PLANTS, Medicinal, plants of which some part is used in medicine or from which some preparation is extracted for similar purpose. To persons unacquainted with the nature of the various wild plants which surround them in farm and outdoor life, it comes as a great sur prise to find that the world's supply of crude, botanical (vegetable) drugs are for the most part procured from the leaves, bark, seed, flowers, rhizome, etc., of these very plants, many of which are regarded as noxious weeds. The most valuable drug-plants which grow in America, from the point of view of the grower, are ginseng and golden seal (qq.v.), but there are all told more than 1,000 different plants which are indigenous or naturalized in the United States alone. Some of these are very valuable and have, since their medicinal prop erties were discovered, come into use in all parts of the world, others now collected in the United States have been brought here, and much, like the English sparrow, become in their propagation a nuisance and a pest to the farmer. The limitations of the present article preclude any extended discussion of the methods and habits of growth of the several plants, the methods of planting, cultivating, curing, preparation or extraction of the drugs, prices, etc. This information will be found, in the case of the more important plants, in the arti cles on these plants, v.g., Ginseng. It is in tended here merely to set forth briefly those plants having a medicinal value, indicating the part or parts so used, and the general uses of each. As in the case of many native medicinal plants the early settlers in America learned of the virtues of Golden Seal (Hydrastis canaden sis) through the Indians, who used the root as a medicine and the yellow juice as a stain for their faces and a dye for their clothing. Golden Seal is also known by different names in different localities, most of them bearing some reference to the characteristic yellow color of the root, such as yellow root, yellow puccoon, orange root, yellow paint, yellow Indian paint, golden root, Indian dye, curcuma, wild curcuma, wild tumeric, Indian tumeric, jaundice root and yellow eye, eyebalm, eye root and ground raspberry. The rhizome or root stock and rootlets are the parts used in medicine. When dry the root measures from one to two inches in length and from one-eighth to one-third of an inch in diameter. The Indians regarded Golden Seal as a specific for sore and inflamed eyes and it was a very popular remedy with pioneers of Ohio and Kentucky for this affec tion, as also for sore mouth, the root being chewed for the relief of the last-named trouble. The juice is also used as a diuretic stimulant and escharotic, the powder for blistering and the infusion for the dropsy. It is useful in digestive disorders and in certain catarrhal affections of the mucous membranes. In 1860 the root was officially listed in the United States Phar inacopceia. The plant is native from southern New York to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Missouri. It is estimated that the annual consumption of Golden Seal root is from 200, 000 to 300,000 pounds annually, about one-tenth of which is exported. Consult Bulletin edited by Alice Henkel and published by the Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Depart ment of Agriculture.
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), also known locally as black snakeroot, bugbane, bug wort, rattlesnake root, rattleroot, rattletop, rich weed and squawroot. It grows in the shaded woodlands from Maine to Wisconsin and south to Georgia and west to Missouri. The Indians long regarded the root as a valuable medicinal plant, not only for the treatment of snake bites, but it was also a very popular remedy among their women, and it is to-day esteemed as an alterative, emmenagogue and sedative. It is officially listed in the United States Pharma copeia.
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides), also known locally as papoose root, blueberry root, blue ginseng, yellow ginseng. The dried root is the part used in medicine as a demulcent, antispasmodic, emmenagogue and diuretic. Snakeroot (Asarum canadensis). also called wild ginger, Indian ginger, Vermont snakeroot, heart-snakeroot, southern snakeroot, colt's foot, broadleaved asarabacca, colic root, etc. The root is used as an aromatic, diaphoretic and carminative. Serpentaria, also known locally as snakeweed, pelican-flower, sangrel, sangree root, etc., grows in rich woods from Connecti cut to Michigan and certain varieties occur in the southwestern States. The roots are used for their stimulant, tonic and diaphoretic prop erties. It is officially listed in the United States Pharmacopeia. May-apple (Podophyl him pettatunt), also locally named mandrake, wild lemon, ground-lemon, hog-apple, raccoon berry, duck's foot, umbrella-plant, vegetable calomel, etc. It grows all over the eastern half of North America. The root is used as an ac tive cathartic and is official in the United States Pharmacopeia. Pokeweed (Phytolacca decan dra), also commonly called poke, pigeon-berry, garget, stoke, pocan, coakum, inkberry, Amer ican nightshade, redweed, etc., is found in rich soils fence rows and on unimproved land from Maine to Minnesota and south to Texas. The root is used for its alter ative properties in treating various diseases of the skin and blood, and in certain cases in re lieving pain and allaying inflammation. It also acts upon the bowels and causes vomiting. The matured berries are also used in medicine. Seneca snakeroot (Polygala senega) or moun tain flax, the root, once used by the Indians as a cure for snakebite, is now employed as an ex pectorant, emetic and diuretic. Lady's Slipper (Cyripedium hirsutunt Mill), or moccasin flower, nerve-root, male nervine, umbril root, etc., rootstock and roots are used in medicine as a nerve tonic and an antispasmodic, also for the same purposes as valerian. Bethroot hum erectum L.), birthroot, bathwort red wake
