Powder, to make.—The part to be used is crushed, pounded, or ground until it is made very fine. It is best to have substance dry if to be prepared for powder.

Syrups, to make.—After preparing the substance for a tea boil for some time, then add considerable sugar and stir until all is nicely dissolved. To each pint of this syrup add one ounce of glycerin and seal up in bottles or cans as you would fruit.

Tincture, to make.—Take one ounce of the powdered herb and add 4 ounces of water and 12 ounces of alcohol, let stand for two weeks. A dram of glycerin may be added. After standing for two weeks pour off liquid and bottle for use. If it is necessary for you to use a tincture we would advise that you buy it at a drug store, as it is not often made properly at home. The above is a safe method for making a tincture and would not be especially strong. Should the herb used have a very weak medicinal power one to four ounces of the herb may be used for the above amount of water and alcohol.



ALDER, SPOTTED.—Snapping Hazelnut. Winterbloom. Witch Hazel. Hamamelis.

Internally used for.—Falling of the womb, sore mouth, falling of the bowel, piles, bleeding diarrhea.

Externally used for.—Sore eyes, ulcers, sores, enlarged veins, sprains, bruises and ivy poisoning.

Part used.—Leaves and fresh bark.

Gather.—In the fall.

Flowers (when).—From September to November.

Grows (where).—In all sections of the United States, especially in damp woods.

Prepared (how).—As a poultice, ointment, decoction. Make a decoction by using one and one-half ounces of the fresh bark or leaves, boiled in a pint of water. The medicine can be bought at any drug store.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For sore mouth, throat, leucorrhea, falling of the womb and bowel, use the decoction strong locally. It should not cause any pain. For falling bowel, use a full strength injection and apply locally with cloths on the sore bowels. Used locally for bleeding from the nose or from pulling teeth. For piles, an ointment can be made by using strong decoction and cosmaline mixed. Apply decoction locally on varicose veins or varicose ulcers. It is often used in the form of "Pond's Extract." For diarrhea one to three ounces every three hours. Good also applied locally for burns, old sores, eczema, ivy poisoning, bruises.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 411]

BALMONY. Snakehead. Fish Mouth. Turtlebloom. Bitter Herb. Salt Rheum Weed. Chelone Glabra.

Internally used for.—Dyspepsia, weak digestive organs, jaundice.

Part used.—Leaves are best for medical use.

Gather.—In the fall.

Flowers (when).—From July to late Autumn.

Grows (where).—Found in the United States in wet grounds.

Prepared (how).—Leaves made into a powder or tea. One ounce of the leaves to a pint of boiling water to make the tea. Let steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of the powder, for above-named diseases, one-half to one even teaspoonful, four times a day. Dose of the tea for the above diseases, one to two ounces three or four times a day. The tea is the best to use. Gentian can be added to this remedy, if desired, when a more active bitter tonic is wanted. Use same amount of each and make into a tea. Dose of combination, one to two ounces before meals.



BAYBERRY.—Wax Myrtle. Waxberry. Candleberry. Myrica Cerifera.

Gather.—Collect it late in the fall, dry without exposure to moisture, pound with a hammer to separate the bark, powder and keep in dark, sealed vessels.

Grows (where).—In damp places in United States, especially in New Jersey.

Prepared (how).—As a powder, poultice, decoction. To make decoction use one ounce of the bark to a pint of water and boil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For jaundice, use the decoction, one to three ounces, every two to five hours. For diarrhea and dysentery one-half ounce every two hours. For blood diseases and scrofula, take two ounces four times daily. Poultice for scrofulous tumors and ulcers, alone, or with elm. For sore throat, mouth and gums gargle freely with the decoction. A plaster can be made and used on ulcers. Dose of powder: twenty to thirty grains, three times a day.



BEARBERRY. Upland or Wild Cranberry. Mountain Box. Red Berry. Arbutus Uva Ursi.

Internally, used for.—Its special use is in kidney and bladder troubles. It may be used in diarrhea, dysentery, leucorrhea, but as stated it is better for cystitis, urinary trouble, etc., gonorrhea.

Part used.—The leaves.

Gather.—In autumn, and use only the green leaves.

Grows (where).—On mountains and dry land in United States, Europe and Asia.

[412 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Prepared (how).—As a powder or decoction. For decoction use one ounce of the leaves and boil in one and one-half pints of distilled water. Boil down to a pint.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—One to three ounces every two to four hours for gonorrhea, with bloody and mucous discharges and pain in the bladder. For cystitis one ounce every two hours. For kidney troubles one ounce four times a day. If taken long or in too large doses it irritates the kidneys.



BEECHDROPS. Cancer Root. Epipegus Virginiana.

Internally, used for.—An astringent for bleeding from the bowels and womb, and for diarrhea.

Externally, used for.—Erysipelas and skin eruptions, ulcers, and also good as an injection in leucorrhea.

Part used.—Roots and tops.

Flowers (when).—In August and September.

Grows (where).—All parts of North America.

Prepared (how).—As a powder, decoction, and poultice. To make a decoction take one ounce of the root to a pint of water and boil. Keep adding water to make a full pint.

Diseases, Doses, etc.—The decoction has been used in erysipelas, one-half to one ounce every two hours. Same dose for bleeding and diarrhea. Dose of powder ten to fifteen grains, four times a day. Decoction can be used locally in erysipelas. This is also good for ulcers and wounds, and for skin affections applied locally; or a poultice can be used. A poultice of this remedy, poke and white oak, equal parts, is very good for old sores. Useful locally also for sore mouth and throat, and as an injection for leucorrhea.



BETHROOT. Birth Root. Ground Lily. Lambs Quarter. Wake Robin. Indian Balm. Three-Leaved Night-Shade. Trillium Purpureum.

Internally used for.—Astringent, tonic, antiseptic. For bleeding from lungs, kidneys and womb, for leucorrhea and for confinement. Also for diarrhea, nose-bleed.

Externally.—The root is used as a poultice for tumors, lazy ulcers, buboes, carbuncles, stings of insects.

