PRICKLY ASH BARK Xanthoxylum americanum, Mill.( U. S. Agricultural Department, Appalachia, 1971)
Medicinal Parts: The bark and berries. Solvents: Boiling water, dilute alcohol. Bodily Influence: Stimulant, Diaphoretic, Alterative, Nervine, Sialagogue. Uses: Excellent, innocent, tonic used for convalescence from fevers and other diseases. It promotes general perspiration, invigorates the stomach and strengthens the digestive organs when slow, which permits unwanted sluggish fermentation, at the same time equalizing the circulation. For more effectiveness the infusion, or tincture preferably, of 5 – 10 drops Prickly ash( Xanthoxylum) 3 drops Golden Seal( Hydrastis) and 1 drop Capsicum should be given shortly before meals in warm water. In chronic cases the tincture is more desirable than the infusion and may be used where there is lack of hepatic and pancreatic activity, chronic muscular rheumatism, lumbago, scrofula, temporary paralysis, chronic female trouble and syphilis. J. Kloss in“ Back to Eden”:“ The berries are stimulant, antispasmodic, carminative acting mostly on the mucous tissue removing obstructions in every part of the body.” Prickly ash will increase the flow of saliva and moisten the dry tongue often found in liver malfunctions, and is helpful in paralysis of the tongue and mouth. The fresh bark chewed will give relief in the most inveterate cases of toothache; also the inside bark steeped in whisky and the tincture applied. In all the above mentioned, if the stomach is irritable and sensitive, Prickly ash may not be kindly received and then the tincture should be given in warm water. Dose: 1 teaspoonful of the bark, cut small or granulated, to 1 cupful of boiling water; drink a mouthful at a time throughout the day, more according to case. Of the tincture, 5 – 20 drops. Externally: The powdered bark is applied directly on indolent ulcers and old wounds. Coffin recommends 1 oz. of the pulzerized powder to 4 oz. of olive oil, heated, and used as a massage night and morning, for rheumatic pain. Homoeopathic Clinical: Tincture of fresh bark— After-pains, Asthma, Coccygodynis, Dysmenorrhoea, Earache, Fibroma, Headache, Hemiplegia, Hysteria, Jaw joint( pain in), Lactation, Menstruation( painful), Nerves( injured), Nervousness, Neuralgia, Ophthalmia, Sciatica, Toothache, Ulcers.
PRIVET
Ligustrum vulgare( Common); Ligustrum amurense( Amur)( N. O.: Oleaceae)
Common Names: Privy, Prim. Features: A common name of shrubs and small trees of the genus Ligustrum, in the olive family