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

>TOBACCO. Symptoms.—Vomiting, terrible weakness.

Treatment.—Emetics, such as warm salt water, warm mustard water, goose grease, lard, vaselin, etc.; then stimulants such as strong, coffee, brandy; heat to extremities, artificial respiration.

WINE OF ANTIMONY. Symptoms.—Metallic taste, violent vomiting, becoming bloody, feeble pulse; pain and burning in the stomach. Violent watery purging, becoming bloody; cramps in the extremities, thirst, great weakness; sometimes prostration, collapse, unconsciousness.

Antidotes.—Tannic acid, twenty drops to glass of water.

Treatment.—Soothing drinks, milk, white of egg and water, flax seed tea, etc.; external heat.

[408 MOTHERS' REMEDIES] HERB DEPARTMENT

OVER ONE HUNDRED (100) MEDICAL HERBS
Partially Illustrated, with Full and Detailed Explanation as
to Their Internal and External Uses, Part to Be Used,
When to Gather, Time of Flowering,
Where Found, Preparation for Medicine,
Teas, Etc., and Full Directions for Using.

In preparing this department we have been governed by two essential observations. First, that the tendency in American and Canadian homes is to the return to the good old home remedies that mother and grandmother used so successfully. We have, therefore, tried to choose in this list of over one hundred herbs, the most common ones, ones that could be prepared at home easily and quickly and which would be perfectly safe for the average person to administer as medicine.

Second, upon a close examination of the herb departments of practically all of the medical works or receipt books sold for family use today we discovered that only general information and directions were given. In this connection, we have endeavored, and we believe successfully, to supply what other books have neglected,—definite directions for the preparation, dose, etc. Should a physician leave a bottle of medicine at your home without directions you would not think of using it, and it is just as useless and indiscreet for a young mother to attempt to use herbs from the field without explicit directions for their preparation and administration.

We give below a few important directions for gathering, keeping and preparation of herbs, etc., for reference when using herbs not in this list. Those in the list are explained under their respective headings.

Drying and Preserving Roots, Herbs, Barks, etc.—Gather herbs when the weather is fine, when there is no dew upon them, when the flowers are in full bloom or the seeds are ripening. By gathering the herbs yourself you are assured of their being fresh although, if living in the city, you can purchase them ready prepared in ounce packages for about five cents at any drug store. Should you gather them yourself dry them in the shade, after which they should be kept from exposure to the air by wrapping up in paper or keeping in paper bags, tied and hung up in the attic or other dry place. If hanging exposed in your home for a long time watch them that moths do not gather in them and make their nests.

[Illustration: BLOODROOT]
[Illustration: ELDER FLOWERS]
[Illustration: PLEURISY ROOT]
[Illustration: SNAKE HEAD]
[Illustration: SENECA SNAKE ROOT]
[Illustration: GINSENG]
[Illustration: MANDRAKE OR MAY-APPLE]
[Illustration: WAHOO]
[Illustration: SCOURING RUSH]
[Illustration: BONESET]
[Illustration: ROCK ROSE]
[Illustration: TANSY]
[Illustration: BEARBERRY]
[Illustration: ST. JOHN'S WORT]
[Illustration: WORMWOOD]
[Illustration: TRUE CHAMOMILE]
[Illustration: INDIAN TOBACCO OR LOBELIA]
[Illustration: CANADA FLEABANE]
[Illustration: MARSH MARIGOLD]
[Illustration: AMERICAN WORMSEED]
[Illustration: ELECAMPANE]
[Illustration: MUSTARD]
[Illustration: PARTRIDGE BERRY]

[HERB DEPARTMENT 409]

Roots should be dug in the spring when the sap is rising if you wish to make extract; or they may be gathered in autumn when they have ceased to vegetate. To dry for winter use they should be sliced, dried and kept from the air.

Barks should be stripped when the tree is in full leaf and dried in the shade. The bark of the roots should be taken in the fall, when the sap has descended.

Flowers and Seeds.—Flowers should be gathered when in full bloom and free from the dew and should be kept from exposure to the air. Be sure that seeds have fully matured; dry them also in a shady place and keep ready for use.

Preparation of Herbs for Medicine.—There are many different methods of
preparing herbs for medicine,—Infusion, Decoction, Fomentation, Ointment,
Plaster, Poultice, Powder, Essence, Tincture, etc. Only five of these,
Plaster, Poultice, Fomentations, Decoction and Infusion are commonly used.
An infusion is more commonly called "tea."

Infusion or Tea, to make.—Usually about one ounce of the herb to a pint of water is used for an infusion. Sometimes cold water is poured over the herb, but the most common method is to pour boiling water over the herb and let stand for a short time, just as you would make common tea for the table. Sometimes a little sugar may be added to make the tea more palatable. An infusion or tea should be used while fresh.

Decoction, to make.—Make same as for infusion and boil for some time, just as you would make coffee.

Essence, to make.—Take about an ounce of the essential oil of the herb and dissolve in a pint of alcohol.

Fomentations, to make.—Dip cloths or heavy towels in the infusion or decoction, wring out and apply locally to part that you wish to cover.

Ointments or Salve, to make.—An easy method to make a salve or ointment is to take about eight parts of vaselin or lard or any like substance and add two parts of the remedy you wish to use. Thus, if you were to make a sulphur salve you would use eight ounces of vaselin and two ounces of sulphur; stir and mix well while hot and when cool you would have a regular sulphur salve or ointment.

Plasters, to make.—Bruise the leaves, root, or other part of the plant and place between two pieces of cloth, just as you would a mustard plaster, and apply to the surface you wish to cover.

[410 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

Poultices, to make.—Poultices are used to apply heat (moist heat), to soothe or to draw. Usually a soft substance is used, such as soap and sugar, bread and milk, mustard, etc. Some cause a counter-irritation, some draw the blood from a congested part and thus relieve pain. In the chapter on nursing many different poultices are given with methods of preparing them.

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