Part used.—The root. This contains volatile oil, tannic acid, etc.

Gather.—In autumn.

Flowers (when).—In May and June.

Grows (where).—In middle western and southern states.

Prepared (how).—As a poultice, powder and infusion. Use one to one and one-half ounce of root to a pint of boiling water for infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For female weakness, bleeding, leucorrhea, and bearing down particularly, bloody urine, two to four ounces, of the strong tea, four times daily, and also used as an injection in leucorrhea, once daily. For bleeding from the lungs, one ounce every hour for a few doses. For dysentery and diarrhea boil one ounce in a pint of milk and use two ounces every two to four hours. Powdered root, given in hot water, may be used in doses of one-half to one teaspoonful three times a day, instead of infusion. Taken after confinement, use the infusion four times a day, smell of the red bethroots.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 413]

BLACKBERRY. Dewberry or low blackberry. Red Raspberry.

Internally, used for.—Tonic and astringent, diarrhea, bleeding from the bowels and womb, injection for leucorrhea.

Externally, used for.—Gonorrhea, gleet.

Part used.—Leaves of the raspberry and the bark of the other two.

Flowers (when).—Spring.

Grows (where).—Almost everywhere.

Prepared (how).—Use one ounce of the leaves of raspberry or bark of either of the others, to a pint of water and boil to make a decoction.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For diseases mentioned, such as diarrhea, take one tablespoonful every four hours. For injection use the decoction. This is used once daily for leucorrhea, gleet, gonorrhea, falling of the womb and bowel. Internally it is also used as a diuretic.



BLACK HAW. Viburnum Prunifolium.

Internally, used for.—Tonic, astringent, diuretic and alterative. Tonic for the womb, for threatened abortion and prevention of miscarriage. Good for severe after-pains, and for bleeding from the womb.

Part used.—Bark of the root.

Flowers (when).—From March to July.

Grows (where).—Most abundant in the middle states and southern.

Prepared (how).—As an infusion and tincture (or fluid extract). Prepare infusion by adding one ounce of bark of the root to a pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For threatened abortion or miscarriage use infusion three or four times daily, in two teaspoonfuls doses, a week or two before, it usually has occurred; or the tincture in ten to twenty drop doses five times daily. For bleeding from the womb take ten to twenty drops, four times daily, a few days before the time for the flow.



BLOOD ROOT. Red Puceoon. Red Root. Sanguinaria Canadensis.

Internally, used for.—Tonic, emetic, and for sick headache.

Externally, used for.—Ulcers, ringworms and warts.

Part used.—Root and should be kept dry.

Flowers (when).—Appears early in March and April.

Grows (where).—Most parts of United States in woods, groves, in shaded banks, in rich light soil.

[414 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Prepared (how).—An Infusion and powder. For an infusion one ounce to one pint of vinegar.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of powder as an emetic, ten to twenty grains. Dose of infusion as an emetic one to four teaspoonfuls: For ringworm, tetter and warts, it is applied locally, freely. Applied to ulcers and growths, it often cures, and removes the growths. As a tonic for the stomach, the dose should be small, one to one and one-half teaspoonful of the infusion four times daily, and for sick headache it should be half as much and not repeated oftener than twice, a half hour apart.



BLUE FLAG. Flower de Luce. Flag Lily. Snake Lily. Liver Lily. Iris Versicolor.

Internally, used for.—Chronic liver troubles, sick or bilious headache, cathartic, catarrh of the upper bowel, jaundice, round worms, indigestion, chronic rheumatism.

Part used.—The root. Make a tincture immediately or dry it quickly before the fire, clean, powder, and bottle tight for use.

Gather.—In the fall. It must be kept fresh.

Flowers (when).—May or June.

Grows (where).—Found in all parts of the United States, growing in wet places, in meadows and borders of swamps. Prepared (how).—In powder, tincture or fluid extract. They can all be bought.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—As a cathartic, five to twenty grains of powder. If it nauseates, mix with it a few grains of capsicum or ginger. Dose of saturated tincture, ten to sixty drops. Fluid extract, twenty to sixty drops. For sick headache one drop doses every hour. For chronic liver troubles, five to ten drops of tincture, four times daily. Same dose for all chronic diseases. For round worms, large doses must be used, enough to move the bowels. Following is good for indigestion and biliousness: Fluid extract of blue flag and golden seal each; one-half ounce, simple elixir, one ounce. Take a dessertspoonful in hot water, before meals.



BONESET.—Thoroughwort. Fever Wort. Sweating Plant. Cross Wort. Indian Sage. Ague Weed. Vegetable Antimony. Eupatorium Perfoliatum.

Internally, used for.—Ague, malarial fevers, influenza, colds, tonic, cathartic.

Externally, used for.—A fomentation.

Part used.—The top and leaves.

Gather.—When at its best in early autumn.

Flowers (when).—In August and September.

Grows (where).—All over the United States.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 415]

Prepared (how).—Powder. Infusion, one and one-half ounces to a pint of water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For malarial fever, a hot strong infusion taken freely as hot as possible. Teacupful at a time often enough to produce sweating. Same way for colds and influenza. Use the cold infusion as a tonic and laxative. As a tonic it is useful after fevers, etc. Dose of powder ten to twenty grains. Dose of infusion two to four ounces. It can be combined with tansy and hops and makes splendid fomentation.



BROOKLIME. Veronica Beccabunga.

Internally, used for.—Scurvy and for the menses, obstructed menstruation.

Part used.—Leaves and top.

Gather.—Early autumn.

Flowers (when).—From April to August.

Grows (where).—Eastern and northern states, and grows in small streams and near watercourses.

Prepared (how).—As a decoction, and it may be used freely.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For scurvy used to purify the blood. It is used in decoction to regulate menstruation, and should be taken freely and warm and begun a day before the menstrual period.



BUCHU. A South African plant of the genus Barosma.

Internally, used for.—Bladder troubles. In irritable bladder and urethra, due to increased sand in the urine, inflammation.

Part used.—Leaves.

