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Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Location: Typically cultivated for livestock use,
but may escape.
Culinary use: Sprouts can be eaten and the leaves
used for tea. Contains many good minerals and vitamins
as well as essential salts about 40% protein good for all ill health
and recovering persons contains vitamin K, B8, and P.
Other uses: Good to provide better production from
farm animals.
Barberry
Berberis trifoliolata
Location: central, south, and west Texas
in arid soil
Fruit: late spring
Culinary
use: Fruit can be used for jellies, raisins, but are too acidic
for eating raw. To extract juice heat the berries in a close covered
stone jar without water till the juice flows A drink can be made
by adding lemon, mint, and sugar to the juice.
Medical use: Tincture
of bark treats colic, bilious attack, bladder affections,
calculus, duodenum, dysmenorrhea, fevers, fistula, gallstones,
herpes, irritation, jaundice, joint affections, leukorrhea,
liver disorders, lumbago, opthalmia, oxaluria, polypus, renal
colic, rheumatism, neuralgia of spermatic cords, spleen, tumors,
urine, vaganismus. Root tea is good for a blood tonic, cough medicine,
and kidney ailments, early stage tuberculosis, choleric, tetters,
ringworm, and liver ailments. Liquid chewed from the root is placed
on injuries and wounds, or washed with an decoction. A preparation
of bark or berries can be a gargle for sore mouth and for chronic
opthalmia. Extract is good for female genital organs, pain and inflammation
of the gallbladder, increasing bile, and reducing high blood pressure.
Dose: 1/2 oz to 1 pt boiling water, steep for 10 min., 1-4 c per
day before meals, made fresh daily. Of tincture 1/2 - 1 fluid dram.
Can be combined with fringe tree and cherry.
Other use: yellow dye
Blackberry, Zarzamora
Rubus trivialis
Location: east, central,
and southern Texas in thickets, along fences, etc....
Fruit: spring-summer
Culinary use:
Fruit is edible raw or cooked, aspics, brandy, jam, jelly, and vinegar.
Medical use: treats chronic
diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, excessive menstruation, fevers,
and hot distempers of the body, head, eyes, and other parts.
Leaves when bruised treat hemorrhoids and when in tea form
for sore throat. do not use wilted leaves A decoction of root or
leaves may be used freely 4-5 times pre day.
Dose: 1 tsp. of root or leaves to 1 c boiling water for
15 min., 3-4 per day depending on age Of tincture 1/2 - 1 dram,
3-4 times per day.
Blue Flag
Iris versicolor
Location:
Medical use: good for gastric disturbances,
titration of resinoid, irisin for anus fissure of, bilious
attack, constipation, crusta lactea, diabetes, diarrhea, dysentery,
dysmenorrhea, dyspepsia, eczema, fistula, gastrodynia, intermittent
headache, impetigo, liver affections of, migraine, neuralgia, nocturnal
emissions, pancreas affections of, parotid glands affections of, pregnancy
morning sickness, psoriasis, rectum burning in, rheumatism, salivation,
sciatica, vomiting, whitlow, herpes zoster. External uses infected
wounds, ulcers, fistula, and freckles. Fresh root pulp relieves external
pain Tincture excites salivary and biliary excretions, the tincture
is prepared from roots gathered in early spring or autumn 1 part root
to 2 parts alcohol
Dose: tincture 10-25 drops in water three times per day.
Of powdered root 1 tsp in boiling water, 2-3 tbsp 6 times per day.
WARNING: DO
NOT CONFUSE WITH THE DEADLY CALAMUS
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Location: in most parts
of the state in shady wetlands or beside streams
Flower: Spring-Fall
Medical use: Treats fevers, phrenitis, meningitis,
pneumonia, pleurisy, hepatitis, peritonitis, nephritis, and
periostitis. Convulsions can be treated with an injection of
herb infusion. Plant should be gathered from late July - mid October,
dried in the shade then preserved in packages or covered vessels,
especially in powdered form. Should be administered with another
drug, as alone it does not work.
Dose: 1 oz to 1 pt boiling water makes ordinary infusion,
1 tbs. every hour or half hour. Weak infusion every 10 min. to
relax the muscular system to aid in setting broken bones and
dislocations. Or a cloth soaked in warm infusion is applied to
the area.