robin, bumblebee-root, dishcloth, Indian sham rock, wood-lily, etc. Root used in medicine as an astringent, tonic, alterative and expectorant. Culver's Root (Leptandra virginica) or black root, speedwell, tall veronica, wholywort; root stock and roots used as an alterative, cathartic and in disorders of the liver. Stone root (Col linsonia canadensis), or knobroot, horsebaim, richweed, ox-balm, citronella; root used for its tonic, astringent. diuretic and diaphoretic prop erties. Leaves are also used as an application to bruises. Crawley-Root (Corallorhiza odor torhiza) or coral root, dragon's claw, chicken toe, fever root; root used to promote perspira tion and also as a sedative and in fever. Male fern (Aspitiium) or sweet brake, basket-fern, etc.; root used as a remedy for worms. Care must be taken to avoid overdoses which are highjy dangerous. Goldthread (Coptis trifolia) or cankerroot, mouthroot, etc.; root used as a remedy for ulcerated and sore mouth; also as a wash or gargle for similar affections and as a bitter tonic. Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla) or rheumatism root, helmet pod, ground-squirrel pea, etc.; rootstock used as a diuretic, alterative, antispasmodic, and a stimulating diaphoretic. Large doses are emetic. Canada moonseed (Menispermum canadense), or yellow sarsapa rilla, vine-maple, etc.; both roots and rootstock are used in medicine as a tonic, alterative, and diuretic. Wild turnip (Arum triphyllum), or wild pepper, devil's ear, starchwort, priest's pintle, etc.; the partially dried corn is used as a stimulant, diaphoretic, expectorant and irri tant. Black Indian hemp (Apocynum canna binum), bowman's root, wild cotton, etc.; root has emetic cathartic, diaphoretic, expectorant and diuretic properties, and is much used in drop sical affections. Chamnlirium or Helonias (C. luteum), or unicorn root, drooping starwort, devil's bit, etc.,• of especial use in derangements of women. Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa), or colic root, devil's bones; root is said to possess expectorant properties and to promote perspira tion, and in large doses providing emetic. It is sometimes used in bilious colic. Skunk-cabbage (Drat-annum ftetidum), or polecatweed, col lard, stinking poke, etc.; rootstock is used in affections of the respiratory organs, in nervous disorders, rheumatism and dropsical complaints. American Hellebore (Veratrum viride), or bear-corn, bug-bane, earth-gall, itchweed, etc.; it is an acrid narcotic poison, and has emetic, diaphoretic and sedative properties. Other medicinal plants with their specific uses in medicine are: Water-eryngo (diuretic, expecto rant) ; yellow jasmine or jessamine (powerful effect on nervous system); sweet flag (aromatic stimulant and tonic in feeble digestion; dried root chewed for dyspepsia) ; blue flag (altera tive, diuretic and purgative) ; cranes-bill (tonic and astringent) ; dandelion (tonic in diseases of the liver and in dyspepsia) ; soapwort (tonic, alterative, diaphoretic) ; burdock (alterative in blood and skin diseases) ; yellow dock (purifier of blood and in the treatment of skin diseases); stillingia, or queen's root, nettle-potato, etc. (alterative) • American Colombo, or yellow gen tian, ground century, etc. (simple tonic, emetic and cathartic); couch-grass, quitch-grass, etc. (fluid extract used in affections of the kidney and bladder) ; echinacea, or coneflower, nigger head (alterative and to promote perspiration); aletris, or stargrass, starwort, aloe-root, husk wort, etc. (of value in digestive affections) ; wild indigo, or yellow broom, shoofly, etc. (emetic and cathartic in large doses; stimulant, astringent and antiseptic; and as a local applica tion to sores, ulcers, etc.) ; pleurisy-root (used in disordered digestion and in affections of the lungs to promote expectoration and induce easier breathing) ; blood root, coon root, yellow puccoon, tetterwort, tumeric, etc. (tonic, alter ative, emetic and stimulant) ; pinkroot, or star bloom, wormweed (principal use is as an an thelmintic) ; Indian physic or false ipecac (emetic) ; wild sarsaparilla, shotbush, wild licorice (alterative, stimulant and diaphoretic) ; comfrey, or bruisewort, gumplant, slippery-root (used in coughs and diarrheal complaints; ac tion is slightly astringent and demulcent) ; ele campane, or horseheal, elfwort, velvet-dock, wild sunflower (used in affections of the respi ratory organs, in digestive and liver disorders, catarrhal discharges and skin diseases) ; queen of the meadow, or boneset, motherwort, quill wort, etc. (astringent and diuretic) ; hydrangea, or seven-barks (as a diuretic and in calculous complaints) ; Oregon grape, or holly-leaf bar berry (tonic and blood purifier, berries in pre serves and cooling drinks). Ginseng (roots ex ported to China, where they are reported to he used as an almost universal remedy. Odd shaped roots are said to be especially pilzed as talismans. Many other plants are used in lim ited quantities, among which may be noted birch bark, blackberry, catnip, chicory, corn ergot or smut, geranium, hemlock, huckleberry, penny royal, peppermint, sheep laurel, tag alder, water pepper, wintergreen, witchhazel, etc.
Bibliography.— Henkel, Alice, 'Weeds Used in Medicine)) (Farmers' Bulletin No. 188, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington 1904) ; Harding, A. R., 'Ginseng and Other Medicinal Plants' (Columbus, Ohio, 1913) ; Hobbs, Charles E.,
Botanical Handbook' (Boston 1876) ; Kraemer, Henry,