Gather.—Buy in drug store.

Grows (where).—In Africa.

Prepared (how).—Infusion; make it by putting one ounce of the leaves to a pint of boiling water and let it steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose is two to four ounces, three or four times a day in chronic cases of bladder trouble, or one ounce every two or three hours in acute cases. It is very good when the urine is not free or is painful to pass. In acute and chronic inflammation, but more especially in the acute form. If it injures the stomach it can be used in alternation with pumpkin seed tea.



BURDOCK. Arctium Lappa.

Internally, used for.—Kidney troubles, rheumatism, syphilis, skin diseases. Must be used a long time.

Externally, used for.—Can be used as an ointment.

Part used.—Roots and seeds.

Gather.—In the spring.

Grows (where).—Almost everywhere.

Prepared (how).—As a decoction, two ounces to a pint of water or fluid extract can be bought.

[416 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of decoction: This should be used freely as it is not strong, one pint can be taken in twenty-four hours. Used as an ointment for skin diseases; the juice, of the leaves, is mixed with lard, cream or vaselin. This remedy is used frequently in combination with other blood remedies, for the above named diseases and is very beneficial.



CARROT. Wild Carrot. Bird's Nest. Bee's Nest. Daucus Carota.

Internally, used for.—Dropsy, chronic kidney troubles and gravel.

Externally, used for.—Ulcers: as a poultice.

Part used.—Roots and seeds. Garden carrot, only the root is used.

Flowers (when).—June to September.

Grows (where).—In neglected fields and by roadsides.

Prepared (how).—In infusion (tea) by using one ounce to a pint of boiling water and allow it to steep, but not to boil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose, two to four ounces of the infusion, three or four times a day, for diseases mentioned. When the infusion is made from the seeds the dose is only about one-third of a teaspoonful four times daily. For external use for troublesome ulcers, scrape or grate the root and apply to the ulcers.



CATNIP. Catmint. Catwort. Nepeta Cataria.

Internally, used for.—Sweating, nervous troubles, colic and tonic.

Externally, used for.—Poultices and fomentations.

Part used.—Leaves and top.

Gather.—Early autumn.

Flowers (when).—June to September.

Grows (where).—Grows in dry neglected places, about old buildings and fences.

Prepared (how).—The infusion should be prepared by adding one ounce of the plant to a pint of boiling water, Do not let it boil, but only steep; stand only a few minutes; when wanted as a tonic, use it cold. When used for sweating purposes, etc., it must be used hot.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Drink as freely as the stomach will permit. It is frequently used for colic in babies in doses of half to one teaspoonful, warm. To produce sweating it should be used hot and freely taken. A combination of catnip, lady's slipper and skullcap, equal parts, either in the infusion or fluid extract, one dram doses, is good for nervous headache, hysteria, chorea. Leaves are used as a fomentation. The expressed juice of the plant is good for amenorrhea in one to two teaspoonful doses five times daily.



CELANDINE.—Tetter Wort. Chelidonium Majus.

Internally, used for.—Liver and skin troubles.

Externally, used for.—Warts, corns, salt rheum.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 417]

Part used.—Herb and root. Latter is the best.

Flowers (when).—Throughout the summer.

Grows (where).—In the United States in waste places.

Prepared (how).—It is best used internally in the tincture, powdered root, or fresh juice.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For liver disease, it is especially good where the pain is under the right shoulder blade. Use the tincture in ten-drop doses three times a day. Externally rub the juice on the corn or wart. Make an ointment from the root and rub this on the skin for salt rheum. It is said to be good for piles also. Dose:—Powdered root ten to twenty to thirty grains. Tincture, ten to twenty drops, and of the juice ten to twenty drops.



CHAMOMILE. Roman Chamomile. Anthemis Nobilis.

Internally, used for.—Tonic in small doses, dyspepsia, colic, cramp, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea.

Externally, used for.—Fomentation, boiled in vinegar and applied to painful swellings.

Part used.—Leaves and herb.

Gather.—When in bloom.

Flowers (when).—Summer.

Grows (where).—Native of Europe. It grows wild in the United States.

Prepared (how).—As an infusion use a half ounce to a pint of boiling water, steep and take freely.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Use cold infusion in dyspepsia; warm infusion for colic and cramps, and for diarrhea in children, especially of the green kind of stools. Dose:—One teaspoonful every two or three hours. Good for nervousness in teething children. An oil also is used, two to five drops on sugar. This is given for colic, cramps, and in painful dysmenorrhea.



CLEAVERS. Goose Grass. Catch Weed. Clivers. Bed Straw. Galium Aparine.

Internally, used for.—Suppression of the urine, gravel, inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, and for scalding urine in gonorrhea.

Externally, used for.—Freckles.

Part used.—The plant.

Gather.—Early autumn.

Flowers (when).—From June to September.

Grows (where).—Common in the United States, growing on cultivated grounds, moist thickets, and along fences and hedges.

Prepared (how).—Infusion. Use one and one-half ounces of the herb in a pint of warm water and allow it to steep for two hours.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Take two to four ounces of the infusion three or four times a day, when it is cold. The dose can be lessened and taken oftener. It may be sweetened with sugar when taken for the diseases named above. Also equal parts of cleavers, maidenhair, and elder blows, steeped in warm water for two or three hours and drank freely when cold forms an excellent drink in erysipelas, scarlet fever and measles. An infusion made with cold water is good to remove freckles; wash the parts several times daily for two or three months.

[418 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

CLOVES. Caryophyllus.

Internally, used for.—Flatulent colic, diarrhea, cholera morbus, toothache, (oil of cloves).

Gather.—Collect flowers in October and November, before they are fully developed and dry quickly.

Grows (where).—In tropical climate.

Prepared (how).—Boil two or three teaspoonfuls of the ground cloves in a half pint of milk.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Two to four teaspoonfuls every twenty to thirty minutes for gas colic, or diarrhea where the bowels need tone. The oil can be used in three to five-drop doses. Also good to place in hollow teeth. Put a little of the oil on cotton and insert into the tooth. It is also good to add to other medicines to stop griping and nausea.



