Chapter 54

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Some claim the infusion is good for snake bites or the expressed juice can be used. This, to my mind, is doubtful and I would advise the usual remedies first. The tincture is good for some kinds of toothache, in one to two drop doses. The bruised leaves or the tea may be used for other diseases mentioned as poultice or wash.

PLEURISY ROOT. Butterfly Weed. Wind Root. Tuber Root. Orange Swallow Wort. Asclepias Tuberosa.

Internally, used for.--Pleurisy, pneumonia, catarrh, acute rheumatism, diarrhea, dysentery, sweating and expectorant, falling womb.

Part used.--Root.

Gather.--Autumn.

Flowers (when).--July and August.

Grows (where).--In gravelly and sandy soils.

Prepared (how).--Infusion, one ounce to a pint of boiling water and let steep. Tincture; buy powder.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of powder, ten to thirty grains three times a day in womb diseases. For falling womb use one ounce pleurisy root and one-half ounce unicorn root (true), mix powder and give in twenty to thirty grain doses three times daily; and an injection of the same, in infusion, may be given once a day. For pleurisy, etc., in first stage give the warm infusion to promote sweating. Dose,--Four teaspoonfuls every half hour, until sweating is produced. Following is good for diarrhea and dysentery: Tincture pleurisy root two ounces, brandy one ounce, syrup of raspberry three ounces. Half to one teaspoonful everyone or two hours.

POKE. Garget. Coakum. Pingeon Berry. Scoke. Phytolacca Decandra.

Internally, used for.--Chronic rheumatism, syphilis, sore throat, sore, inflamed breasts, scrofula.

Externally, used for--For fat people. Caked breasts, felons and tumors.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 435]

Part used.--Root, leaves and berries.

Gather.--Root late in November, cut in thin transverse slices and dry with moderate heat. Berries, when ripe.

Flowers (when).--July to September.

Grows (where).--Native of United States along fences in newly cleared spots, in cultivated fields, roadsides, etc.

Prepared (how).--Juice of plant. Powdered root, poultice, fomentation.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--One to five grains of powdered root as an alterative in chronic blood diseases, syphilis, etc. Juice of plant, half teaspoonful three times a day, for same diseases can be used. For caked breasts one to three drops of the tincture every one to three hours, at same time applying the root (roasted in ashes until soft) mashed and applied as a poultice; good also for a felon or can apply a hot fomentation of the leaves instead.

PRICKLY ASH. Toothache Tree. Xanthoxylum Fraxineum.

Internally, used for.--Chronic rheumatism, syphilis, skin affections, dysmenorrhea.

Externally, used for.--Decoction used as a wash or gargle in sore throat.

Part used.--Bark and berries.

Gather.--Autumn or earlier in some climates.

Flowers (when).--April and May.

Grows (where).--United States in woods, thickets and moist shady places.

Prepared (how).--Tincture. Powder. Decoction of root one ounce to a pint of water and boil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose,--half ounce every four to five hours. Tincture of the berries is also used for nervous diseases, dysmenorrhea, etc., in ten to thirty drops every two to four hours. Good also in blood diseases, four times a day. Powder for same troubles in doses of five to ten grains four times a day.

PRINCE'S PINE. Wintergreen. Ground Holly. Pipsissewa. Rheumatism Weed. Chimaphila Umbellata.

Internally, used for.--Kidney and bladder troubles, chronic rheumatism, syphilis, scrofula, gout, gleet.

Part used.--Whole plant.

Gather.--In autumn or late summer.

Flowers (when).--June and July.

Grows (where).--United States, etc., under the shade of woods and prefers a loose sandy soil enriched by decaying leaves.

Prepared (how).--Decoction and tincture; put a pound of the dried herb into a quart of water and three quarts of spirits; let stand for twelve days, and then turn off the liquid. This makes a tincture. To make decoction use one ounce of plant to a pint of boiling water and boil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Take one to two ounces of the decoction three or four times a day; fluid extract can be bought, dose fifteen drops four times daily. Dose of tincture, one-half to one teaspoonful.

[436 MOTHERS' REMEDIES ]

PUMPKIN. Cucurbita Pepo.

Internally, used for.--For tape worm and for urinary troubles, suppressed or retained urine.

Gather.--When ripe.

Grows (where).--Common.

Prepared (how).--A tea can be made of the seeds, or an oil gathered from them.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--A tea strong or weak as the age and case demand, may be given freely and is very effective. Do not bruise the seeds, as the virtue resides in the covering. An oil can be gathered from the seeds and is good for same purpose. Dose.--Six to twelve drops several times daily or three drops every two hours. For Tape worm, see article on another page. If it is best to take it as an emulsion get druggist to make it. Taken at night with fasting. In the morning take dose of salts. Watermelon seed tea is also good for kidney trouble.

