By giving you illustrations of the beautiful and valuable plants that I describe to you, the humble little wayside plant will attract something more than a passing notice because its great medicinal value will be recognized. The vegetable kingdom, in general, contains sugar, oil, gum, rosin, gluten, balsam, acid, wax, tannin, albumen, and camphor.
In the preparation of extracts, the best method of obtaining all the virtues and strength of a plant is to mash them, after which add a little alcohol, if necessary. Press out the juice and evaporate in the sun until it becomes the consistency of honey. This is the pure, thickened juice, and greatly superior to the extracts obtained by boiling.
To make an infusion, or tea, put a handful of the herb in a teapot, add a pint of boiling water, and let stand about twenty minutes. A swallow of this can be taken three or four times a day, unless prescribed differently. When the desire is to induce perspiration, it should be taken warm. A decoction is made the same as an infusion, but should be boiled until the strength is entirely extracted.
I presume that many would prefer that I give the names and properties of all the herbs that are applicable to certain diseases in consecutive order, but I prefer to give them in alphabetical order, and then you can study out the reason for various combinations after you have learned the properties of the plants.
Alder, Allspice, Aloes, Anise, Asafetida,
Balm of Gilead, Balmony, Balsam Fir, Balsam Tolu, Barberry, Beth Root
AGRIMONY The botanical name of this plant is agrimonia eupatoria. It grows wild in many localities, and is a peculiar, hairy herb, growing about three feet high, with yellow flowers at the top. It is easily dried in the open air, and loses little of its strength or properties by this progress. It is a mildly astringent tonic, adapted to relaxed, though sensitive conditions; but should not be used where there is dryness of the secretions. Its principal use is in cases of eneuresis or bed wetting and weakness of the bladder, also for loose coughs, and sore mouth, with membranes of a purplish hue. The whole herb or the dried root may be used in the form of an infusion.
One ounce of the herb to one pint of boiling water, making the infusion the same as you would make tea or coffee. Dose, three or four tablespoonfuls every four hours. Agrimony is not the herb referred to in the first part of this article.
ALDER The technical, or botanical name of this shrub is Alnus Serrulata, and it is also known as swamp alder, or tag alder. It grows in abundance in swampy places, and in almost all localities. Its bark, only, is employed in a medicinal way. Its nature is that of a mild astringent alterative, and is used principally in combination with sarsaparilla or other alteratives in the treatment of various blood disorders - such as scrofula, eruptions, and other skin diseases. It may also, on account of its astringent properties, be used to advantage in cases of chronic diarrhoea. The form in which it may best be administered in that of a sirup, although as a remedy for ulcerated sores in the mouth, used as a wash, it should be prepared as an infusion. As a dressing for old and degenerating sores it should be ground into a powder and sprinkled over an ordinary poultice.ALLSPICE Otherwise known as pimento, is almost too well known to need much description. It is of a pleasant, aromatic nature, and for that reason is largely employed to disguise the taste of nauseous or unpleasant agents. There are few, indeed, to whom the taste is not agreeable. It is both a stimulant and an astringent, and for that reason should not be used as a condiment by persons having a sensitive stomach.
A strong tea made of allspice, and containing a little cloves, is an excellent remedy in case of ordinary diarrhoea, and at the same time great relief will be obtained by applying over the abdomen cloths wrung out of a hot, strong infusion of allspice and ginger - about three times as much of the allspice as of the ginger. Remedies of this nature are always at hand, harmless, and are very acceptable to children who are suffering from the ordinary attacks of summer diarrhoea.
ALOES Socotrine is the botanical name of aloes, of which there are many varieties. The drug usually found in the drug stores under the name of aloes is the dried juice of the leaves of a species found in Africa and southern Europe. As a medicinal agent it has been employed for many centuries, and is therefore very well known, not only to the average householder, but to physicians of almost every known school. Its properties are that of a stimulating cathartic of a very bitter class, and, on account of its unpleasant taste and severe action, it is usually combined with other agents. A patient suffering with piles or hemorrhoids would be greatly injured by its use, as it excites and irritates the lower bowel. About five grains of the powder made into a pill with a little leptandrin, would make an ordinary dose, and be preferable to the clear aloes, although ten grains of the clear powder in capsules is by many considered an ordinary dose.
During the weaning period many mothers take the powdered aloes and make a strong decoction, which they rub over the nipples. The exceedingly bitter taste causes the child to turn against the breast.
ANISE Botanical name, Pimpinella Anisum. Anise seeds contain a considerable quantity of a pleasant essential oil and have been used in medicine for many years. They are not found in this county, but are brought here from the old world. The extracted oil is also much in demand. Anise is aromatic, stimulating, and diffusive, of a very pleasant taste, and especially acceptable to children. It is known as a carminative, or purgative, and is much employed for colic and flatulence. For children, one or two drops of the oil of anise upon sugar is a sufficient dose. The essence being more convenient for use, an infusion of the seeds if often employed. Paregoric and other distasteful compounds used in medicine contain anise. Anise seeds are frequently used upon cakes for children and greatly aid digestion and assist in overcoming disturbances caused by overeating.
