BONESET. Eupaloriunt perfoliatum. N.O. Compositae.
Synonym : Indian Sage, Thoroughwort.
Habitat : Damp places.
Features : One or more erect stems, branched at top. Leaves opposite, lanceolate, four to six inches long, united at base, crenate edges, tiny, yellow resin dots beneath. Flowers August to October. Persistently- bitter taste.
Part used : Herb.
Action : Diaphoretic, febrifuge, tonic, laxative, expectorant.
Influenza and feverish conditions generally, for which purpose it is very successfully used by the American negroes. Also used in catarrhs. The infusion of 1 ounce to 1 pint boiling water may be given in wineglassful doses frequently, hot as a diaphoretic and febrifuge, cold as a tonic.
F. H. England, of the College of Medicine and Surgery, Chicago (Physio-Medical) says : "It is a pure relaxant to the liver. It acts slowly and persistently. Its greatest power is manifested upon the stomach, liver, bowels and uterus." BROOM. Cytisus scoparius. N.O. Leguminosae.
Synonym : Irish Broom and Besom.
Habitat : Dry, hilly wastes.
Features : The stem is angular, five-sided, dark green, and branches at an acute angle. Yellow pea-like flowers appear in May and June. The lower leaves are on short stalks and consist of three small obovate leaflets, the upper leaves being stalkless and frequently single.
Part used : Tops.
Action : Powerfully diuretic.
Broom tops are often used with Agrimony and Dandelion root for dropsy and liver disorders. For this purpose a decoction of 1 ounce each of Broom tops and Agrimony and ounce Dandelion root to 3 pints of water simmered down to 1 quart is taken in wineglassful doses every four or five hours.
Coffin recommends us to : "Take of broom-tops, juniper-berries and dandelion-roots, each half-an-ounce, water, a pint and a half, boil down to a pint, strain, and add half-a-teaspoonsful of cayenne pepper. Dose, half-awineglassful four times a day." BRYONY. Bryonia alba. N.O. Cucurbitaceae.
Synonym : Bryonia, English Mandrake, Mandragora, Wild Vine. Habitat : Hedges and thickets.
Features : Stem rough, hairy, freely branched, climbs several feet by numerous curling tendrils. Leaves vine-like, five- or seven-lobed, coarse and rough. Flowers (May to September), white, green-veined, in axillar panicles. Berries scarlet when ripe. Branched root one to two feet long, white internally and externally. Not to be confused with American Mandrake (q.v.).
Part used : Root.
Action : Cathartic, hydragogue.
Cough, influenza, bronchitis. Cardiac disorders resulting from rheumatism and gout. Is also used in malarial and zymotic diseases. Dose of the fluid extract, I to 1 drachm. Large doses to be avoided.
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