QUEEN OF THE MEADOW. Purple Boneset. Gravel Root. Trumpet Weed. Joe-Pye Weed. Eupatorium Purpureum.

Internally, used for.--Gravel stone in the bladder, kidney or stone colic, or other urinary troubles.

Part used.--The herb.

Gather.--Autumn.

Flowers (when).--August to November.

Grows (where).--In wet places in United States.

Prepared (how).--Fluid extract; or an infusion, one ounce of the dried leaves or plant in a quart of boiling water and steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Half teacupful of the infusion may be taken every hour or two as hot as possible. This is a splendid remedy. Drug stores keep the fluid extract, which can be bought and given in doses of fifteen to thirty drops every three or four hours. Some claim it relieves the pain in the kidney stone colic; the Indians used it for that purpose.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 437]

QUEEN'S ROOT. Queen's Delight. Yaw Root. Cock-up-Hat. Stillingia Sylvatica.

Internally, used for.--Secondary syphilis, scrofula, chronic skin diseases.

Part used.--The root.

Gather.--Autumn.

Flowers (when).--April to July.

Grows (where).--In United States, etc.

Prepared (how).--An infusion of the fresh root, or use the tincture or fluid extract. One ounce of root to pint of water for infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of infusion one to two ounces. Tincture; dose, twenty to sixty drops. Extract; dose, ten to thirty drops; smaller doses given every two or three hours; larger dose three or four times daily. This is a good remedy. It can be given with other remedies like poke root, sarsaparilla, etc.

RED CLOVER. Trifolium Pratense.

Internally, used for.--Blood diseases and is often used with other remedies; good drank warm in whooping cough.

Externally, used for.--Ulcers.

Part used.--Blossoms.

Gather.--When fresh.

Flowers (when).--Throughout summer.

Grows (where).--Common.

Prepared (how).--In infusion and salve.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Use blossoms to make tea and drink freely; tea boiled down thick makes a good salve for ill-conditioned looking sores.

ROCK ROSE. Frost wort. Frost Plant. Cistus Canadensis.

Internally, used for.--Scrofula and blood diseases.

Part used.--The herb.

Gather.--In autumn early.

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

Grows (where).--In United States in dry sandy soil.

Prepared (how).--Infusion. Fluid extract. Decoction, use four ounces of the dried leaves to one quart of boiling water and boil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of infusion or decoction, one ounce three times a day. Fluid extract is the best form, can be bought and given in doses of half to one teaspoonful three or four times a day. The following combination is good one for secondary syphilis: Rock rose, turkey corn, Queen's root, equal parts; either the infusion, decoction or fluid extract.

SAGE. Garden sage. Salvia Officinalis.

Internally, used for.--To stop sweating in consumption, used cold; and used warm to sweat. Gargle in sore throat, colds, coughs, etc., alone or combined with sumach berries or vinegar, or honey or alum.

Part used.--The leaves.

Gather.--In early autumn;

Flowers (when).--In June.

Grows (where).--Cultivated.

[438 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Prepared (how).--As an infusion cold or hot; half ounce of leaves to a pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose, an ounce or two. To produce perspiration give warm. To check perspiration give cold, in smaller doses and oftener. For sore mouth, sore throat, tonsilitis and quinsy, use hot infusion strong as a gargle.

SCOURING RUSH. Horse Tail. Shave Grass. Equisetum Hyemale.

Internally, used for.--Dropsy, suppression of the urine, blood in the urine, gravel, gonorrhea and gleet.

Part used.--The stalk.

Gather.--Matures in June and July,

Grows (where).--In wet grounds in river banks, hillsides, and borders of woods in United States.

Prepared (how).--Infusion, one ounce to the pint of water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--For above diseases drink in half ounce doses every two hours.

SASSAFRAS. Laurus Sassafras.

Internally, used for.--Syphilis, scrofula, skin eruptions, bland drink after poisoning,

Part used.--The bark of the root.

Gather.--In autumn.

Flowers (when).--April and May.

Grows (where).--Common.

Prepared (how).--Infusion of the bark, one ounce to a pint of water; as a mucilage made by using two parts of the pith to one hundred of water. Do not boil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of infusion, one to two ounces. Oil, five to ten drops on sugar for menstrual pain, and in painful urination. The mucilage is good for chest disorders, bowels, kidneys and for inflammation after poisoning, as a bland demulcent drink.

