Chapter 53

ELECAMPANE. Inula Helenium.

Internally, used for.--For sweating, expectorant, bronchitis, dyspepsia and dysmenorrhea.

Part used.--Root of the second year.

Gather.--Autumn.

Flowers (when).--In July and August.

Grows (where).--In Europe and Japan. Cultivated in United States and grows in moist places and about houses. Prepared (how).--Use half ounce of the powdered root to a pint of boiling water and boil to make a decoction.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--For bronchitis, dyspepsia and dysmenorrhea, take half ounce doses four times daily. For sweating and painful menses take two teaspoonfuls of the hot decoction every two hours until relieved.

FLEABANE. Pridewood. Blood Staunch. Mare's Tail. Colt's Tail. Fireweeds. Erigeron Canadensis.

Internally, used for.--Diarrhea, dysentery, gravel, painful urination, piles, bleeding from the womb and bowels.

Part used.--The whole plant.

Gather.--Collect while in flower.

Flowers (when).--July and August.

Grows (where).--In United States and Canada. In fields and meadows, by roadsides, etc.

Prepared (how).--Powder, oil and infusion. To make infusion, use one ounce to pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--The infusion, one to two ounces, should be used three or four times daily; powder, ten to twenty grains, the same. The oil is more effective in bleeding and dysentery and bleeding piles. Oil is very good, in doses of one to five drops every three hours for acute diseases, or three times a day for chronic cases. Put on sugar.

GARLIC. Allium Sativum.

Internally, used for.--Nervous children, coughs, colds, hoarseness, worms, croup, nervous vomiting.

[424 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Externally, used for.--Poultice.

Part used.--The bulb.

Gather.--When ripe.

Grows (where).--Native of Asia and Egypt; now cultivated.

Prepared (how).--Juice, syrup, powder, or may be taken whole. Juice or syrup is the best form.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--For coughs, bronchitis and worms, should be taken five times daily; croup, every half hour for a few doses. Nervous cough and vomiting only a few doses. Local.--Bruise bulbs and apply warm as a poultice in bronchitis, croup and tumors. For retention of urine, place a poultice in the perineum or over bladder on the abdomen. Dose of juice, twenty to thirty drops. Dose of syrup, ten drops to one teaspoon; this is very destructive to round worm.

GENTIAN. Gentiana Lutea.

Internally, used for.--Tonic appetizer, dyspepsia, ammenorrhea.

Part used.--Root used and imported. Grows (where).--In the Alps.

Prepared (how).--Powder, tincture and infusion. To make infusion, use one ounce of the root to a pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of powder, ten to twenty grains. Tincture, one teaspoonful. Infusion, one to two ounces. Taken before meals for dyspepsia and loss of appetite. It should not be taken when the stomach is irritable. It is a good bitter tonic.

GINSENG.--Red Berry. Five Fingers. Panax Quinquefolium.

Internally, used for.--Gravel, general weakness, poor appetite.

Part used.--Root.

Flowers (when).--In May.

Grows (where).--In United States, in rich soil and in shady places.

Prepared (how).--Powder. Infusion is made by adding one ounce to a pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--It should be taken three or four times a day for gravel or general weakness. As an appetizer it should be taken before meals. Dose of powder, ten to sixty grains. Dose of infusion, one to three ounces.

GINGER. Zingiber Officinale.

Internally, used for.--To increase gastric juice secretions, stimulating tonic, diarrhea, dysentery, flatulency, cramps and nausea.

Externally, used for.--Ulcers.

Grows (where).--Native of Asia.

Prepared (how).--Powder. Infusion made by adding half ounce of the powdered or bruised root to a pint of boiling water.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 425]

Diseases, Dose, etc.--For diarrhea, dysentery and cholera infantum, mix it with rhubarb, equal parts, or take alone. If with rhubarb it should be stopped if it becomes too laxative. Used alone for want of tone of stomach, flatulency, cramps and colic. It tones up the stomach and bowels temporarily, but should not be used long or frequently. Dose of powder, ten to twenty grains. Dose of infusion, one to two ounces.

GOLDEN SEAL. Orange Root. Yellow Puccoon. Ground Raspberry. Turmeric Root. Hydrastis Canadensis.

Internally, used for.--Tonic in dyspepsia, chronic stomach and bowel trouble. Torpid liver, sore mouth; gonorrhea (injection), leucorrhea, gleet.

Part used.--The root.

Gather.--In autumn.

Flowers (when).--In May or June.

Grows (where).--United States and Canada.

