Mother's Remedies Part 111

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 Gra.s.s. 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 Virginia.n.u.s.

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.

Grows (where).--United States and in Canada, twining over bushes and fences, thickets and hedges.

Prepared (how).--Decoction of the root. Pour a pint of boiling water on two ounces of the bruised root, let steep slowly for half hour, strain.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Give half cupful of decoction every twenty minutes for bilious colic. Some have given half a pint at once in a severe case.

[446 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

WORMWOOD. Artemisia Absinthium.

Internally, used for.--Worms, jaundice, dyspepsia, amenorrhea and leucorrhea.

Externally, used for.--Bruises, local inflammations.

Part used.--Tops and leaves.

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

Grows (where).--United States.

Prepared (how).--Fomentations. An infusion is made by adding thirteen of the herbs to a pint of cold water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of infusion one to four teaspoonfuls. Use fomentations for bruises and local inflammation.