Bodily Influence: Anodyne, Demulcent, Astringent. Uses: The Indian’ s knowledge of Hound’ s-tongue was to cook the root for relief in colic, and as a poultice for scalds and burns. It is chiefly valuable for coughs, catarrh, bleeding from the lungs and other disorders of the respiratory apparatus, the action of the root being cooling, drying and binding. It is very soothing to the digestive organs in diarrhoea, dysentery and relief of piles. Externally: According to Herbalists of long experience, bruised Hound’ s-tongue leaves applied to the lesion of a bite from a mad dog is the only medication needed. They also state that loss of hair from high fevers is controlled by bruising the leaves and making a salve with swine’ s grease and massaging over the scalp.
The leaves and root are both applied with great benefit as a poultice to old ulcers, scrofulous tumours, burns, goitres and recent bruises and abrasions. Russian Experience: If the Russian name, Sobachyi Yazik, were translated it would be the same as our common name, Dog’ s tongue, but in literature it is used as Chernyi Koren— Black Root. Old Folk Medicine found many uses for Hound’ s-tongue: to reduce pain, swelling of boils, cramps, coughs, tuberculosis and stomach aches. The leaves were collected when in flower, May to June; roots in late summer and early autumn.
Recent literature usually warns against unexperienced use as it has a toxic effect if improperly administered. Externally: It is used as a poultice for boils, wounds, ulcers and the bite of snakes or mad dogs. The powder mixed with grease, oil or lard as an ointment for rheumatic pains, and as Nastoika( with vodka) for wounds. Insecticide: It is not unusual to find organic material poisonous to troublesome creatures such as insects and rodents. It has been proven that these creatures cannot stand the smell of Dog’ s-tongue, and will leave the premises as soon as the aroma reaches them. It is said they will abandon ship and jump into the sea if there is a trace of this used as an insecticide.
A— HOUND’ S-TONGUE B— Fruit( Ontario Department of Agriculture, Toronto, Canada, 1966)
HYDRANGEA Hydrangea arborescens, L.( N. O.: Saxifragaceae)
Common Names: Wild Hydrangea, Seven Barks( due to the seven separate layers of different coloured bark). Features: Indigenous to North America and native to woodlands of rich, moist and some shady soil. There are twenty-three species of arborescens related to the well-known cultivated Hydrangea, widely distributed in eastern Asia, eastern, north central, and South America. The flowers are mostly white,