Prepared (how).--Powder, infusion, tincture, fluid extract. Use half ounce of root to a pint of boiling water for infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Of the powder, five to ten grains; of infusion, one ounce; of tincture, half to one teaspoonful and of fluid extract, five to twenty drops. When it is called for, the tongue is generally coated whitish; it will soon clear that. Diarrhea, etc., due to stomach and bowel troubles are benefited by it. Two parts of the decoction of golden seal and one of cranesbill used as an injection is good for gonorrhea, gleet, and leucorrhea. Same is good for chronic cystitis. If too strong, weaken it. Good in this form, mixed with cranesbill, for diarrhea and dysentery; taken in two teaspoonful doses every three hours.

GRAVEL PLANT. Gravel-Weed. Mountain Pink. Ground Laurel. May Flower. Trailing Arbutus. Epigea Repens.

Internally, used for.--Gravel and irritable bladder, causes more urine to flow, just as buchu does.

Part used.--The leaves.

Gather.--In summer.

Flowers (when).--Appear in April and May.

Grows (where).--Canada and United States, on sides of hills with northern exposure.

Prepared (how).--Infusion, and fluid extract which can be bought. Use one ounce of the leaves to one pint of boiling water and let it steep to make an infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose: One to two teaspoonfuls. For gravel, take one teaspoonful every three hours. For irritable bladder take half teaspoonful every three hours.

[426 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

HOPS. Humulus Lupulus.

Internally, used for.--Nervousness, sleeplessness, hysteria, in afterpains, to prevent chordee.

Externally, used for.--Used as a fomentation in many inflammatory diseases.

Part used.--Cones.

Gather.--In the fall or when fully ripe.

Grows (where).--Native of North America and Europe.

Prepared (how).--Infusion, tincture and fluid extract lupulin.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of infusion, two to four ounces; tincture one to four drams. Fluid extract, five to twenty drops. For nervous troubles, take one ounce of the infusion, or one dram tincture, every hour or two until quiet; same for sleeplessness. In delirium tremens, infusion drank with some red pepper in it settles the stomach and quiets the craving for drink. Following is good for chordee, etc.:

Lupulin 1 dram. Camphor monobromate 1 dram. Cocoa Butter, sufficient.

Make twelve suppositories and insert one in rectum every three or four hours. Take at the same time, the infusion or tincture every two or three hours. Fomentations are good in pleurisy and many other inflammations. Inhale steam in throat and chest troubles.

HORSE CHESTNUT. Aesculus Hippocastanum.

Internally, used for.--Rheumatism. Used especially for piles.

Part used.--Bark and fruit which contains tannin.

Gather.--Late autumn.

Flowers (when).--In May and June, and fruit ripens late in autumn.

Grows (where).--Native of Asia. Naturalized here.

Prepared (how).--Powder of the rind of the root or powdered fruit. Decoction made of the bark by using one and one-half ounces to a pint of water and boiling.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose: For rheumatism two ounces, three times a day. For piles, make an ointment of the powdered nut and apply. This is very good.

HOARHOUND. White Hoarhound. Marrubium Vulgare.

Internally, used for.--Coughs, colds, bronchitis, chronic asthma, sweating, hoarseness.

Part used.--Whole herb.

Gather.--When fresh.

Grows (where).--Naturalized in United. States. Grows in dry sandy fields, waste grounds, roadsides; etc.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 427]

Prepared (how).--Infusion hot and cold by adding one ounce to pint of water; fluid extract.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of infusion, two to four ounces; fluid extract, one to two teaspoonfuls. A syrup is also made; dose, two ounces. Infusion used hot for sweating, freely and often; cold and chest troubles about every two to four hours; or use fluid extract. The hot infusion should be used in asthma, amenorrhea, and hoarseness.

JUNIPER. Juniper Communis.

Internally, used for.--Dropsy, and to increase flow of urine in kidney troubles.

Part used.--Berries.

Gather.--August.

Flowers (when).--In May and June and ripe in August.

Grows (where).--Grows in United States and Canada, in dry woods and hills.

Prepared (how).--In infusion or oil. For infusion, use one ounce of the berries to a pint of boiling water. It can be made more effective by adding half ounce of cream of tartar to the infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--It should be used within the twenty-four hours for above troubles, dropsy, etc. The oil can be bought and used in doses of five to twenty drops, three or four times a day.

LADY'S SLIPPER. American Valerian. Yellow Umbel. Nerve Root. Yellow Moccasin Flower. Noah's Ark. Cypripedium Pubescens. Internally, used for.--Hysteria, chorea, nervous headache, nervousness, delirium, hypochondria.

Part used.--The root.