WARNING: FOR
USE BE PROFESSIONAL HERBALISTS ONLY! BE VERY CAREFUL IN ADMINISTRATION,
DEATH HAS OCCURRED FROM OVERDOSES, NEVER GIVE WHEN THE
SYSTEM IS RELAXED OR WHEN THERE IS CONGESTION.
Chickweed
Stellaria media
Location: in moist disturbed
soils, common and weedy
Culinary use:
leaves are good eaten raw or cooked like spinach
Medical use: Treats internal
inflammation, liver ailments internally and externally. bronchitis,
pleurisy, coughs, colds, hoarseness, rheumatism, inflammation
or weakness of the bowels and stomach, lungs, bronchial tubes,
scurvy, kidney trouble, to ease hemorrhoids, and to increase
circulation in the liver, gout, and psoriasis. Externally used
for swellings, weals, scabs, boils, burns, sore or inflamed eyes
apply on cotton pads over closed eyes, erysipelas, tumors, hemorrhoids,
cancer-swollen testes, ulcerated throat and mouth.
Dose: 1 oz of plant to 1 1/2 pt of water simmered to 1 pt,
one wineglass every 2-3 hours. Use externally as a poultice for inflamed
surfaces, boils, and skin eruptions.
Cleavers
Galium aparine
Location: east, northeast,
and south Texas in fields, gentle slopes, in woods, and
along seashores
Medical use: whole herb is used as a diuretic, tonic,
refrigerant, alterative, and aperient. Good for urinary obstructions,
cooling scarlet fever, measles, and acute fevers. Also used
for weight loss 1/4 c of fresh herb or dried in 1/2 pt of boiling
water Poultices are used for skin afflictions. Dose: 2-4 oz
dried herb or 20-40 drops of the tincture in water given 3-4 times
per day
Clover, Crimson
Trifolium incarnatum
Location: east Texas
along the Louisiana and Oklahoma borders with an area stretching
into central Texas. Grows in fields, along roadsides, and
is very abundant.
Culinary use:
Leaves are good to add to salads, or as a tea. Clover is high in protein.
You should dip the clover in salt water before using, and do not
overindulge in clover as it causes bloating. Dried flowers can be
used for tea.
Medical use: Leaves are made
into s strong infusion to suspend the spasms of whooping cough
or into a salve for indolent sores.
Coneflower, purple
Echinacea sanguina
Location: in east Texas
in sand or gravel in prairies, and pine forests.
Flower: Late spring
Corydalis, Scrambled Eggs
Corydalis var.
Location: in sandy
or rocky areas, prairies, fields, and woods
Flower: Late winter
Damiana Turnera
Turnera diffusa
Location: western Texas
Medical use: A decoction of leaves are used to treat
dysentery, malaria, syphilitic diseases, pains in the stomach
and intestines, dyspepsia, and paralysis. Diuretic, astringent,
tonic, expectorant, and laxative properties.
Damianita
Chrysactinia mexicana
Location: central to
west Texas and a small area near Laredo
Flower: Spring-Fall Medical use: used for fever,
rheumatism, and as a diuretic, sudorific, antispasmodic, and
aphrodisiac
NOTE: not to be confused with the pharmicutical
drug Damiana which is prepared from Turnera diffusa
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale
Location: an invader
in broken ground, lawns, and fields across Texas
Flower: nearly year round
Culinary use:
The leaves can be used like greens, the flowers fried, or made into
wine. Be sure to pick early in the spring, pick plants that have
grown in the shade for bright sun makes the greens bitter. If they
are bitter, then blanch before using. Roots can be roasted and used
as a coffee substitute.
Medical use: A mild detergent,
aperient, and diuretic. Recommended for hepatic obstruction,
hypochondriasis, and icterus. Fresh root is gathered in March,
July, or November and is chopped and pounded to a pulp then pressed.
The juice is then mixed with an equal part of alcohol and allowed
to stand for eight days, the whole is then separated by filtration.
