Externally: The wine decoction applied to draw out thorns and splinters of wood or any other foreign object in the flesh.
ALDER Black prinos verticillatus( N. O.: Aquifoliaceae)
Common Names: Winter Berry, Fever Bush, Black Alder. Features: Alder, the common name applied to the genus alnus, of the Betulaceae or Birch family. Ten species occur in the United States, but altogether there are about thirty species of deciduous monoecious trees and shrubs widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere and ranging as far south as Peru. Most Alders flower in the spring before the leaves appear, with ripe berries in autumn. Medicinal Part: The bark. Solvent: Boiling water. Bodily Influence: Tonic, Alterative, Astringent, Cathartic. Uses: Very similar in action to Cascara when used for constipation. Alder is an agent used for jaundice, diarrhoea, gangrene, dropsy and all diseases with symptoms of great weakness. It has had success in treatment of dyspepsia, combined with 2 drams of powdered Golden seal( Hydrastis) infused in 1 pint of boiling water and when cold taken in wine glass doses periodically throughout the day and repeated daily.
Make sure you age the outer and inner bark, as the green bark will provoke strong vomiting, pain and gripping in the stomach. Let the decoction stand and settle two or three days, until the yellow colour is changed to black. In this manner it will strengthen the stomach and procure an appetite.
The berries are cathartic and vermifuge when combined with apple cider, a pleasant and effective worm medicine for children. Plan on giving this when the moon is full, as they are most conducive to treatment. Fast the patient before going to bed and give a herbal laxative, fasting again in the morning, and repeat Alder medication. Repeat again after four weeks as the larvae will still be present. Dose: ½ dram of powdered bark to 1 dram of apple cider; 1 teaspoonful three times a day, for three days in a row, or as above. Externally: The decoction forms an excellent local application in gangrene, indolent ulcers and in some affections of the skin.
The inner bark boiled in vinegar is an approved remedy to kill head lice and to relieve the itch and take away scabs by drying them up in a short time. For oral hygiene, it is cleansing to the teeth and to take away pain, at the same time firming to the gums. Homoeopathic Clinical: Tincture of the bark of the young twigs and the bark of Alnus rubra, Tag alder, and Alnus glutinosa, Common Alder of Europe, is clinically used for Ammenorrhoea and Leucorrhoea, Enlarged Glands, Gleet, Haemorrhage, Psora, Rheumatism, Scrofula, Syphilis and many kinds of skin sickness such as Herpes, Impetigo, Prurigo. Russian Use: Three species of Alnus incanc( Olha), black, grey and white, have a prominent place in Pharmacopoeia and Folk Medicine. Parts Used: Cones( Fructus Alni), bark of the young twigs( Cortex Alni), leaves( Folia Alni).
These parts of Alder contain 16 per cent of Tannin, which gives predominant characteristics as an astringent. Uses: As a tea it is used for loose stomach( diarrhoea) and bleeding thereof. Dose: 3 to 4 cups a day, a mouthful at a time. Can be combined with other herbal teas for astringent