SENECA SNAKE ROOT. Mountain Flag. Milk Wort. Seneka or Senega. Polyagla Senega.

Internally, used for.--Second stage of bronchitis in aged people, bronchial asthma, coughs.

Part used.--The root.

Gather.--In autumn.

Flowers (when).--June to August.

Grows (where).--In United States in woods and on hillsides.

Prepared (how).--Powdered root. For decoction use one ounce of the dried root to a pint of boiling water and let boil. You can buy the syrup and fluid extract.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of the decoction, half to one ounce three or four times a day. Dose of the syrup, one to two teaspoonfuls.

Dose of the extract, ten to twenty drops. This remedy is frequently used with other remedies for bronchitis and cough.

[ HERB DEPARTMENT 439]

SHEEP SORREL. Rumex Acetosa.

Internally, used for.--Scurvy.

Externally, used for.--Good for wens, boils, tumor, ulcers.

Part used.--Plant.

Gather.--Autumn.

Grows (where).--Well known plant.

Prepared (how).--Decoction; poultice made of roasted leaves.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Decoction, freely drank for scurvy. Poultices should be applied to above troubles.

SKUNK CABBAGE. Swamp Cabbage. Meadow Cabbage. Polecat Weed. Fetid Hellebore. Dracontium. Ictodes Foetida.

Internally, used for.--Asthma, whooping cough, nervousness, hysteria, convulsions of pregnancy.

Part used.--Root. Gather.--In autumn or early spring and dried carefully.

Flowers (when).--March and April.

Grows (where).--Various parts of United States in moist places.

Prepared (how).--Powder. Tincture.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose: Five to ten grains of powder three times a day. A saturated tincture of the fresh root is much better, of which half a teaspoonful can be given everyone to four hours for above diseases.

SKULL CAP. Madweed. Hoodwort. Blue Pimpernel. Scutellaria Lateriflora.

Internally, used for.--Chorea, delirium, convulsions, neuralgia, restlessness, insomnia.

Part used.--The whole herb.

Gather.--Late summer while in flower.

Flowers (when).--July and August.

Grows (where).--In moist places.

Prepared (how).--Infusion, one ounce to the pint.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--The infusion may be drank freely, Fluid extract, dose, half to one teaspoonful, every two or three hours.

SLIPPERY ELM. Red Elm. Ulmus Fulva.

Internally, used for.--As a mucilage for stomach and bowel and urinary troubles when a mild, soothing demulcent drink is needed; in diarrhea, dysentery, coughs, painful urination, constipation.

Externally, used for.--As a poultice.

Part used.--Inner bark.

[440 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Gather.--Early fall. Flowers (when).--In April.

Grows (where).--In United States, in open elevated situations in rich firm soil.

Prepared (how).--Infusion of two ounces to pint of water. Mucilage made by using six parts of the dried bark to one hundred of water and allow to steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--The infusion and mucilage may be taken freely. The infusion can be injected for dysentery, diarrhea, gonorrhea, gleet and leucorrhea. Mucilage is taken after poisoning to allay inflammation of the membranes, etc. Eat bark or take prepared tablets for constipation.

SPEARMINT. Mentha Viridis.

Internally, used for.--Nausea and vomiting, internal and external scalding urine. For fever is superior to peppermint.

Externally, used for.--For piles.

Part used.--The herb.

Gather.--Just as the flowers appear in dry weather, and dry in the shade.

Flowers (when).--July and August.

Grows (where).--United States in moist places.

Prepared (how).--Warm or cold infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Warm infusion, a handful of the herb to a quart of water and used freely to allay fever in inflammations, colds, etc. Cold infusion is good in highly colored or scalding urine. Local, saturate cotton with the strong infusion or diluted tincture, and apply to piles; use it hot.

SPIKENARD. Spignet. Pettymorrel. Pigeon-weed. Aralia Racemosa.

Internally, used for.--Coughs, colds, chronic rheumatism, syphilis.

Part used.--Root.

Gather.--In autumn.

Grows (where).--In dry rocky woods in United States.

Prepared (how).--Decoction. Syrup.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Decoction, used freely in above diseases. It is an old home remedy. A syrup can also be made of it.

SMARTWEED. Water Pepper. Polygonum Punctatum.

Internally, used for.--Suppressed menstruation, to wash out the bladder, good for gravel, colds and coughs.

Externally, used for.--Fomentations. Part used.--The whole herb.

Gather.--Autumn.

Flowers (when).--August and September.

Grows (where).--About brooks and streams.

