SOLOMON’ S SEAL( AMERICAN) Polygonatum biflorum( Walt.) Ell( U. S. Agricultural Department, Appalachia, 1971)
As a successful decoction used for pectoral affections, menorrhagia, female debilities, whites, inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Will relieve pain and heal haemorrhoids if a tea solution is injected three or four times a day. An agent for obvious conditions such as erysipelas, itch, etc.; also of use in neuralgia and ruptures when taken internally and an external poultice applied to painful area. Dose: 1 oz. of the root to 1 pint of boiling water, taken in wineglassful amounts. Externally: The extract from the root is used to diminish freckles and discoloration of the skin. If the fresh root is used, proceed with caution and dilute with water until you find individual acceptance. Used for congested blood caused from bruises, and will close fresh and bleeding wounds. Russian Experience: Koopena Medical, Solomon’ s seal, grows throughout the country. Folk Medicine have used its properties for many centuries. Recently modern science of Russia has been interested( Zemlinsky, 1951; Hopp, 1958). Folk Medicine and Clinical: Decoction of the dried rhizome for stomach and duodenal ulcer( Popov, 1964)( Bello-Russ. Academy of Science, 1965). Externally: The fresh juice of the rhizome and decoction of it dried is useful for old and fresh wounds. Fresh juice for freckles( Cholovsky, 1888).
SORREL Rumex acetosa, L.( N. O.: Polygonaceae)
Common Names: Meadow Sorrow, Sourgrass, Red Top Sorrel. Features: Introduced from Europe and now widely distributed in North America. Sorrel is a name applied to several unrelated plants having in their leaves an acid sap that gives them a sour flavour. It is a low perennial, sprouting from slender running root stocks, and has red pigment in root, inflorescences, and often in leaves, which are halberd to linear shaped. The plants are one-sexed and either pollen or seed bearing. Acidity may result from the presence of one or more of. several organic acids, citric, malic and oxalic being the most common. Medicinal Part: The leaves. Solvent: Water. Bodily Influence: Diuretic, Antiscorbutic, Refrigerant, Vermifuge. Uses: Sorrel is known to the natives of our country as an agent for the stomach, and they use the fresh leaves as pot herbs or in salads. In herbal practice we also agree that Sorrel resists the putrefaction of the blood and is indicated for conditions of inflammation of fever, and to quench the thirst. Also a cordial to the heart. The life-giving properties of Sorrel to the system is not received with the same acceptance for intestinal worms; they have no resistance to the properties of Sorrel and their presence could cause