ASAFETIDA Called Northex Asafetida, is a gum obtained from trees of Oriental growth. Its odor as well as its taste is exceedingly disagreeable, and its use is somewhat restricted on this account. It is generally administered in the form of a pill. Asafetida is a powerful nervine of a stimulating character. It is most valuable in nervous irritability and hysterics, and often induces natural sleep. It is also valuable for overcoming smothering sensations. It is used by some for colic and cramps. As a preventive of la grippe and neuralgia it is a serviceable remedy. To obtain milk of asafetida rub together thoroughly in a mortar one ounce of gum Asafetida and eight ounces of water. This is excellent as an enema to the bowels in cases of colic. For neuralgia or hysterics give pill containing two grains each of asafetida every four hours. For sleeplessness give two or three pills at bed time.
BALM OF GILEAD Populus Balsamifera. This is derived from the balsam poplar tree, and the fragrant brown buds are highly prized by many as a remedial agent, their medicinal properties being due to their resinous constituents. It is classed as a stimulating expectorant and is most useful in coughs of long standing where the lungs are too feeble to throw off the accumulation in the air passages. Half an ounce of the buds in the ordinary alcoholic tincture is sufficient to add to a pit of cough sirup. As the resinous substance is not acted upon by water alone, an infusion cannot be made. In very irritable conditions of the lungs it is not advisable to use Balm of Gilead.
BALMONY Botanical name, Chelone Glabra, is also called snakehead or turtle bloom This is a very common plant which blooms in late summer or early fall, and has large flowers, light pink in color. The leaves are used as medicine. Balmony is a bitter tonic, stimulating in effect, and exciting a powerful influence upon the stomach and less perceptible impression upon the liver and bowels. In feeble condition of the stomach, where liver is sluggish, it is a valuable agent. Balmony is also serviceable in chronic malarial difficulties. It is highly prized by many as a good remedy for worms. Where the appetite is poor, owing to enfeebled condition of the stomach, half a cupful of the infusion taken before meals will act as a satisfactory stimulant.
BALSAM FIR Technical name Abies Balsamea. This is a resinous juice obtained from a tree commonly known as Canada fir balsam. The tree grows plentifully in Canada and is also found in some parts of the United States. Balsam fir is a stimulating expectorant and gentle laxative. It is esteemed highly by some in cuts and wounds. For coughs of long standing it is excellent and the following will be found valuable: Balsam fir, one ounce; glycerin and honey, each four ounces; flavor to the taste and mix thoroughly. Dose, one teaspoonful four times a day. It is also an excellent kidney tonic.
BALSAM TOLU Botanical name, Toluifera Balsamum.A resinous substance taken from a tree which grows in South America. The balsam flows from incisions made in the bark during the hot season. It is the mildest of all balsams, most useful in coughs, but should not be used in irritable conditions. It is much used in cough drops and sirups.BARBERRY Botanical name, Berberis Vulgaris. This is a common home-yard shrub; its bright-red berries ripen in June, and are often used for preserving purposes. The whole shrub, even the root, is acid. The bark is yellow and very bitter, and is the part mostly used as medicine. It is a stimulant, and useful in torpid conditions of the liver, and flabby conditions of the stomach. It is a decided tonic, adapted only to chronic cases. It is valuable in malignant fevers and malarial diseases; also in jaundice, accompanied by feeble appetite and great weakness. It is made into sirup, infusion, or decoction. An infusion of half an ounce to the pint of boiling water is sufficiently strong. Half a teacupful before meals will prove highly beneficial. It is used frequently in connection with burdock, or yellow dock, for diseases of the blood where the liver is torpid.
BETH ROOT Technical name, Trillium Latifolium. Here are also some of the common names by which this little plant is known: Broadleaf, birth root, wake robin, rattlesnake root, cough root, Indian balm, ground lily, etc. It is found in the woods, has a smooth, single stem about ten inches in height, bearing three large leaves, and on terminal flower. The root is chiefly used, and is astringent, tonic, pectoral, alterative, and antiseptic. It is generally used in the form of infusion, one ounce to a pint of boiling water. Employed internally, it will aid all forms of hemorrahages - bleeding from the nose, mouth, stomach, bowels, and bladder. The powdered root may be applied or snuffed up in bleeding of the nose or catarrh. It is very useful in dysentery. This root is also used with good results externally, in the form of a poultice in ulcers and inflamed carbuncles.Valuable medicinal vegetables are scattered so richly about us and what is more natural than to look to the fields and the woods for plants and roots which will aid in curing our various complaints. Our own country abounds in the choicest productions of the vegetable kingdom. Theses plants are compounds prepared by the and of nature, and are absolutely perfect. No other production in the medicinal world can compare with them in value and beauty. So simple are these preparations that they have long been ignored and despised as unworthy of attention. To the savage and the beast we are indebted for much knowledge concerning many remedies now in daily use. They are taught by reason and instinct to relieve their diseases by the use of the vegetables growing about them. A noted traveler speaking of the various herbs used by the natives says: "I have several times observed the negroes cure such extensive and dangerous wounds with these herbs that I have looked on with amazement."
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