BLUE COHOSH. Squaw Root. Papoose Root. Blue Berry. Caulophyllum Thalictroides.

Internally, used for.—Nervous affection, rheumatism, womb troubles, such as amenorrhea, leucorrhea; used previous to labor it is beneficial and also good for afterpains.

Externally, used for.—Sore throat. Part used.—Root.

Gather.—Latter part of summer or in autumn.

Grows (where).—All over the United States in low moist rich grounds, near running streams, in swamps, etc.

Prepared (how).—As an infusion or decoction. It can be bought in the fluid extract form. Make a tea by adding one ounce of the root to a pint of boiling water. Decoction is made by allowing it to boil some length of time.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of fluid extract fifteen to thirty drops. Dose of tea, two to four ounces, three or four times daily. Dose of decoction, one-half the amount. When used in acute disease, the dose should not be more than one-fourth as much and given every one or two hours. For rheumatism it is especially valuable, when small joints like the fingers and toes are involved. It is very good in the chronic womb diseases named above. It should be used in small doses several weeks prior to labor. It is said to assist in making labor easier.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 419]

BLACK COHOSH. Rattle Root. Black Snake Root. Squaw Root. Rich Weed. Cimicifuga Racemosa.

Internally, used for.—Chorea, dependent upon rheumatism; rheumatism, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, leucorrhea, afterpains.

Part used.—Root.

Gather.—Early in the autumn and dry in the shade.

Flowers (when).—In June and July.

Grows (where).—Native of United States. Grows in shady and rocky woods, rich grounds and on sides of hills.

Prepared (how).—Powder; decoction, one ounce to a pint of water; and tincture.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of decoction half to one ounce; of powder ten to twenty grains. For chorea, use powder, twenty grains, three times a day. Use tincture or fluid extract or the decoction for womb affections. Dose of tincture, thirty to sixty drops three times daily. Fluid extract, ten to thirty drops three times daily; for afterpains give half as much about every three hours. In making the decoction you can make it stronger by boiling longer. The dose must then be less, according to the strength. This is a very useful remedy. For rheumatism, especially the chronic kind, it is often beneficial.



COMFREY. Healing Herb. Gum Plant.

Internally, used for.—An astringent and soothing agent in diarrhea, dysentery, coughs, lung affections, female weakness, leucorrhea, and urinary diseases.

Externally, used for.—Bruises, ruptures, fresh wounds, sore breasts, ulcers and swellings.

Part used.—Root.

Flowers (when).—May or June.

Prepared (how).—It is boiled in water or wine or it can be made into syrup. For external use bruise the root and apply it to the diseased part.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of the syrup one to four ounces, two or three times a day. For the diseases named it is best to take it in smaller doses and oftener, say four teaspoonfuls every hour or two; children in proportion.



CORN SILK. Zea Mays.

Internally, used for.—Diuretic, quieting to the urinary passages. Congested kidney, dropsy from heart disease, chronic nephritis, suppression of the urine, renal colic, haematuria, cystitis.

Prepared (how).—Make a tea and drink freely. Fluid extract can be bought.

Diseases., Dose, etc.—Dose: One to two teaspoonfuls of fluid extract three or four times a day, or drink freely of tea for above diseases.

[420 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

CRANBERRY (High). Cramp Bark. Viburnum Opulus.

Internally, used for.—Cramps and spasms of all kinds, asthma, hysteria; cramps in the legs, especially during pregnancy, or at labor.

Part used.—Bark.

Gather.—Early autumn.

Flowers (when).—In June.

Grows (where).—In Canada and northern United States, in low rich lands, woods, borders of fields.

Prepared (how).—Use an ounce of the bark, powdered, to a quart of wine.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Take half a wineglassful four times a day for continued use. For hysteria attacks, asthma spasms, less should be used and taken oftener for a few doses. The following combination is effective for the spasmodic attacks, above named: Cramp bark two ounces, scull cap and skunk cabbage one ounce each, cloves one-half ounce, capsicum two even teaspoonfuls. Powder all, and bruise and add to them two quarts of good native wine. Dose: one or two ounces two or three times a day; oftener and smaller doses for hysteria, etc. It should be taken for two or three months during pregnancy.



CRAWLEY. Dragon's Claw. Coral Teeth. Fever Root. Chicken Toes. Albany Beechdrops. Corallorhiza Odontorhiza.

Internally, used for.—Sweating purposes in fevers and inflammatory diseases, acute erysipelas, pleurisy, low stages of fevers, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, in afterpains, and suppressed lochia.

Part used.—The root.

Gather.—In the fall.

Flowers (When).—In July. No leaves.

Grows (where).—Found on barren hills and shady uplands in northern states and Canada.

Prepared (how) .—Powder and keep it in well closed bottles.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of powder, from ten to twenty grains in hot water and repeated every hour or two as needed. Combined with blue cohosh, it is very beneficial in amenorrhea, etc., as above stated. In fevers, Culver's root can be added to it, if the bowels need regulating. It is also good for flatulent colic in twenty-grain doses. Some combine pleurisy root with it in pleurisy. It should be given in acute diseases every one to two hours as needed.



CRANESBILL (spotted). Crowfoot. Tormentil. Storkbill. Alum Root. Geranium Maculalum.

Internally, used for.—Second stage of dysentery, diarrhea in an infusion of milk; in bleedings, sore mouth, leucorrhea, gleet, menorrhagia and excessive mucous discharges, nose-bleed, bleeding from extracted teeth, piles, bleeding after labor, sore throat.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 421]

Part used.—The root.

Gather.—Collected in late autumn.

Flowers (when).—From April to June.

Grows (where).—In United States in open woods, thickets and hedges.

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 Taraxacum.

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.

[422 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

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 Japan. 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.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For bronchitis, dyspepsia and dysmenorrhea, take half ounce doses four times daily. For sweating and painful menses take two teaspoonfuls of the hot decoction every two hours until relieved.



