Menorrhagia, Tetanus, Tongue( cancer of). Russian Experience: Kalina( Viburnum opulus) is the words and melody used by the Russian Folk singers and responds medically as well. Many years ago Black haw was used in the home before it was recognized clinically and given the credit it deserves.
As we are all inclined to believe, imports are not always desirable. Russia at first imported American Black haw and long afterwards revalued their own Folk Medicine and found the contents to be the same as the American herb. Today it is used in clinics and hospitals as extracts and compounds, concentrating mostly on heart treatment. Uses: As a tea and decoction it is used for female complaints: painful menstruation, excess of bleeding, cramps and hysteria.
Sometimes associated with and used for heart tonic, blood circulation, kidney and bladder, and many other ailments, as there is seldom an isolated condition. Bark decoction for cramps. Berries for ulcers. Leaves as tea and decoction, also Nastoika( a kind of brandy), or better still, extract with Russian vodka. Nastoika with Kalina Yagoda( Black haw berries) is the best home medicine for ulcers.
BLACK INDIAN HEMP Apocynum cannabinum, L.( N. O.: Apocynaceae)
Features: Native to North America, of the Dogbane family, growing wild in pastures and fields.
It is one of several species called Indian hemp. The root grows deep in the soil, supporting a plant 1 – 5 ft. tall with erect, smooth and pointed leaves and resembling Bitter root( Apocynum androsaemifolium). They are distinguishable by their leaves and flowers. The leaves of this species are oblong and sharper pointed at both ends, while those of the Bitter root are pointed only at the outer end and quite round at the stalk end.
The flowers of this species are greenish-yellow, a light pink or purple inside, while those of the Bitter root are white, tinged with red. Poisonous to stock, but usually avoided due to the bitter, rubbery juice. The seeds, oil and fibre of hemp have uses for paint, bird preparations and clothing.
Indians made nets and rope from the fibres of pounded stems and roots. Medicinal Part: The root. Solvent: Water. Bodily Influence: Anodyne, Hypnotic, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Diaphoretic, Expectorant, Cathartic, Tonic. Uses: The dried rhizomes and roots were used as a heart stimulant and for kidney complaints by the Indians. The root should be used with caution as too large an amount will cause vomiting, etc. This plant has the same attributes as Bitter root for the relief of dropsy.
A quote from the book by Dr. G. Wood and Dr. E. H. Ruddock, M. D., on Vitalogy:“ It is an infallible remedy for the cure of thread or pinworms. For this purpose take twenty drops of the tincture three times a day for three successive days, then use an injection of cold water and the worms will be dislodged.” If after this there are still symptoms, take a laxative tea a day before the full moon, and repeat the above each month until the pests have disappeared. We have found they are more active at this time and respond more completely to treatment.
Black Indian hemp root produces sleep without derangement of the digestive organs, principally allaying spasmodic pains of nervous origin where there is marked nervous depression. Dose: 1 teaspoonful of the root to 1 pint of boiling water; take a tablespoonful of the tea three to eight times a day. Of the tincture, 2 – 5 min. four times a day.