Mother's Remedies Part 94

[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 cyst.i.tis, 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 b.l.o.o.d.y and mucous discharges and pain in the bladder. For cyst.i.tis 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.