Mother's Remedies, Thomas Jefferson Ritter [reading well .TXT] 📗

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