Gather.--In autumn, cleanse from dirt and dry in the shade. Virtue impaired by boiling.

Flowers (when).--In May and June.

Grows (where).--Most parts of United States in rich woods and meadows.

Prepared (how).--In infusion, powder and tincture.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of powder, thirty to sixty grains in hot water. Tincture, one to two teaspoonfuls. Infusion, one to four ounces. For chronic cases large doses three or four times daily. For acute cases half as much every two or three hours. For nervous headache two doses, half hour apart. Following is a good preparation for nervous or sick headache: catnip, scullcap and lady's slipper, in powder, of each one-half ounce. Pour on a pint of boiling water and steep for fifteen minutes, and take half ounce every half hour, for three or four hours.

[428 MOTHERS' REMIEDIES]

LIFE ROOT. Rag Wort. Squaw Weed. Female Regulator. Senecio Gracilis.

Internally, used for.--Mainly for menstrual disorders, when suppressed or too profuse, dysmenorrhea.

Part used.--Root and herb.

Gather.--In autumn.

Flowers (when).--May or June.

Grows (where).--Northern and western United States on banks of creeks and in low marshy grounds.

Prepared (how).--In infusion, by adding half ounce to a pint of boiling water and let steep and take throughout twenty-four hours. Take four or five days before menstruation is expected.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--For amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea it may be combined in equal parts with savin and wild ginger, and take one to two ounces four times a day some days before menstruation. In menorrhagia--too much flow--cinnamon and raspberry leaves can be combined with it. Dose, two to four ounces four times a day.

LOBELIA. Wild or Indian Tobacco. Emetic Herb. Puke Weed. Asthma Weed. Lobelia Inflata.

Internally, used for.--Asthma, emetic for croup (but very weakening), and lung diseases.

Part used.--Leaves and seeds. Dry carefully in the shade. Keep whole or powdered.

Gather.--August or September.

Flowers (when).--July to September.

Grows (where).--Very common, growing in fields and roadsides.

Prepared (how).--As an infusion, one ounce to pint of water, steeped; also tincture.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of the tincture, five to ten drops. Infusion, one to two teaspoonfuls. It should not be used strong enough to produce vomiting, as it is too weakening. In small doses and given often in infusion it produces sweating and relaxation of the tissues, thus helping in asthma and lung diseases; For asthma, dose:--Ten drops of tincture every ten minutes at the onset until better or until there is a little nausea, and then lengthen the interval.

MAIDENHAIR. Adiantum Pedatum.

Internally, used for.--Expectorant, tonic and cooling uses; in fevers, erysipelas, and pleurisy, coughs, hoarseness, influenza.

Part used.--Part above the ground.

Gather.--In autumn. Grows (where).--In United States in deep woods, on moist rich soil.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 429]

Prepared (how).--As a decoction or syrup. Take an ounce of the herb to a pint of boiling water and boil to make a decoction.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Use freely. For feverish conditions use one to two ounces every two hours. In coughs and hoarseness, take four to five times daily. For influenza and pleurisy enough to produce perspiration.

MANDRAKE. May Apple. Wild Lemon. Indian Apple. Raccoon Berry. Podophyllum Peltatum.

Internally, used for.--A cathartic, alterative action in liver troubles in chronic hepatitis; in blood diseases as syphilis, rheumatism; clears liver; for constipation.

Part used.--Root.

Gather.--In autumn soon after fruit has ripened.

Flowers (when).--May and June and fruit ripens in September.

Grows (where).--In all parts of the United States, in damp and shady woods and sometimes in dry and exposed places.

Prepared (how).--In powder and tincture. To make tincture: Gather the fresh root before the fruit is ripe, chop and pound to a pulp, and weigh. Then take two parts of alcohol by weight, mix the pulp thoroughly with one-sixth of the alcohol and then add the rest of the alcohol. Stir all, pour into a well stoppered bottle, let stand eight days, in a cool place. Pour off, strain, filter.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--The resin, called podophyllin, can be obtained, and is used in one-fourth to one-eighth grain as a laxative; one-sixteenth of a grain can be taken four times a day for chronic liver trouble. Take ten drops of tincture four times a day for chronic diseases. Some can take more. For blood diseases., rheumatism, etc.

MARSHMALLOW. Mortification Root. Altheae Officinalis.

Internally, used for.--Hoarseness, gonorrhea, irritated bladder, acute dysentery, and diarrhea, blood in urine and gravel.

Externally, used for.--Poultice for painful swellings, bruises, scalds, burns, poisons.

Part used.--Root.

Gather.--Autumn.

