Bodily Influence: Emetocathartic, Cholagogue, Alterative, Tonic, Antiseptic. Uses: Black root, long established Indian remedy, as white man’ s medicine was introduced as a medicinal agent by Dr. Culver and is admirably called Culver’ s physic.
The leading significance of Black root acts chiefly on the intestines in chronic constipation when insufficiency of biliary flow, and very much used in chronic Hepatic diseases. It operates with mildness and certainly without producing the depression of the powers of the system so common to other purgative medicines.
In fevers, it removes the morbid matter from the bowels without weakening their tone, or leaving behind that poisonous sting so often remaining after the use of Calomel. It is used very effectively in the care of pleurisy and also in some forms of dyspepsia. As a cathartic in dysentery, it is one of the best medicines known when given in moderate doses. In such cases combine with a little Rhubarb root( Rheum palmatum) and give the decoction in doses of 3 – 4 tablespoons, repeating every three hours until passively relaxed.
Formula for Liver Disorders 1 oz. of Black root( Leptandra virginica) 2 oz. of Golden seal( Hydrastis canadensis) 2 oz. of Senna( Cassia marilandica) 2 pints of distilled or boiled water.
Boil until reduced to 1 pint. Take two tablespoonfuls three or four times a day increasing the quantity if it fails to operate gently, or decreasing if it operates too much. Bowel action should not be more than perceptible.
In this you have a herbal medicine superior to most of the popular preparations and one that has been used for generations. Dose: Lepthandrin is the extract made from the root; it should be used in lesser amounts, from ¼ – 1 grain, adjusting according to age and case. Dose of the powder, as a cathartic, 20 – 40 grains. Homoeopathic Clinical: Tincture of resinoid Lepthandrin, tincture of second-year fresh root, trituration of dried root— Ascites, Bilious attack, Bilious fever, Constipation, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Dyspepsia, Headache, Jaundice, Liver( affections of), Remittent fever( infantile), Yellow fever.
BLACK WALNUT Juglans nigra, L.( N. O.: Juglandaceae)
Features: Six species of the walnut, genus Juglan, are native to the United States. Black walnut is among them, widely distributed in the eastern states and extending to adjacent Canada. Their deciduous hardwoads have rough furrowed bark, alternate pinnately compounded leaves with a distinctive odour when bruised, and greenish flowers, the male in drooping catkins.
Black walnut is one of the best-known, largest and most valuable native hardwoods. Though not plentiful, the tree grows rapidly in mixed forests on rich, moist well-drained soil such as is found in valleys. They sometimes exceed 100 ft. in height with trunks 3 ft. in diameter. Planted for roadside shade, ornamental and shelter belts. The wood is figured beautifully and used as panelling, for cabinet making and in salad bowls. The nut is a popular food for candy, ice cream and cake flavouring. The husk does not split open like that of the Hickory nut; it is covered with a green pulp coating while on the tree, which turns black when on the ground and in storage. This outside pulp is used for dyeing and tanning, if you have ever gathered or hulled Black walnuts you will recall the lingering walnut stains.