FLEABANE. Pridewood. Blood Staunch. Mare's Tail. Colt's Tail. Fireweeds. Erigeron Canadensis.

Internally, used for.—Diarrhea, dysentery, gravel, painful urination, piles, bleeding from the womb and bowels.

Part used.—The whole plant.

Gather.—Collect while in flower.

Flowers (when).—July and August.

Grows (where).—In United States and Canada. In fields and meadows, by roadsides, etc.

Prepared (how).—Powder, oil and infusion. To make infusion, use one ounce to pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—The infusion, one to two ounces, should be used three or four times daily; powder, ten to twenty grains, the same. The oil is more effective in bleeding and dysentery and bleeding piles. Oil is very good, in doses of one to five drops every three hours for acute diseases, or three times a day for chronic cases. Put on sugar.



GARLIC. Allium Sativum.

Internally, used for.—Nervous children, coughs, colds, hoarseness, worms, croup, nervous vomiting.

[424 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Externally, used for.—Poultice.

Part used.—The bulb.

Gather.—When ripe.

Grows (where).—Native of Asia and Egypt; now cultivated.

Prepared (how).—Juice, syrup, powder, or may be taken whole. Juice or syrup is the best form.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For coughs, bronchitis and worms, should be taken five times daily; croup, every half hour for a few doses. Nervous cough and vomiting only a few doses. Local.—Bruise bulbs and apply warm as a poultice in bronchitis, croup and tumors. For retention of urine, place a poultice in the perineum or over bladder on the abdomen. Dose of juice, twenty to thirty drops. Dose of syrup, ten drops to one teaspoon; this is very destructive to round worm.



GENTIAN. Gentiana Lutea.

Internally, used for.—Tonic appetizer, dyspepsia, ammenorrhea.

Part used.—Root used and imported. Grows (where).—In the Alps.

Prepared (how).—Powder, tincture and infusion. To make infusion, use one ounce of the root to a pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of powder, ten to twenty grains. Tincture, one teaspoonful. Infusion, one to two ounces. Taken before meals for dyspepsia and loss of appetite. It should not be taken when the stomach is irritable. It is a good bitter tonic.



GINSENG.—Red Berry. Five Fingers. Panax Quinquefolium.

Internally, used for.—Gravel, general weakness, poor appetite.

Part used.—Root.

Flowers (when).—In May.

Grows (where).—In United States, in rich soil and in shady places.

Prepared (how).—Powder. Infusion is made by adding one ounce to a pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—It should be taken three or four times a day for gravel or general weakness. As an appetizer it should be taken before meals. Dose of powder, ten to sixty grains. Dose of infusion, one to three ounces.



GINGER. Zingiber Officinale.

Internally, used for.—To increase gastric juice secretions, stimulating tonic, diarrhea, dysentery, flatulency, cramps and nausea.

Externally, used for.—Ulcers.

Grows (where).—Native of Asia.

Prepared (how).—Powder. Infusion made by adding half ounce of the powdered or bruised root to a pint of boiling water.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 425]

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For diarrhea, dysentery and cholera infantum, mix it with rhubarb, equal parts, or take alone. If with rhubarb it should be stopped if it becomes too laxative. Used alone for want of tone of stomach, flatulency, cramps and colic. It tones up the stomach and bowels temporarily, but should not be used long or frequently. Dose of powder, ten to twenty grains. Dose of infusion, one to two ounces.



GOLDEN SEAL. Orange Root. Yellow Puccoon. Ground Raspberry. Turmeric Root. Hydrastis Canadensis.

Internally, used for.—Tonic in dyspepsia, chronic stomach and bowel trouble. Torpid liver, sore mouth; gonorrhea (injection), leucorrhea, gleet.

Part used.—The root.

Gather.—In autumn.

Flowers (when).—In May or June.

Grows (where).—United States and Canada.

Prepared (how).—Powder, infusion, tincture, fluid extract. Use half ounce of root to a pint of boiling water for infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Of the powder, five to ten grains; of infusion, one ounce; of tincture, half to one teaspoonful and of fluid extract, five to twenty drops. When it is called for, the tongue is generally coated whitish; it will soon clear that. Diarrhea, etc., due to stomach and bowel troubles are benefited by it. Two parts of the decoction of golden seal and one of cranesbill used as an injection is good for gonorrhea, gleet, and leucorrhea. Same is good for chronic cystitis. If too strong, weaken it. Good in this form, mixed with cranesbill, for diarrhea and dysentery; taken in two teaspoonful doses every three hours.



GRAVEL PLANT. Gravel-Weed. Mountain Pink. Ground Laurel. May Flower. Trailing Arbutus. Epigea Repens.

Internally, used for.—Gravel and irritable bladder, causes more urine to flow, just as buchu does.

Part used.—The leaves.

Gather.—In summer.

Flowers (when).—Appear in April and May.

Grows (where).—Canada and United States, on sides of hills with northern exposure.

Prepared (how).—Infusion, and fluid extract which can be bought. Use one ounce of the leaves to one pint of boiling water and let it steep to make an infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose: One to two teaspoonfuls. For gravel, take one teaspoonful every three hours. For irritable bladder take half teaspoonful every three hours.

[426 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

HOPS. Humulus Lupulus.

Internally, used for.—Nervousness, sleeplessness, hysteria, in afterpains, to prevent chordee.

Externally, used for.—Used as a fomentation in many inflammatory diseases.

Part used.—Cones.

Gather.—In the fall or when fully ripe.

Grows (where).—Native of North America and Europe.

Prepared (how).—Infusion, tincture and fluid extract lupulin.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of infusion, two to four ounces; tincture one to four drams. Fluid extract, five to twenty drops. For nervous troubles, take one ounce of the infusion, or one dram tincture, every hour or two until quiet; same for sleeplessness. In delirium tremens, infusion drank with some red pepper in it settles the stomach and quiets the craving for drink. Following is good for chordee, etc.:

Lupulin 1 dram. Camphor monobromate 1 dram. Cocoa Butter, sufficient.