Flowers (when).--July to September.

Grows (where).--Europe and this country.

Prepared (how).--Poultice; cut up finely and apply hot. Decoction half ounce to two pints of boiling water and boil down to one pint.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Take one to three ounces four times a day for chronic diseases, and one ounce every two hours for acute troubles mentioned above. It is a mild soothing drink and medicine.

[430 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

MARIGOLD. Calendula Officinalis.

Externally, used.--As a local remedy for cuts and wounds, applied constantly, it is the best remedy I know.

Part used.--Leaves and flowers.

Gather.--When in full bloom.

Grows (where).--Well-known garden plant.

Prepared (how).--Make a tincture of the flowers and leaves, or buy it. To make tincture: Take the fresh leaves at the top of the plant with the blossoms and buds, chop and pound to a pulp, enclose in a piece of new linen and press. Shake the expressed juice, with an equal part of alcohol by weight, allow it to stand eight days in a well stoppered bottle, in a dark cool place and then filter.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Use freely on clean linen or gauze on wounds, cuts, etc.

MILKWEED. Also called Silkweed. Asclepias Syriaca.

Internally, used for.--Dropsy, retention of urine, scrofulous and rheumatic troubles.

Part used.--Root. Plant gives out a milky juice when wounded.

Gather.--In autumn.

Flowers (when).--July and August.

Grows (where).--Common in United States and grows in sandy fields, on the roadsides and on bank of streams.

Prepared (how).--Powder, decoction and tincture. Decoction is made by using three ounces of the root to one quart of water, and boil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Take as directed four times a day. Dose of tincture, ten to thirty drops four times a day. Can be bought. Dose, of the powder, ten to twenty grains. Decoction, two to four ounces.

MOTHERWORT. Leonurus Cardiaca.

Internally, used for.--Menstrual disorders, nervousness, cramps, amenorrhea from colds, suppressed lochia, hysteria, pains peculiar to women, disturbed sleep.

Externally, used for.--Used as a fomentation over womb in dysmenorrhea.

Part used.--Tops and leaves.

Gather.--Early autumn.

Flowers (when).--May and September.

Grows (where).--In fields and pastures.

Prepared (how).--Decoctions, use two ounces of dried herb to a quart of water and boil down to a pint.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--One to two tablespoonfuls every two hours. Smaller doses can be used for nervous women every hour, and when there are painful menstruations, suppressed lochia, hysteria, sleeplessness, etc.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 431]

MUSTARD. Sinapis Alba.

Internally, used for.--As an emetic, condiment, hiccough.

Externally, used for.--Counter-irritation.

Part used.--The seeds or leaves.

Gather.--While fresh, so the leaves can also be used. Seeds when used should be ripe.

Grows (where).--Almost everywhere.

Prepared (how).--In many ways, poultices, plasters, etc.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Mustard leaves dampened with cold water are good for pleurodynia, lumbago, neuritis, cramps in legs, inflammations, croup, etc., applied locally. For apoplexy and convulsions, mustard poultices of the seeds to feet, and mustard foot baths, handful of ground mustard to hot water. Same is good in colds, sleeplessness, dysmenorrhea, headache. Mustard water is good for poisoning as an emetic. Hiccough: Teaspoonful of mustard in four ounces of boiling water, steep for twenty minutes, and take in four doses.

OAK BARK. (Red and White). Quercus Alba.

Internally, used for.--Leucorrhea, piles, diarrhea, sore throat and mouth.

Externally, used for.--Sores on man or beast.

Part used.--The bark; white oak is more astringent.

Prepared (how).--Decoction.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--This decoction is used as an injection in leucorrhea, piles and as a gargle in sore mouth, etc. Its astringent property is due to the tannic and gallic acid it contains.

ONION. Allium Cepa.

Internally, used for.--Coughs, catarrh, croup, laxative.

Externally, used for.--Poultice for boil, inflammation, earache, etc., raw and roasted and used locally.

Part used.--Bulb. It contains many constituents, such as citrate of lime, allyl sulphide, volatile oils, sulphur.

Gather.--In autumn.

Grows (where).--Native.

Prepared (how).--As a poultice, raw; when boiled volatile oil is cast off.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Juice mixed with sugar is good for colds, coughs, catarrh, croup, chronic bronchitis. Roasted Spanish onion is good, eaten at bedtime, as a laxative; fried in lard and applied locally it makes a splendid poultice. Roasted in coals it makes a good poultice for earache, toothache, sore throat and sore chest.

[432 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

PARSLEY. Rock Parsley. Petroselinum Sativum.