Farkleberry
Vaccinium arboreum
Location: east Texas
as an understory shrub in dry sandy soil in pine and hardwood
forests
Fruit: fall
Culinary use:
The fruit is a little dry but good for jellies
Medical use: berries cool
feverish liver and for stomach conditions. also in arresting
vomiting and dropsy and gravel. To make tincture place 2-3 handfuls
of bilberry in a bottle and pour brandy over them. Violent continuous
diarrhea accompanied by great pain, sometimes with loss of blood,
is stopped by taking 1 tablespoon of the brandy in 1/4 pint of water,
may be repeated in 8-10 hours. for diarrhea, dysentery, and derangement's
of the bowels, a decoction of the leaf tea will bring relief. Also
as a gargle for sore throat and feminine hygiene for leukorrhea.
May be similar to insulin for sugar diabetes.
Dose: of leave 1 tsp to 1 c of boiling water. of the tincture
10-30 drops depending on the severity of the case and age.. Externally
fresh tea is used for sores, wounds, and ulcers.
Other use: used to dye leather brown or yellow.
Fringe Tree
Chionanthus virginicus
Location: east Texas
woodlands, thickets, and moist woods
Groundsel, Texas
Senecio ampullaceus
Location: east and
south Texas along the gulf. usually in sunny, sandy soils and
forming large colonies
Flower: spring
Horehound
Marrubium vulgare
Location: disturbed soil,
fields, farms, just about anywhere
Flower: nearly year round
Linden, Basswood
Tilia caroliniana
Location: east and
central Texas in moist soil along streams
Flower: spring-summer
Mandrake, Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
Location: east Texas
in lush forests, moist shady fields, growing in large colonies
Flower: early spring
Milkweed, Green
Asclepias asperula
Location: north, central,
and west Texas in sandy and rocky soil
Flower: spring - fall
Culinary use:
Young sprouts substitute for asparagus.
Medical use: Juice when applied
to the skin forms a tough adhesive pellicle and is used to cover
ulcers and recent wounds Fluid extract 10 drops - 1 fluidrachm
is used to treat amenorrhoea, dropsy, urine retention, asthma, dyspepsia,
cough, and dyspnoea. Tincture is prepared by gathering fresh
root in full vigor then pounding to a pulp. The pulp is then weighed
and mixed with two parts by weight alcohol and let stand for eight
days. The mix is then decanted, strained, and filtered.
Mint
Location: usually cultivated
be sometimes escapes
Culinary use: Can add to salads or other foods
Other use: an aromatic oil can be extracted
Mountain Pink
Centaurium beyrichii
Location: rocky limestone
hills of central and southwestern parts of the state
Flower: late spring into summer
Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
Location: in sunny disturbed
ground, fields, and open woods statewide
Flower: spring-fall
Nettle, Stinging
Cnidosolus texanus
Location:
Culinary use: Young nettles are tender and require
little cooking, high in vitamin A and C. Also up to 40% protein.
Starch can be extracted from the root, but it is difficult to remove from
the ground, and is very fiberous.
NOTE: If you are stung by the spines, you can stop the burning
by applying a weak solution of ammonia (such as windex), rinsing with cold
water (but it takes a while), or if you are not squeamish by using urine.
Plantain, Heller's
Plantago helleri
Location: central and
southwestern Texas in sand or gravel on hillsides
Flower:
Culinary use:
Good in salad and high in vitamin A and C
Medical use: Used to treat
pulmonary ailments. Decoction of roots is used to treat tertian
intermittent 1-4 oz for chill Infusion of seeds in milk checks
hemorrhages from mucous surfaces. Fibrous strings in the petioles
are used for aching teeth when placed in the ear of the affected
side and helps to treat the bites of venomous reptiles and insects.
Tincture is prepared by gathering the plant when it is coming into
flower and then pounded to a pulp. The pulp is weighed and twice
its weight in alcohol is added, allowed to stand for eight days, and
strained.
Pokeweed, Small
Rivina humilis
Location: in south, west,
and parts of north Texas in shade, woods, shrubs, and along
streams in limestone soil.
Ragweed
Ambrosia artemisiaefoila
Location:
Medical use: used to check discharges, mercurial
ptyalism, leucorrhoea, and septic forms of diarrhea, dysentery,
and enteritis. also an emmenagogue, febrifuge, and anthelmintic.
The whole plant should be gathered at the height of the flowering
season to retain pollen. Macerated for fourteen days in twice its
weight of absolute alcohol, being kept in the dark and shaken twice
a day. The tincture is then pressed, strained, and filtered.
