GARDEN PLANT REMEDIES.

Wild Grape.—This is known as Oregon grape-root, a species of barberry. It has been used successfully to cure the leucorrhea or whites. Boil an ounce of the root in a pint and a half of water down to a pint. The dose is a wineglassful before each meal, and one before retiring. This remedy is equally recommended as a blood purifier.

Or, employ as an injection one-half ounce of the fluid extract of Canadian pine (Pinus Canadensis) to a pint of tepid water. Use this three times a day with a liquid syringe.

Yerba Reuma.—Fluid extract of yerba reuma is a favorite cure for catarrhal affections. It is used by pouring a small quantity of the liquid into the hollow of the hand, placing the finger on one nostril and sniffing the liquid into the other nostril. Then do the same with the other nostril. This should be repeated four or five times daily. If the catarrhal discharge is copious, the nostrils should first be cleansed by previous sniffs of warm water; and if the discharge be offensive a half teaspoonful of carbolic acid may be added to the water.

Chittim Bark.—This is known medicinally as cascara sagrada. It is much used by modern physicians for the cure of constipation, and is an excellent home remedy. It is prepared for use by steeping a half ounce of the bruised bark for half an hour in a half pint of warm water. When cool, take a teaspoonful three times a day. If the fluid extract of the bark is used the dose would be from ten to fifteen drops, three times a day. Sometimes it acts as a physic. In such cases the size of the dose should be diminished.

Wild Yam.—This plant has come into modern favor as a remedy for appendicitis. It is used by mixing a teaspoonful of the extract in a half tumbler of water, and taking a teaspoonful of the mixture every half hour. When relief comes diminish the dose to once every hour or two. This treatment is regarded by some doctors as the best the profession affords.

Unicorn Root.—This is sometimes called star-root. It ranks as an excellent remedy for falling of the womb. Make it into a strong tea, and take half a teaspoonful three times a day.

Camphor Tree.—The uses of camphor in medicine are numerous. It affords one of the safest and surest of household remedies for headache, spasms, neuralgia, gout, rheumatism and general debility. It is equally efficacious as an external remedy for pains, sprains, chilblains, bruises and flesh soreness. In such cases the tincture is generally used, and it can be made at home by mixing an ounce of the gum with a pint of spirits. It affords a speedy remedy for colds, in the form of a drink made of one pint of hot water into which ten drops of the spirits of camphor has been dropped. It should be sipped slowly and as hot as can be taken.

Almond Tree.—The fruit of the tree yields the almond oil which is so useful in the preparation of cosmetics and toilet articles. Sweet almond oil will prevent wrinkles if applied to the face once a week, and well rubbed in. If applied to a wrinkled face two or three times a week before retiring, it will have the effect of removing the wrinkles.

Turpentine Tree.—This species of pine yields the oil and spirits of turpentine so useful in the cure of diseases. Application to the back of the neck of a cloth thoroughly wetted with spirits of turpentine will afford speedy relief in cases of fits and convulsions. Five drops of the spirits on a little sugar, swallowed slowly, and once or twice a day will cure sore throat. In cases of dysentery, ten drops on a little sugar taken every four hours usually effects a cure. A turpentine liniment, valuable in cases of sprains, bruises and rheumatism, is made of equal parts of spirits of turpentine and vinegar, to which has been added the yolk of one egg.

Peach Tree.—Physicians who have tried the virtues of peach leaves as a cure for jaundice speak of them with praise. Steep a handful of the bruised leaves or twigs in enough cold water to cover them. The dose is a fourth of a teacupful three or four times daily. A tea made of peach leaves or bark is a purgative and good for worms. It should be given in tablespoonful doses to adults, until it operates. Children should take teaspoonful doses. In two to four tablespoonful doses every two hours it will check the vomiting in cholera morbus and morning sickness.

White Pond Lily.—A tea of this plant injected into the neck of the womb is highly recommended as a cure for ulceration of that organ. At the same time the tea should be taken internally as an accessory treatment, the dose being half a teacupful two or three times daily. If the fluid extract of the plant is used, the dose should range from four to twenty drops three times a day.

Liver Wort.—A strong tea of this plant, called also kidney plant, in teacupful doses four or five times daily, is recommended as an excellent remedy for kidney complaint.

Pink Root.—This plant offers an old stand-by for worms. An ounce of the root, mixed with four drachms of senna, should be steeped in a quart of water. The dose is two tablespoonfuls twice a day. If the root is used in the form of a powder, the dose is ten to twenty grains for children, and one to two teaspoonfuls for adults.

