which will work sufficient without griping; take soup as a drink.

VIRGIN’S BOWER.

This plant rises about two feet in hight; the petals white; the seeds are attached to their stamens, giving them the appearance of feathered tails.

MILK, OR SILK WEED.

This has a square stalk, and rises three feet in hight; flowers yellow, which terminate in a pod.

MEDICAL VIRTUES.--The root has been found effectual in the cure of dropsy. I have used it with success in all dropsical cases.

MILKWEED

Is also an excellent vermifuge for children. I have found it good in catarrhal, cachectic, scrofulous and rheumatic disorders.

PREPARATION.--You can steep it as a tea; (I only use the roots) make it strong, according to age. When it is used for suppression of the urine, drink plentifully; if for worms, give it night and morning to children, sweetened with molasses.

SASSAFRAS BARK.

This is well known to all mankind, and grows plentifully in the United States. I would say, as to the medical virtues of this bark, it is Sudorific, diuretic, warming and stimulating, and very little should be used at a time. There are very many who chew it for a sweet breath, but it injures the habits, therefore be careful, use it for it is good, and take a little at a time, and not too much; it cleanses the blood.

SARSAPARILLA ROOT.

This root is so well known to every individual that I deem it little to the purpose to say much about it; it is alterative in its properties, and more dependence has been put on its virtues than really could be relied on as a cure; but mixed with other roots of the same virtues, has always been found by me the best for all tumors, scrofulas, or venereal diseases. I think snakehead, or fisherworth, can be relied on for more virtue than sarsaparilla; but even if you have confidence in this root alone, I say make a decoction, or tea from it, strong. I prefer our own American sarsaparilla to the Spanish, and as a rule, prefer all roots, barks, berries, &c., from our own native soil.

MAY WEED.

This weed is well known to all; it resembles camomile, and is called by some, wild camomile. It has a very disagreeable smell and taste; although little used in practice, I consider it very useful in dysenteries or chronic disorders; it will instantly give relief in bloody flux and flooding; is Sudorific. If you have a case, and need a good sweat, drink a pint of tea made by steeping the weed.

CANADA SNAKE ROOT.

Very heating; has a beautiful smell; is stimulating, and excellent for the aged, and for all persons of cold or phlegmatic temperaments.

COHOSH ROOT.

There are four kinds of cohosh,--white, blue, red and black,--all possessing the same virtues. They are all diobstruents, sedative and tonic. As a general medicine for females, use the white and blue; the black, years past, was considered a great remedy for rheumatism, and I have found it so myself. Take equal parts of cohosh and prickley ash, and a very little mandrake, is good for aged persons.

BETH, OR PAPPOOSE ROOT.

This root is generally known; is good in falling of the womb, and troubles in the ovaries. Add it in every syrup you make for diseases of females.

SWEET FERN,

Boiled in milk, is good for the dysentery and rickets.

NETTLES.

A tea made of nettles relieves stich in the side and back.

BLOOD ROOT, OR DRAGON’S CLAW.

This is one of the most useful roots we have, and no one should be without it; it is emetic, cathartic, pectoral and sudorific; in fact, it possesses many virtues; it will cure all internal and external ulcers.

BURDOCK ROOT.

The roots and tops are of the same medical properties, although we use the roots more in syrups than the leaves. The roots I consider of a cleansing and detergent quality, promotes sweat, is good in almost all syrups, and more especially for females in the decline of life.

INDIAN TURNIP.

This root is very acrid, pungent and heating; it promotes the watery excretions; its use quickens the circulation in individuals of cold or phlegmatic habits. For a cough, take a tablespoonful of the root, pulverized, to which add two tablespoonsful of pulverized loaf sugar, and a teaspoonful of flour of sulphur; mix well together, and put it into a jar, covered close. Take half teaspoonful five times a day. This will cure your cough, and quicken the action of the digestive organs. Take a green piece of this root, mixed with blue flag, pound them both together, and it will cure a fellon, on the finger or elsewhere. Apply three times.

UNICORN ROOT.

It grows on the side of mountains and frequently in swamps; I have found it very strengthening in all female weaknesses. Combined with white cohosh, an ounce of each, put into one quart of wine, I have found good for hysteria cholic. Take half a wine glass full at morning and at bed time.

SNAKEWEED.

This is certainly the most astringent that grows. Great care must be taken when using it, and give a cathartic if it proves too binding. It can be used with honey as a wash for sore mouths.

POKE ROOT, OR PIGEON BERRY.

Few country people are unacquainted with this root. Many persons use it for greens in the spring. Every one should be prudent, and not use it too freely as it is emetic and cathartic; it will vomit severely when taken in large doses, but when used with moderation it will purify the blood, and is an excellent remedy for inflammatory rheumatism, for which cut the root into slices and apply it on all parts of the body which are affected. For internal use, take one quart of the berries and half an ounce of mandrake root, in two quarts of whiskey, and add two ounces of prickley ash bark; drink a wine glass full in the same quantity of cold water, mornings and at bed time; begin with half a wine glass at first. It will be found good for males or females. In hysterics or fits, it will give instant relief.

SCOKE ROOT.

This root is very different from poke root, and grows in swamps; is very hard to dig, and is called by some white hellebore; is a great nervine. I have known many put it into snuff, but it is very harsh; it has been used by many in case of mania, but as I do not recommend any poisons, would say to all, let it alone. If you have the seven years’ itch, you may add a little of it to the following wash: Take 2 ounces of pulverized blood root, in 2 quarts of best cider vinegar, and add quarter of an ounce of scoke root; shake well, and wash all over at bed time. Let this wash stand near the fire for several days before using it, shaking it frequently. When too thick, add more vinegar. Do not shake it when you wash with it, but turn it off clear.

WATER FENNEL.