Make twelve suppositories and insert one in rectum every three or four hours. Take at the same time, the infusion or tincture every two or three hours. Fomentations are good in pleurisy and many other inflammations. Inhale steam in throat and chest troubles.



HORSE CHESTNUT. Aesculus Hippocastanum.

Internally, used for.—Rheumatism. Used especially for piles.

Part used.—Bark and fruit which contains tannin.

Gather.—Late autumn.

Flowers (when).—In May and June, and fruit ripens late in autumn.

Grows (where).—Native of Asia. Naturalized here.

Prepared (how).—Powder of the rind of the root or powdered fruit. Decoction made of the bark by using one and one-half ounces to a pint of water and boiling.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose: For rheumatism two ounces, three times a day. For piles, make an ointment of the powdered nut and apply. This is very good.



HOARHOUND. White Hoarhound. Marrubium Vulgare.

Internally, used for.—Coughs, colds, bronchitis, chronic asthma, sweating, hoarseness.

Part used.—Whole herb.

Gather.—When fresh.

Grows (where).—Naturalized in United. States. Grows in dry sandy fields, waste grounds, roadsides; etc.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 427]

Prepared (how).—Infusion hot and cold by adding one ounce to pint of water; fluid extract.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of infusion, two to four ounces; fluid extract, one to two teaspoonfuls. A syrup is also made; dose, two ounces. Infusion used hot for sweating, freely and often; cold and chest troubles about every two to four hours; or use fluid extract. The hot infusion should be used in asthma, amenorrhea, and hoarseness.



JUNIPER. Juniper Communis.

Internally, used for.—Dropsy, and to increase flow of urine in kidney troubles.

Part used.—Berries.

Gather.—August.

Flowers (when).—In May and June and ripe in August.

Grows (where).—Grows in United States and Canada, in dry woods and hills.

Prepared (how).—In infusion or oil. For infusion, use one ounce of the berries to a pint of boiling water. It can be made more effective by adding half ounce of cream of tartar to the infusion.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—It should be used within the twenty-four hours for above troubles, dropsy, etc. The oil can be bought and used in doses of five to twenty drops, three or four times a day.



LADY'S SLIPPER. American Valerian. Yellow Umbel. Nerve Root. Yellow Moccasin Flower. Noah's Ark. Cypripedium Pubescens. Internally, used for.—Hysteria, chorea, nervous headache, nervousness, delirium, hypochondria.

Part used.—The root.

Gather.—In autumn, cleanse from dirt and dry in the shade. Virtue impaired by boiling.

Flowers (when).—In May and June.

Grows (where).—Most parts of United States in rich woods and meadows.

Prepared (how).—In infusion, powder and tincture.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of powder, thirty to sixty grains in hot water. Tincture, one to two teaspoonfuls. Infusion, one to four ounces. For chronic cases large doses three or four times daily. For acute cases half as much every two or three hours. For nervous headache two doses, half hour apart. Following is a good preparation for nervous or sick headache: catnip, scullcap and lady's slipper, in powder, of each one-half ounce. Pour on a pint of boiling water and steep for fifteen minutes, and take half ounce every half hour, for three or four hours.

[428 MOTHERS' REMIEDIES]

LIFE ROOT. Rag Wort. Squaw Weed. Female Regulator. Senecio Gracilis.

Internally, used for.—Mainly for menstrual disorders, when suppressed or too profuse, dysmenorrhea.

Part used.—Root and herb.

Gather.—In autumn.

Flowers (when).—May or June.

Grows (where).—Northern and western United States on banks of creeks and in low marshy grounds.

Prepared (how).—In infusion, by adding half ounce to a pint of boiling water and let steep and take throughout twenty-four hours. Take four or five days before menstruation is expected.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea it may be combined in equal parts with savin and wild ginger, and take one to two ounces four times a day some days before menstruation. In menorrhagia—too much flow—cinnamon and raspberry leaves can be combined with it. Dose, two to four ounces four times a day.



LOBELIA. Wild or Indian Tobacco. Emetic Herb. Puke Weed. Asthma Weed. Lobelia Inflata.

Internally, used for.—Asthma, emetic for croup (but very weakening), and lung diseases.

Part used.—Leaves and seeds. Dry carefully in the shade. Keep whole or powdered.

Gather.—August or September.

Flowers (when).—July to September.

Grows (where).—Very common, growing in fields and roadsides.

Prepared (how).—As an infusion, one ounce to pint of water, steeped; also tincture.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of the tincture, five to ten drops. Infusion, one to two teaspoonfuls. It should not be used strong enough to produce vomiting, as it is too weakening. In small doses and given often in infusion it produces sweating and relaxation of the tissues, thus helping in asthma and lung diseases; For asthma, dose:—Ten drops of tincture every ten minutes at the onset until better or until there is a little nausea, and then lengthen the interval.



MAIDENHAIR. Adiantum Pedatum.

Internally, used for.—Expectorant, tonic and cooling uses; in fevers, erysipelas, and pleurisy, coughs, hoarseness, influenza.

Part used.—Part above the ground.

Gather.—In autumn. Grows (where).—In United States in deep woods, on moist rich soil.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 429]

Prepared (how).—As a decoction or syrup. Take an ounce of the herb to a pint of boiling water and boil to make a decoction.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Use freely. For feverish conditions use one to two ounces every two hours. In coughs and hoarseness, take four to five times daily. For influenza and pleurisy enough to produce perspiration.



MANDRAKE. May Apple. Wild Lemon. Indian Apple. Raccoon Berry. Podophyllum Peltatum.

Internally, used for.—A cathartic, alterative action in liver troubles in chronic hepatitis; in blood diseases as syphilis, rheumatism; clears liver; for constipation.

Part used.—Root.

Gather.—In autumn soon after fruit has ripened.

Flowers (when).—May and June and fruit ripens in September.

Grows (where).—In all parts of the United States, in damp and shady woods and sometimes in dry and exposed places.

