places. Dilute tincture dropped in the ears will kill worms therein. The root or seeds bruised and held on an aching tooth will relieve the pain. Dose: 1 teaspoonful of the herb cut small or granulated to 1 cup of boiling water; drink cold 1 cup during the day, a mouthful at a time. Of the tincture, 30 – 60 drops. Homoeopathic Clinical: Amenorrhoea, Antrum( pain in), Blepharitis, Colic( flatulent), Cough, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Dysmenia, Dysuria Eczema, Epilepsy, Gonorrhoea, Gravel, Haemorrhoids, Heart( affections of), Hysteria, Laryngitis, Spleen( affections of), Strangury, Ulcers. Russian Experience: Arsesmart( Water pepper) is not cultivated commercially but the State encourages its preservation in its natural habitat. In all Russian medical and herbal literature, including general and medical encyclopedias, attention is given to several kinds of Polygonum, and one of them, Polygonum hydropiper( Water pepper-Vodianoy Peretz), is appraised for many things.
Medical research and clinical experiments show that Polygonum contains many minerals and oil, but especially rutin, Vitamins C and K. Uses: Folk Medicine gives a good account of its use to stop bleeding and sometimes as a diuretic. As a dye that cannot be repeated artificially for rich and beautiful yellow, golden yellow, and golden green colours.
ASH TREE Fraxinus excelsior, L.( N. O.: Oleaceae)
Common Names: American White Ash, European Ash, Weeping Ash. Features: Ash, a genus( fraxinus) of approximately sixty-five species of trees and some shrubs, native mostly of the north temperate zone in North America, Europe and Asia, and extending south into Mexico and Java. It is classified in the Olive family, Oleaceae. There are species thought to be of this family, but are claimed by the popular apple and pear genus. Fraxinus excelsior is easily identified through its composed 7 – 11 sessile, toothed leaflets, and small flowers coming in panicles from the axils of the preceding year’ s leaves.
The clustered flowers in many species are imperfect. The flowering ash has two to six( mostly four) narrow white petals, and may grow to over 100 ft. in height. Its use is legendary, from making shoes to musical instruments. Tree yields manna. Bark contains glucoside, fraxin and essential oil.
Of the many species seventeen are in North America, distinguished from each other mostly by detailed characteristic of the fruits. Medicinal Parts: The bark and leaves. Solvent: Boiling water. Bodily Influence: Antiperiodic, Laxative, Purgative, Stimulant. Uses: The bark is used in intermittent fevers, ague, etc. The young tender leaves are used in gout, arthritis and rheumatic pain, dropsy, and obese conditions.
Culpeper( 1616 – 54) mentions the following:“ The decoction of the leaves in white wine helpeth to break the stone and expel it, and cure jaundice.” The leaves have a reputation as a preventive measure for snake bites, taken as a tea and the leaves applied to the bite. Foreign species are favoured medicinally over the American White ash. Italy sends to the United States a bark exudation of Fraxinus ornus, more commonly called“ Manna”, a favourite laxative for children. Dose: 1 teaspoonful of the leaves or bark to 1 cup of boiling water, steeped for 30 min.; 2 – 4 cups a day. Homoeopathic Clinical: American Ash tree is used clinically in cases of affection of the Uterus, Prolapsus and Tumours.