LABRADOR TEA Ledum latifolium, Jacq.( Medicina, Moscow, 1965)
LADY’ S SLIPPER— Cypripedium pubescens, Willd.( N. O.: Orchidaceae)
Common Names: Nerve Root, Noah’ s Ark, Yellow Lady’ s Slipper, American Valerian, Yellow Moccasin Flower. Features: Lady’ s slippers are among the primitive members of the family Orchidaceae and are among the most beautiful and best known orchids. Some fifty species comprise the genus cypripedium, found in Europe, Asia and North America and as far south as the tropics. There are eleven species found in North America. Professor Rainesque, in“ Medical Botany”, of the University of Pennslyvania, says:“ All species are equally remedial.”
The plant grows in North America in rich woods and meadows and flowers in May and June. The two or more folded and prominently ribbed leaves are sheathed, located near the base of the plant or on the stem. The usually showy flowers( numbering one to twelve) are characterized by the sessile, inflated or pouch-shaped, variously coloured lip, from which the plant received its general name, Aphrodite’ s shoe. The Indians called the beautiful plant“ Mocassin Flower”, its use being known to them for generations. The empyrics of new England, particularly Samuel Thompson, had much respect for mutual evidence. The fibrous roots are the parts used in medicine and they should be gathered and carefully cleaned in August or September. Medicinal Part: The root. Solvents: Boiling water, diluted alcohol. Bodily Influence: Antiperiodic, Nervine, Tonic. Uses: This medicine is an excellent nervine and acts as a tonic to the exhausted nervous system, improving by circulation and nutrition of the nerve centres. It relieves pain( if present) and produces a calm and tranquil condition of body and mind. From the quick response and high attributions many suppose it possesses narcotic properties, but to this the answer is“ none present”.
It is of special value in reflex functional disorders or chorea, hysteria, nervous headache, insomnia, low fevers, nervous unrest, hypochondria and nervous depression accompanying stomach disorders. During fevers its use is indicated for restlessness and during the early fever stages of pneumonia, combined with a little lobelia( Lobelia inflata) and Ginger( Zingiber), it will often cut short the trouble. Combine with Skull cap( Scutellaria) in various nervous affections such as hysteria, headache, St. Vitus dance or other diseases of this nature. For the feeling of depression due to stomach disorders, Lady’ s slipper( Cypripedium) and Chamomile( Anthemis nobilis) is your preparation, before meals, and on retiring. As a home remedy the root is best roughly ground, 5 tablespoonfuls in 1 pint of boiling water; steep for an hour, 1 tablespoonful every hour, as needed. Of the tincture of Cypripedium alone, 5 – 30 drops, according to age and severity of condition.