Prepared (how).—In powder and tincture. To make tincture: Gather the fresh root before the fruit is ripe, chop and pound to a pulp, and weigh. Then take two parts of alcohol by weight, mix the pulp thoroughly with one-sixth of the alcohol and then add the rest of the alcohol. Stir all, pour into a well stoppered bottle, let stand eight days, in a cool place. Pour off, strain, filter.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—The resin, called podophyllin, can be obtained, and is used in one-fourth to one-eighth grain as a laxative; one-sixteenth of a grain can be taken four times a day for chronic liver trouble. Take ten drops of tincture four times a day for chronic diseases. Some can take more. For blood diseases., rheumatism, etc.



MARSHMALLOW. Mortification Root. Altheae Officinalis.

Internally, used for.—Hoarseness, 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.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—This decoction is used as an injection in leucorrhea, piles and as a gargle in sore mouth, etc. Its astringent property is due to the tannic and gallic acid it contains.



ONION. Allium Cepa.

Internally, used for.—Coughs, catarrh, croup, laxative.

Externally, used for.—Poultice for boil, inflammation, earache, etc., raw and roasted and used locally.

Part used.—Bulb. It contains many constituents, such as citrate of lime, allyl sulphide, volatile oils, sulphur.

Gather.—In autumn.

Grows (where).—Native.

Prepared (how).—As a poultice, raw; when boiled volatile oil is cast off.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Juice mixed with sugar is good for colds, coughs, catarrh, croup, chronic bronchitis. Roasted Spanish onion is good, eaten at bedtime, as a laxative; fried in lard and applied locally it makes a splendid poultice. Roasted in coals it makes a good poultice for earache, toothache, sore throat and sore chest.

[432 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

PARSLEY. Rock Parsley. Petroselinum Sativum.

Internally, used for.—Dropsy, especially following scarlet fever, retained urine, painful urination, gonorrhea.

Externally, used for.—Seeds and leaves sprinkled on the hair, in powder, destroy vermin. Bruised leaves applied as a fomentation, cure the bites or stings of insects.

Part used.—Root, seeds and leaves.

Gather.—In autumn.

Grows (where).—Cultivated.

Prepared (how).—Infuse the whole plant, or a decoction can be made of the root and seeds.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Drink freely of the infusion or decoction. Dose, two to four ounces three times a day, or less dose and oftener. The oil can be bought and used, two to three drops three or four times, daily.



PARTRIDGE BERRY. Squaw Vine. Checker Berry. One Berry. Winter Clover. Deerberry. Mitchella Repens,

Internally, used for.—Dropsy, suppressed urine, tonic and alterative action on womb.

Externally, used for—Cure for sore nipples.

Part used.—The vine.

Gather.—During the season.

Flowers (when).—June and July.

Grows (where).—In United States and Canada; in dry woods, among hemlock timber and in swampy places.

Prepared (how).—Infusion, tincture, fluid extract, decoction. Infusion, one ounce to pint of boiling water. Tincture: chop fresh plant and pound to a pulp and weigh. Then take two parts, by weight, of alcohol; mix pulp with one-sixth part of it thoroughly and rest of alcohol added, stir all well, pour into a well stoppered bottle and let stand eight days in a dark cool place; pour off, strain and filter.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Dose of tincture, one-half to one teaspoonful. For chronic diseases take one to two ounces of infusion four times a day. For suppressed urine take half ounce every two hours. Dose of infusion, from one to two ounces every three hours. To tone the womb and make labor easier, the Indians used to take it several weeks before confinement. For sore nipple: two ounces (fresh, if possible) and make a strong decoction in a pint of boiling water. Boil down thick and apply on nipple after each nursing.



PEACH TREE. Amygdalus Persica.

Internally, used for.—Constipation, tonic to the stomach and bowels, leucorrhea, worms, inflammation of stomach and bowels, irritable bladder. haematuria, dysentery.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 433]

Part used.—Leaves and kernels.

Gather.—When ripe.

Grows (where).—Cultivated.

Prepared (how).—By infusion; put ounce of leaves in one pint of cold water and let it steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—For inflammations take one tablespoonful of the cold infusion every hour or two. For bladder and urinary troubles and leucorrhea, put four ounces of the kernels in a quart of brandy; dose,—teaspoonful three or four times a day. For bowel troubles use half ounce of the flowers and half ounce of the kernels to a pint of water; boil to make a decoction and sweeten; dose,—teaspoonful occasionally, until relieved; for teething children and for worms use about five doses.



PENNYROYAL. Squaw Mint. Tickweed. Hedeoma Pulegoides.

Internally, used for.—Stimulant, sweating, menstrual troubles, suppressed lochia, suppressed menses, flatulent colic in children.

Part used.—The herb. Gather.—In fall. Flowers (when).—June to October.

Grows (where).—In dry sterile places in calcareous soils. In all parts of the United States, etc.

Prepared (how).—An infusion, one ounce to a pint of boiling water and only steep, not boil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Use infusion freely. Dose of oil two to five drops. For menstrual troubles, checked lochia and perspiration, take a hot foot bath in bed and drink freely of the tea until sweating occurs. It is frequently taken at bedtime for painful menstruation, etc.



PEPPERMINT. Mentha Piperita.

Internally, used for.—Tone stomach, colic, spasms, or cramps in stomach, to check nausea and vomiting.

Externally, used for.—Fresh herb bruised and laid over the abdomen, to allay sick stomach and diarrhea of children.

Part used.—The whole herb.

Gather.—Early autumn.

Flowers (when).—July to September.

Grows (where).—Native of England, cultivated here and grows wild in wet places.

Prepared (how).—Essence, oil; infusion made by adding one ounce of herb to a quart of boiling water and steep.

Disease, Dose, etc.—One to two ounces of infusion at a dose. The best form is the essence or oil. Dose of the essence five to ten drops; of oil one to five drops. It should be used carefully.

[434 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

PLANTAIN. Plantago Major.

Externally, used for.—It is better used externally; the bruised leaves are good for poisonous wounds, bites of snakes, spiders and insects, ulcers, sore eyelids, salt rheum, erysipelas, poisoning from ivy and other skin affections.

