Mother's Remedies Part 99

Prepared (how).--Powder. Use one and one-half ounces of the root and boil it in a pint of water or milk.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose: one to two tablespoonfuls. Use the watery decoction as a gargle for sore mouth and throat. For piles:--Inject a strong decoction and retain as long as possible; or apply an ointment of two ounces of the root to tobacco ointment seven ounces, and apply three or four times a day. Nose-bleed and bleeding from teeth extraction:--Apply the powder or strong decoction to the part. Bleeding from the womb:-- Inject strong decoction or apply on gauze or cotton to inner womb.

Decoction, two parts to one part blood root, forms a good injection for leucorrhea and gonorrhea. Good in latter stages of diarrhea and dysentery of children, boiled in milk, given in teaspoonful doses, every one to three hours.

CULVER'S ROOT. Veronica. Black Root. Culver's Physic. Tall Speedwell.

Leptandra Virginica.

Internally, used for.--A laxative, bilious fever, dyspepsia due to inactive liver and bowels.

Part used.--Root. Age impairs its virtues. The dried root is safest to use, if not too old.

Gather.--In the autumn.

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

Grows (where).--In limestone lands and in rich moist places, woods, thickets, and barrens.

Prepared (how).--As a powder, extract and infusion. Fluid extract can be bought. To make decoction, use one ounce of the powdered root to one pint of water and let boil. If you use the green root put one ounce in cold water, and let it remain there for one hour.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of the powder of dry root, one small teaspoonful as a cathartic. This will bring away a black tarry discharge.

Then it is better to use the decoction; one to two teaspoonfuls every two hours. Dose of extract is one-fourth of a grain. This is a good form to give, when the liver is acting badly. Good also for indigestion, in this form when due to inactive liver and costive bowels.

DANDELION. Leontodon Taraxac.u.m.

Internally, used for.--Liver when it is torpid and engorged. It is also laxative and tonic.

Part used.--Root. The green plant is good to use in the form of greens.

Milky juice is also good when fresh.

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Gather.--July, August and September.

Flowers (when).--During spring and summer.

Grows (where).--Everywhere, it seems.

Prepared (how).--Juice is used, also infusion, extract and fluid extract.

Infusion, two ounces of root to the pint of water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Dose of infusion one to two ounces. Juice, ten drops to one-half teaspoonful. Extract, ten grains. Fluid extract, one to two teaspoonfuls. It should be taken often enough, when the liver is torpid, to move the bowels once or twice a day. If the infusion is used, begin with a half ounce and take every three hours; increase or decrease as necessary. The extract is pleasanter and less bulky and best to use in winter. Take two or three grains every three hours more or less.

DEVIL'S BIT. False Unicorn Root. Drooping Starwort. Blazing Star. Helonias Divica. Somewhat similar to true unicorn root.

Internally, used for.--Used mainly in womb troubles, strengthens the womb and prevents miscarriages. Good also for leucorrhea, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.

Part used.--Root. Root is two to two and a half inches in length.

Gather.--In autumn.

Flowers (when).--June and July.

Grows (where).--In low grounds in United States and Canada.

Prepared (how).--Powdered root and decoction.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--It is a tonic to the womb and should be used for two months before the time the miscarriage usually occurs. For the other womb troubles, it should be taken four times a day. The fluid extract can be bought at any drug store, and can be used. Dose: Fifteen drops, four times daily. Dose of powder, ten to twenty grains. Decoction, one to two ounces.

ELDER (Sweet). Black-berried Elder. Sambucus Canadensis.

Internally, used for.--Erysipelas, kidneys, for sweating purposes, blood diseases and scarlet fever.

Externally, used for.--Burns, scalds, ulcers, skin diseases and weak eyes.

Part used.--Flowers and berries. Bark of the root also is used.

Gather.--Gather when in flower and when berries are ripe.

Flowers (when).--In summer.

Grows (where).--Grows in all parts of United States and Canada.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 423]

Prepared (how).--Infusion, one ounce of the flowers or root to a pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.--Use warm infusion for sweating and for erysipelas, half teaspoonful every three hours. Too much taken will move the bowels and also cause vomiting. Same for scarlet fever in adults. Infusion of the bark of the root may be taken in doses of half ounce twice daily, to act as a cathartic. Local, use inner bark of the limbs and steep with cream and apply freely and often for burns, sores, etc. For weak eyes make a tea from the flowers and use as an eye wash for children.

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 j.a.pan. 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.