Prepared (how).--An infusion or a tincture made from the fresh plant. Use cold water to make infusion. Fomentations, simmer in water and vinegar.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of infusion, one to three ounces. Tincture, one to two teaspoonfuls. Apply fomentations for colic, bloating of abdomen; used often with other plants externally. For menstruation give half teaspoonful of the tincture four times a day a week before menstruation. Use small doses for other troubles.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 441]

SNAKE ROOT, VIRGINIA. Aristolochia Serpentaria.

Internally, used for.--Sweating for feverish conditions where eruptions are tardy in coming out.

Externally, used for.--For snake bites.

Part used.--Root.

Gather (when).--May and June.

Grows (where).--Hill-sides, in rich shady woods.

Prepared (how).--Powdered root. Infusion made by using four teaspoonfuls of the powdered root to a pint of water and let steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Take two to three tablespoonfuls of the hot infusion every three to four hours. Dose of powdered root, ten to twenty grains in hot water.

SOLOMON'S SEAL. Convallaria Multiflora.

Internally, used for.--Female weakness, leucorrhea, menorrhagia.

Externally, used for.--Poultice for piles.

Part used.--Root.

Gather.--Autumn.

Flowers (when).--May and August.

Grows (where).--In United States and Canada, sides of meadows, high banks, woods, and mountain.

Prepared (how).--Decoction, use one ounce of the root to pint of water and boil. Poultice, bruise the root.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of the decoction, one to two ounces. Take less when it is taken oftener, as much as the stomach will bear. Make a poultice of the bruised root for piles and local inflammation.

STONE ROOT. Horse Balm. Rich Weed. Knob Root. Hard Hack. Collinsonia Canadensis.

Internally, used for.--Cramps, colic, dropsy, bladder troubles, gravel, leucorrhea.

Externally, used for.--Poultice for bruises, blows, wounds, strains.

Part used.--The plant.

Gather.--Autumn.

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

Prepared (how).--In infusion and poultice, steep the root in a covered dish.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of the infusion half to one ounce, three or four times a day.

[442 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

STRAWBERRY. Fragaria Vesca.

Internally, used for.--Gravel, gout, irritable bladder, nettle rash, eruption.

Part used.--Fruit, roots, and leaves.

Gather.--When ripe.

Flowers (when).--Spring; April, May and June.

Prepared (how).--As an infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Leaves are astringent and good in infusion for sore mouth, diarrhea, and dysentery. Infusion of the root is a good diuretic and is effective in difficult urination and gonorrhea. Drink freely.

STRAMONIUM. Thorn-Apple. Stink Weed. Jimson Weed. Apple Pern. Datura Stramonium.

Internally, used for.--Used mainly for asthma.

Externally, used for.--Piles.

Part used.--Leaves.

Gather.--When leaves are green and when flowers are in bloom.

Flowers (when).--July to September.

Grows (where).--Along roads, etc.

Prepared (how).--Ointment. The leaves should be dried for smoking. It is rather dangerous.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--For asthma, the leaves are mixed with tobacco leaves and smoked. It must be done carefully as it is poisonous. The leaves are good to cure piles when rubbed on them, or made into an ointment and used locally.

SUMACH. Rhus Glabra.

Internally, used for.--Sore mouth and throat, quinsy, diarrhea, leucorrhea, gonorrhea, suppressed urine.

Part used.--Bark and fruit.

Gather.--Autumn. Berries earlier.

Flowers (when).--June and July.

Prepared (how).--Make an infusion as usual. Use either bark or berries.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Fluid extract can be used and is safer; in doses of ten drops three times a day. The infusion will do as a gargle and a wash.

SWEET FLAG. Calamus. Flag Root. Sweet Rush. Acorus Calamus.

Internally, used for.--Disorders of the stomach, flatulency, dysentery, colic.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 443]

Part used.--Root.

Gather.--Late autumn or early spring, wash clean and dry with moderate heat.

Grows (where).--Borders of small streams, ponds, wet meadows, swamp.

Prepared (how).--Infusion made by scalding one ounce of the root in a pint of water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose: One to three ounces, warm, for general troubles; give hot for colic. One-third to a teaspoonful of the root can be taken.

ST. JOHN'S WORT. Hypericum Perfoliatum.

Internally, used for.--Suppressed urine, chronic urinary affections, diarrhea, menorrhagia, hysteria, etc.

Externally, used for.--Fomentations for caked breasts, hard tumors, bruises, swellings, stings and wounds.

Part used.--Tops and flowers.

Gather.--When fresh.

Flowers (when).--From June to August.

Grows (where).--In this country.