Part used.—Roots and tops.

Flowers (when).—From May to October.

Grows (where).—Well known and grows in rich moist places.

Prepared (how).—Tincture, infusion, bruised leaves for external use.

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.

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.



WORMSEED. Goose Foot. Stinking Weed. Chenopodium Anthelminticum.

Internally, used for.—Worms, round worms.

Part used.—Seeds and herb.

Gather.—In late autumn.

Flowers (when).—July to September.

Grows (where).—United States, in waste places.

Prepared (how).—Oil.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—Four to eight drops of oil to be given night and morning, for four or five days, and then followed by a purgative. Combination: Oil of wormseed one ounce, oil of tansy one ounce, spirits of turpentine one and one-half ounce, castor oil one pint. Dose for a child, a teaspoonful every hour until it operates; for an adult one tablespoonful. Powdered herb: Dose, half to one teaspoonful.



YARROW. Milfoil. Thousand Leaf. Achillea Millefolium.

Internally, used for.—Bleeding from the lungs, kidneys, piles, dysentery, menorrhagia.

Part used.—The herb.

Flowers (when).—Nearly whole summer.

Grows (where).—Europe and America in fields, woods, pastures.

Prepared (how).—Decoction, half ounce of plant to six ounces of water and boil down to three ounces. Juice of the herb is also used.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—In menorrhagia either can be used, as well as in other diseases. Tablespoonful of decoction every hour. The expressed juice in two or three tablespoonful doses may be taken three times a day.

[HERB DEPARTMENT 447]

YELLOW DOCK. Rumex Crispus.

Internally, used for.—Skin disease, scrofula, syphilis, scurvy.

Externally, used for.—Fresh root bruised in cream is good applied to ulcers, tumors and itch.

Part used.—The root.

Gather.—Early autumn.

Flowers (when).—June and July.

Grows (where).—In pastures, dry fields, etc.

Prepared (how).—One ounce root to a pint of boiling water. Let steep.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—One or two ounces, three times a day; or half ounce every three hours. This is a good remedy. Some people should commence with smaller doses.

[448 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

HOMEOPATHY

THE TREATMENT OF ABOUT ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DISEASES ACCORDING TO HOMEOPATHY

In cities and in most towns Homeopathic medicine will be found in drug stores in their special preparations. Some drug stores handle Homeopathic medicines exclusively.

MEDICINES.—Homeopathic medicines should be kept in a dry cool place. Do not leave them standing open among odors or exposed to bright lights. The following are among those common for home use:

List of Remedies.

Aconitum Colocynthis Phosphorus Antimonium crudum Cuprum metallicum Pulsatilla Antimonium tartaricum Gelsemium Rhus toxicodendron Apis Hepar Sulphuricum Sanguinaria Arnica radix Hyoscyamus Sepia Arsenicum Ipecacuanha Silicea Belladonna Lycopodium Spigelia Bryonia Mercurius Spongia Chamomilla Natrum muriaticum Sulphur China Nux Vomica Veratrum album Cina Opium Cinchona (see China) Phosphoric acid

Fluid for External Use.

Arnica. Calendula.

Care of Medicine in the Sick Room.—Use a clean tumbler and when not using cover the tumbler with a small saucer or piece of cardboard. Set it in a cool place and where it is free from odors, as liquid medicines exposed are likely to take up such impurities.

[HOMEOPATHY 449]

DIRECTIONS FOR USING HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINES.

They are prepared in two forms, Dilutions and Triturations (powdered form). From the triturations tablets are made. When we write "3X dil." that means 3X dilution; when we write "3X trit." that means 3X trituration. The 3X means or indicates the strength of the medicine. We have different dilutions and triturations, as IX, 2X, 3X, 4X, etc., according to the strength of the medicine used and we say dil. or trit., for dilution or trituration, depending upon the form to be used. Tablets are handier to use than the triturations or powder. In this book when I write trituration I shall always expect you to use it in the form of tablets. Instead of giving directions in every disease how to prepare the medicine, I will give it here.

When you use the medicine in the dilution (liquid) form, you put ten to fifteen drops of the dilution (say the 2X or any one) in a glass half full of water and give one to two teaspoonsful everyone-half to one to two or three hours, as the case may be, according to the age of the patient, etc. This is for acute cases.

For chronic cases.—You give medicine three or four times a day, one to two teaspoonfuls at a time. When you use it in trituration (tablet) form, you give one to two tablets at a dose every one-half to one, two or three hours, etc. In chronic cases three or four times a day, one or two tablets.

For the beginning of a common cold.—Aconite 2X dil. Put ten drops in a glass half full of water and take two teaspoonsful every one-half hour for three doses, then every three hours for twelve hours. Tincture of camphor in drop doses is also good.

If throat feels raw and sore.—I give three tablets of Mercurius bin. 2X trit. (tablet form) in alternation with the Aconite for three doses. Then stop it.



LA GRIPPE.—Gelsemium IX dil. Put ten drops in a glass half full of water and give one to two teaspoonfuls everyone-half to two hours. Feels sick, achy and bad all over; generally good at the beginning.

Belladonna 3X dil. if throat is raw and sore, throbbing, beating arteries, tickling annoying hard cough.

Mercurius 3X trit. (tablet form). When throat is sore with much saliva, sticky sweat which does not relieve.

Bryonia 2X dil. Grip with cold on chest, hurts to cough.

Phosphorus 3X dil. In bronchial tubes under breast bones.

Arsenicum 3X trit. (tablet form) stopped nose, watery burning discharge; feverish, thirsty and restless; chills and fever.



STOMATITIS.—Meaning a simple inflammation of the mouth.

Mercurius sol. 3X trit. (tablet form). Give one to two every one to three hours, according to the case.

[450 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

APHTHAE (Thrush) in Children.—l Mercurius sol. 3X trit. (tablet form). Indicated when it extends downward and produces diarrhea. Give one tablet every four hours for a few days.