Sage, Mealy
Salvia farinacea
Location: west, south,
and parts of northern Texas in dry limestone soil
Flower: spring-fall
Senna
Cassia lindheimeriana
Location: mainly in west
Texas along the Rio Grande and south into Brownsville in
dry limestone soil
Medical use: used as a laxative, vermifuge, and cathartic
to treat colic in infants, exaustion, nitrogenous wastes,
sleeplessness, and sneezing.
Dose: tincture 1-2 tbs.., of powder 10-20 grains, and
of infusion 1/2 - 1c steeped 30 min.
WARNING: DO NOT ADMINISTER IN INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS
Skullcap
Scutellaria drummondii
Location: most of Texas
except in the panhandle and east Texas Pineywoods
Flower: late summer-winter
Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum elaeagnifolium
Location: statewide
in disturbed soils
Flower: spring-fall
Medical use: Treats cutaneous diseases, syphilitic
conditions, excites venereal functions, leprosy, teeter, eczema,
scrofula, rheumatic and cachectic affections, ill-conditioned
ulcers, glandular swellings, obstructed menstruation, and
as a treatment of cancers. Tea is taken 1-2 cups is good for skin/hair
diseases and worms. Bark in vodka is taken a few drops at a time
for heart disease
Dose: 1 tsp. of cut or powdered leaf in 1 pt of boiling
water and steep for 1/2 hour, 1 teaspoon full in 1 c of boiling
water as required. Of the tincture 10-20 drops in water 3-4 times
per day Externally 1 lb of bark is heated slowly in 1 lb of lard for
8 hours treats painful tumors, ulcers, irritated skin, piles, burns,
scalds, etc...
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Location: statewide in
fields and disturbed soil often covering large areas
Flower: spring-fall
Culinary use: seeds make flour and oil, or roasted.
Oil is released by boiling till the oil floated to the top
Trillium, Red
Trillium gracile
Location: far east Texas
along the Louisiana border in pine woods though locally diminishing
Flower: spring
Medical use: used as an astringent, restringent, pectoral,
tonic, antiseptic, alterative. treats hematuria, uterine
hemorrhage, metrorrhagia, hematemesis, leucorrhoea, menorrhoea,
and restringent after parturition. Leaves boiled in lard is good
for ulcers and tumors Root poultice is good for tumors, indolent
and offensive ulcers, insect stings, and to restrain gangrene. Tincture
of fresh root treats catarrh of bladder, climacteric, diabetes,
dysentery, fainting with flooding, fibroma hemorrhages from, hemorrhages
postpartum, antepartum, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, writer's
cramp. Roots are used as an aid to lessen pain during delivery.
Tubers are used for external ulcers and inflammation A tincture is
prepared from the tubers 1:2 by weight, the tincture is decanted off
and a heavy cream sediment should remain
Dose: useful in pulmonary conditions, root with slippery
elm and lobelia Lobelia inflata in powder form 10-20 grains 1 tsp.
of powdered root boiled in 1 pt of milk is good for diarrhea and
dysentery 1 tsp of powdered root in 1 c boiling water 2-3 c per day
Verbena, Prairie
Glandularia bipinnatifida
Location: statewide
in sunny, sandy or calcareous soil, forming colonies
Flower: nearly year round, but mainly in the spring
Violet, Prairie
Viola sororia, missouriensis
Location: in east Texas
except for a few colonies in north and west Texas. grows in
moist woods along rivers and streams
Culinary use: the entire plant can be eaten and is
extremely rich in vitamin A and C. Very mild tasting. The flowers
can be used to flavor foods such as vinegar, sugar, and drinks
Water-Lilly, White
Nymphaea odorata
Location: east Texas,
a large aquatic plant rooted in mud, ponds, lakes, and slow
moving streams
Flower: spring-fall
Culinary use:
Fresh leaves are boiled and eaten as greens
Medical use: A decoction of
root are used for leucorrhoea, and a maceration in poultice
form treats suppurating glands and styptic Juice of roots and
lemons are used as a facial astringent to treat pimples Tincture
is prepared from root gathered in the fall then chopped and pounded
to a pulp then weighed. Two parts by weight of alcohol is added
and stirred well. Then let sit for eight days and strained.
Other use: fresh roots substitute for soap
Yarrow, Milfoil
Achillea millefolium
Location: north and northeast Texas in partial
shade, fields and at the forest edge
Flower: spring-summer
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