Internally, used for.--Dropsy, especially following scarlet fever, retained urine, painful urination, gonorrhea.

Externally, used for.--Seeds and leaves sprinkled on the hair, in powder, destroy vermin. Bruised leaves applied as a fomentation, cure the bites or stings of insects.

Part used.--Root, seeds and leaves.

Gather.--In autumn.

Grows (where).--Cultivated.

Prepared (how).--Infuse the whole plant, or a decoction can be made of the root and seeds.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Drink freely of the infusion or decoction. Dose, two to four ounces three times a day, or less dose and oftener. The oil can be bought and used, two to three drops three or four times, daily.

PARTRIDGE BERRY. Squaw Vine. Checker Berry. One Berry. Winter Clover. Deerberry. Mitchella Repens,

Internally, used for.--Dropsy, suppressed urine, tonic and alterative action on womb.

Externally, used for--Cure for sore nipples.

Part used.--The vine.

Gather.--During the season.

Flowers (when).--June and July.

Grows (where).--In United States and Canada; in dry woods, among hemlock timber and in swampy places.

Prepared (how).--Infusion, tincture, fluid extract, decoction. Infusion, one ounce to pint of boiling water. Tincture: chop fresh plant and pound to a pulp and weigh. Then take two parts, by weight, of alcohol; mix pulp with one-sixth part of it thoroughly and rest of alcohol added, stir all well, pour into a well stoppered bottle and let stand eight days in a dark cool place; pour off, strain and filter.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of tincture, one-half to one teaspoonful. For chronic diseases take one to two ounces of infusion four times a day. For suppressed urine take half ounce every two hours. Dose of infusion, from one to two ounces every three hours. To tone the womb and make labor easier, the Indians used to take it several weeks before confinement. For sore nipple: two ounces (fresh, if possible) and make a strong decoction in a pint of boiling water. Boil down thick and apply on nipple after each nursing.

PEACH TREE. Amygdalus Persica.

Internally, used for.--Constipation, tonic to the stomach and bowels, leucorrhea, worms, inflammation of stomach and bowels, irritable bladder. haematuria, dysentery.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 433]

Part used.--Leaves and kernels.

Gather.--When ripe.

Grows (where).--Cultivated.

Prepared (how).--By infusion; put ounce of leaves in one pint of cold water and let it steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--For inflammations take one tablespoonful of the cold infusion every hour or two. For bladder and urinary troubles and leucorrhea, put four ounces of the kernels in a quart of brandy; dose,--teaspoonful three or four times a day. For bowel troubles use half ounce of the flowers and half ounce of the kernels to a pint of water; boil to make a decoction and sweeten; dose,--teaspoonful occasionally, until relieved; for teething children and for worms use about five doses.

PENNYROYAL. Squaw Mint. Tickweed. Hedeoma Pulegoides.

Internally, used for.--Stimulant, sweating, menstrual troubles, suppressed lochia, suppressed menses, flatulent colic in children.

Part used.--The herb. Gather.--In fall. Flowers (when).--June to October.

Grows (where).--In dry sterile places in calcareous soils. In all parts of the United States, etc.

Prepared (how).--An infusion, one ounce to a pint of boiling water and only steep, not boil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Use infusion freely. Dose of oil two to five drops. For menstrual troubles, checked lochia and perspiration, take a hot foot bath in bed and drink freely of the tea until sweating occurs. It is frequently taken at bedtime for painful menstruation, etc.

PEPPERMINT. Mentha Piperita.

Internally, used for.--Tone stomach, colic, spasms, or cramps in stomach, to check nausea and vomiting.

Externally, used for.--Fresh herb bruised and laid over the abdomen, to allay sick stomach and diarrhea of children.

Part used.--The whole herb.

Gather.--Early autumn.

Flowers (when).--July to September.

Grows (where).--Native of England, cultivated here and grows wild in wet places.

Prepared (how).--Essence, oil; infusion made by adding one ounce of herb to a quart of boiling water and steep.

Disease, Dose, etc.--One to two ounces of infusion at a dose. The best form is the essence or oil. Dose of the essence five to ten drops; of oil one to five drops. It should be used carefully.

[434 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

PLANTAIN. Plantago Major.

Externally, used for.--It is better used externally; the bruised leaves are good for poisonous wounds, bites of snakes, spiders and insects, ulcers, sore eyelids, salt rheum, erysipelas, poisoning from ivy and other skin affections.

Part used.--Roots and tops.

Flowers (when).--From May to October.

Grows (where).--Well known and grows in rich moist places.

Prepared (how).--Tincture, infusion, bruised leaves for external use.