Prepared (how).--Ointment. Infusion of powder or blossoms. Infusion one ounce to one pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of infusion, one to two ounces, three or four times daily or less. Powder; dose, thirty to sixty grains can be put in hot water and drank. Children's dose: Half to one teaspoonful. It should be taken three or four times daily in regular full doses for chronic diseases, and in half doses every two or three hours for acute diseases. Local.--Make an ointment of the tops and flowers, or boil down the infusion until thick, and make an ointment. First way is the best.

TANSY. Tanacetum. (Sometimes called double tansy).

Internally, used for.--Womb troubles and sweating, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, hysteria.

Part used.--The whole herb.

Gather.--In the summer.

Flowers (when).--July to September.

Grows (where).--Cultivated and also grows wild.

Prepared (how).--As an infusion and fomentation. The oil can be bought. To make infusion use one ounce of the plant to one pint of boiling water and let steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of the infusion one to two ounces. Oil, half to one drop. This oil is dangerous, so it must be taken carefully. For dysmenorrhea, take half ounce of infusion every hour or two. Same for hysteria. For amenorrhea, two ounces three times daily. For sweating, it should be taken in one to two-ounce doses and hot. Fomentations should be used hot and are good placed on the abdomen, over the womb, in painful menstruation.

[444 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

TURKEY CORN. Wild Turkey Pea. Stagger-Weed. Corydalis Formosa.

Internally, used for.--Tonic, diuretic and alterative, for syphilis and scrofula. (Eclectics esteem this a great remedy).

Part used.--Root, small round ball.

Gather.--While the plant is in flower.

Flowers (when).--In March.

Grows (where).--In rich soils, on hills and mountains, etc.

Prepared (how).--Tincture. Infusion, four teaspoonfuls of the powdered bulb to one pint of boiling water and let steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of the infusion, one to three ounces three or four times daily. Tincture, half to one teaspoonful. Tincture can be bought at a drug store.

TURNIP, INDIAN. Jack-in-the pulpit. Wild Turnip. Dragon Root. Arum Triphyllum.

Internally, used for.--Expectorant and sweating purposes in chest troubles. Also good for sore mouth and sore throat if given in honey or syrup.

Part used.--Root.

Gather.--In autumn.

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

Grows (where).--Common in South America in all moist and damp places.

Prepared (how).--Dry the root and powder it and give in honey or make into a syrup or given in powder.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--For sweating use powder in hot water, ten grains three times a day or smaller dose oftener. For bronchitis, etc., use in syrup or in honey, three or four times a day, five to ten grains at a dose. Same way for sore mouth and throat.

TRUE UNICORN ROOT. Star Grass. Colic Root. Ague Root. Crow Corn. Aletris Farinosa.

Internally, used for.--Its tonic influence upon the womb to prevent a tendency to miscarriage, for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, falling, also for chlorosis.

Part used.--The root.

Gather.--In autumn.

Flowers (when).--June and July.

Grows (where).--Most parts of United States, usually in dry sandy soils and barrens.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 445]

Prepared (how).--Powdered root. Tincture. Fluid extract.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Powdered root, five to ten grains three times a day. Saturated tincture, two to five drops, three times a day. Fluid extract, five to ten drops. Tincture and fluid extract can be bought at any drug store. For the above diseases it should be taken regularly four times a day. The fluid extract is the best form in which to take it and is often given by doctors.

WAHOO. Indian Arrow Wood. Burning-Bush. Spindle Tree. Enonymus Atropurpureus.

Internally, used for.--Dyspepsia, torpid liver, laxative, tonic.

Part used.--The bark of the root.

Gather.--Autumn.

Flowers (when).--In June.

Grows (where).--In woods and thickets.

Prepared (how).--Powder. Tincture.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of powder, ten to twenty grains; saturated tincture, one to two teaspoonfuls; extract, one to five grains. This is a good remedy; smaller doses can be given every two hours for dyspepsia and liver complaint. It is often combined with remedies, like dandelion, yellow dock, burdock.

WILD CHERRY. Prunus Virginianus.

Internally, used for.--Tonic, dyspepsia, scrofula.

Part used.--The bark of the root.

Gather.--In autumn.

Flowers (when).--In May.

Prepared (how).--Powdered bark or infusion. One ounce of bark to one pint of cold water to make infusion, allow it to stand for a few hours.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Take of infusion one to three ounces four or five times a day. Dose of powdered bark, one to two teaspoonfuls in hot water. For tonic action and for dyspepsia it should be taken oftener and in half the given doses.

WILD YAM. Colic Root. Dioscorea Villosa.

Internally, used for.--Bilious colic.

Part used.--Root.

Gather.--In autumn.

Flowers (when).--June and July.