Mother's Remedies Part 103

Internally, used for.--Hoa.r.s.eness, 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.