PINKROOT. Spigelia marilandica. N.O. Loganiaceae.
Synonym : Carolina Pink, Indian Pink, Maryland Pink, Wornigrass.
Habitat : Southern states of U.S.A.
Features : Imported root is rather less than a quarter of an inch thick, cup-shaped scars on upper surface, many rootlets underneath.
Part used : Root.
Action : Anthelmintic.
Widely used throughout the United States, where it is considered the best of the vermifuges, and is given to both children and adults suffering from the pests. A purgative such as Senna is usually added, as it is said to cause the Spigelia to act more quickly and effectively. An infusion of 1 ounce to 1 pint is given night and morning, in doses varying with the patient's age up to one teacupful for adults.
In this country such remedies as Tansy and Wormwood are more commonly prescribed in the treatment of worms.
Synonym : Also called Ripple Grass and Waybread, the herb is known in Scotland as "Soldiers," and in America and New Zealand as "Englishman's Foot"—Plantain being supposed always to follow in his footsteps.
Habitat : Spreads in meadows, along the borders of fields, and in the hedgerows.
Features : Springing from the root, the large leaves are ovate' blunt, and contract abruptly at the base. When, however, the plant is found in open fields the leaves tend to grow upwards on channelled stalks. The very small, brownish-purple flowers grow close together on a spike about five inches long. The plant is astringent to the taste, and odourless.
Part used : The leaves are used medicinally.
Action : Alterative and diuretic.
Combined with other agents, they are of some value in piles and diarrhoea. The fresh juice will give relief from insect and nettle stings.
John Skelton writes that Plantain "makes one of the best ointments for piles I know of." PLEURISY ROOT. Asclepias tuberosa. N.O. Asclepiadaceae.
Synonym : Butterfly Weed, Tuber Root, Wind Root.
Habitat : Moist, loamy soil. Indigenous to U.S.A.
Features : Stem two to three feet high, contains milky juice. Root, wrinkled longitudinally, light brown outer surface, whitish internally ; fracture tough, irregul ar. Rootstock knotty, faintly ringed. Acrid taste.
Part used : Root.
Action : Diaphoretic, expectorant, antispasmodic.
Chest complaints ; acts directly on the lungs, and stimulates sweat glands. Relaxes capillaries, relieving strain on heart and lungs. Reduces pain and assists breathing in pleurisy. Infusion of 1 ounce of the powdered root with 1 pint of boiling water is taken in wineglass doses, to which a teaspoonful of composition powder (Myrica compound) may be added with advantage.
Synonym : Garget, Pigeon Berry.
Habitat : U.S.A. Cultivated on a small scale in England for medicinal purposes.
Features : The root is obtainable in longitudinally split pieces or in transverse slices. Ringed, brownish-grey externally, hard and whitish inside ; fibrous fracture. Berries purplish-black, nearly globular, ten carpels, each containing one lens-shaped seed.
Part used : Root, berries.
Action : Alterative, cathartic.
Chronic rheumatism and skin diseases. Of some use in dyspepsia. Action of root stronger than berries. For rheumatism the root is often compounded with Black Coliosh and Wintergreen.
Preparation and dosage vary considerably with the condition of the root. Thurston, Hammer and other physio-medical practitioners recommend that only the green root should be used, owing to rapid deterioration. These herbalists use the fresh root largely in hardening of the liver and reduced biliary flow.
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