Radish.—This vegetable is mentioned by medical authority as a cure for Bright's disease. The desired result is reached by eating a small sized radish three times a day.

Tomato.—The tomato remedy for cholera infantum meets with much favor by those who have tried it. It is prepared by adding sugar to peeled ripe tomatoes. The dose is a teaspoonful every half hour until relieved; then continue with like doses every two or three hours till a permanent cure is effected. Some remarkable cures are mentioned in connection with this simple remedy.

Grape Vine.—The grape vine affords very many excellent home remedies. It is highly recommended by authorities as an effective remedy for dropsy. It is made ready for use by burning the inner bark to an ash, and taking a dessertspoonful in half a teacupful of sweetened water. The dose should be doubled when the stomach will stand it. The sap of the grape vine makes an excellent eye water for sore eyes. It is also used as a solvent of stone in the bladder and as a gargle for sore throat.

Pumpkin.—The seeds of the pumpkin afford a well recognized remedy for worms, retention of urine and inflammation of bladder and bowels. Oil of the seeds operates as a speedy diuretic in doses of from six to ten drops four or five times a day. If a tea of the seeds be used as a diuretic it may be drank freely at intervals of two to three hours. Pumpkin seeds are highly recommended for the destruction and removal of tape worm. The seeds should be peeled and beaten in with sugar till a paste is formed. Then dilute with milk, and drink freely, always on an empty stomach. In the course of a few hours the patient should take an active cathartic for the removal of the tape worm, composed of a tablespoonful of castor oil and the same quantity of turpentine. The drug stores now furnish a fluid extract of pumpkin seeds for the destruction of tape worm, the dose being from a half to a whole tablespoonful every three or four hours, followed, as before mentioned, by a large dose of castor oil and turpentine.

Celery.—Various medicinal preparations of celery are used in the treatment of chronic rheumatism. Of these celerina is a favorite with doctors. The same result is reached by drinking freely several times a day of a tea made by boiling celery stalks till they are soft. At the same time celery, cooked or raw, should be used regularly as a table food.

Onion.—Hardly any plant furnishes more or better home remedies than the onion. Cooked as a sauce and eaten freely it is a cure for constipation. Cut into slices and sprinkled with sugar, a syrup is formed which is excellent in croup, the dose being a teaspoonful every fifteen to twenty minutes, till relief is had. A crushed onion poultice will extract the heat and pain of a burn or scald. The squeezed juice of the onion, mixed with sugar, and given in teaspoonful doses every three or four hours is highly recommended as a cure for bronchitis.

Bean.—Those who have tried the white navy bean as a cure for erysipelas say it furnishes a sure cure if the disease is taken in time. The beans should be boiled soft and applied as a poultice to the affected parts. Renew frequently.

Red Pepper is employed with great success as a gargle in scarlet fever. It is prepared by taking half a teaspoonful of the pepper and one tablespoonful of table salt to a half-pint of boiling water. Thoroughly mix and strain, and then add about half a teacupful of vinegar. Use frequently as a throat gargle, and give internally half a teaspoonful every hour to a child, doubling the amount for an adult. Red pepper is also recommended as a cure for the grippe, in the form of a tea of the pod, or of the ground pepper, a teaspoonful to half a pint of water. Place a teaspoonful of the tea in a glass of hot water, and drink slowly every three or four hours.

The Beet.—Whenever tried the juice of the common beet has been found a remedy for gravel. Boil the beets till thoroughly done. Remove the beets and boil the juicy water again till it assumes the form of a, syrup. Take a cupful three or four times a day. Pursue the treatment till the stones soften and pass. Good also for suppressed or tardy menses.

Cranberry.—A cranberry poultice is an excellent application to the affected parts in cases of piles. They also serve as a cure when cooked as for table use, and partaken of freely at each meal. Pounded cranberries, applied as a poultice, are excellent for removing the pain and inflammation of erysipelas. In doses of a tablespoonful daily cranberry extract is said to afford relief in hysteria.

Pineapple.—A tablespoonful of the juice of a pineapple, taken every three hours, is recommended as a remedy for diphtheria. The same may be used as a gargle after each dose.

Dandelion Wine.—A spring drink for cleansing the blood. In a jar containing two quarts of blossoms pour three quarts of hot water. Let stand forty-eight hours, strain and add two teaspoonfuls of dry yeast and a teacupful of white sugar. Flavor with lemon or wintergreen. A wineglassful three or four times a day.


This page is maintained by Charles Keith.
Contact: Send me a message
Last Modified: Monday, 13-May-2013 15:31:47 EDT