leaves, and they should be collected when they have almost reached maturity. Collect the root after the fullness of the leaves; the flowers, as soon as they open. When dried, all three have a faintly herbaceous bitter taste. Medicinal Part: The leaves. Solvents: Water, diluted alcohol. Bodily Influence: Emollient, Demulcent, Expectorant, Slight Tonic, Pectoral. Uses: For congestion of the pulmonary system, especially if inclined to consumption. For these symptoms Horehound, Ground ivy, Marsh-mallow and Elder flower have been successfully combined with Coltsfoot, making up half of the compound. However, the juice of Coltsfoot by itself is effective in troublesome coughs. The botanical name Tussilago means“ Cough Dispeller”; this includes Coughs, Asthma, Whooping cough, in short, a chest and lung expectorant. Dose: Steep 1 teaspoonful of the leaves in 1 cup of boiling water for ½ hour; drink ½ cupful at bed time, hot or cold, or a mouthful three times a day, or administer according to case, up to 2 cupfuls daily. Of the tincture, 1 – 2 fl. drams. Externally: The leaves, bruised or steeped in hot water, may be applied to the chest for relieving fever, feebleness and easing the heart, also for open wounds to draw out the injurious matter. Use as a poultice in scrofulous tumours. For sore feet, or when bruised externally, fevered swelling and skin irritations, apply fresh, and often. Homoeopathic Clinical: Tincture of the whole plant— Corpulence, Plethora. Russian Experience:“ Mat i Matcheha”,“ Mother and step mother”, is Russia’ s name for Coltsfoot. Folk Medicine: The leaves and flowers are first aid home treatment for colds, acute and chronic lung infections.
COMFREY Symphytum ollicinale, L.( N. O.: Borraginaceae)
Common Names: Gum Plant, Healing Herb, Knit Bone, Nipbone. Features: The genus includes some twenty-five species of herbs native to Europe, Asia Minor, Siberia and Iran. The common Comfrey is naturalized in much of North America. Comfrey is a perennial with a stout spreading root, brownish-black and wrinkled, the stem about 3 ft. high and large, coarsely hairy, egg to lance shaped leaves, with wavy edges.
The blue-purplish, yellow, white, or red tubular flowers, less than 1 in. long, are borne in coiled clusters. They have five stamens and the fruit consists of four shiny brown to black nutlets, which can be seen in August. It flowers in May and June and grows by riversides and in most moist places. The root contains a large amount of mucilage and is rich in easily assimilated organic calcium. Medicinal Parts: Root and leaves. Solvent: Water. Bodily Influence: Demulcent, Astringent. Use: American Indians found the value of medical Comfrey and used it with many other naturalized plants. When internal functions are weakened or injured to the degree of showing bloody discharge, whether in sputum, urine or bowels, Comfrey will prevent serious complications by healing the tissue and easing the pain of the involved areas of bones, tendons, ruptured lungs and other delicate cells.
By knowledge of the past and present, Comfrey has long been accepted as being of great value as a soothing demulcent, a general stimulant to the mucous membrane of the respiratory organs and to help increase expectoration, thus aiding the bronchial tubes.
A syrup made of equal parts of Comfrey and Elecampane roots is a most valuable agent for