[422 Mothers’ remedies]

Gather.—­July, August and September.

Flowers (when).—­During spring and summer.

Grows (where).—­Everywhere, it seems.

Prepared (how).—­Juice is used, also infusion, extract and fluid extract. 
Infusion, two ounces of root to the pint of water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—­Dose of infusion one to two ounces.  Juice, ten drops to one-half teaspoonful.  Extract, ten grains.  Fluid extract, one to two teaspoonfuls.  It should be taken often enough, when the liver is torpid, to move the bowels once or twice a day.  If the infusion is used, begin with a half ounce and take every three hours; increase or decrease as necessary.  The extract is pleasanter and less bulky and best to use in winter.  Take two or three grains every three hours more or less.

Devil’s bit.  False Unicorn Root.  Drooping Starwort.  Blazing Star.  Helonias
Divica.  Somewhat similar to true unicorn root.

Internally, used for.—­Used mainly in womb troubles, strengthens the womb and prevents miscarriages.  Good also for leucorrhea, amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea.

Part used.—­Root.  Root is two to two and a half inches in length.

Gather.—­In autumn.

Flowers (when).—­June and July.

Grows (where).—­In low grounds in United States and Canada.

Prepared (how).—­Powdered root and decoction.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—­It is a tonic to the womb and should be used for two months before the time the miscarriage usually occurs.  For the other womb troubles, it should be taken four times a day.  The fluid extract can be bought at any drug store, and can be used.  Dose:  Fifteen drops, four times daily.  Dose of powder, ten to twenty grains.  Decoction, one to two ounces.

Elder (Sweet).  Black-berried Elder.  Sambucus Canadensis.

Internally, used for.—­Erysipelas, kidneys, for sweating purposes, blood diseases and scarlet fever.

Externally, used for.—­Burns, scalds, ulcers, skin diseases and weak eyes.

Part used.—­Flowers and berries.  Bark of the root also is used.

Gather.—­Gather when in flower and when berries are ripe.

Flowers (when).—­In summer.

Grows (where).—­Grows in all parts of United States and Canada.

[Herb department 423]

Prepared (how).—­Infusion, one ounce of the flowers or root to a pint of boiling water.

Diseases, Dose, etc.—­Use warm infusion for sweating and for erysipelas, half teaspoonful every three hours.  Too much taken will move the bowels and also cause vomiting.  Same for scarlet fever in adults.  Infusion of the bark of the root may be taken in doses of half ounce twice daily, to act as a cathartic.  Local, use inner bark of the limbs and steep with cream and apply freely and often for burns, sores, etc.  For weak eyes make a tea from the flowers and use as an eye wash for children.