Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-12
SOME MEDICINAL HERBS.
10 the Editor of the Free Press:

M tho Editor of the Free Press:
"He makcth grass to grow Tor .he '"'-
tie and herb for the use OF n"h'
Reside all the food products OF inc
vegetable kingdom. there are many heros
useful to man as medicines. oo"c -
these are wild and are called weeus'
Prominent among these ranks 'ne
mother-wort, whose name suggests ''S
chief use and value. Though Il h"''Ne
of the East II may he kno 10 """s
and a. brief description may not be amiss'
IT grows to a height OF from enc 10
three feet, usually in clumps. II
leaves proper are shaped like a grape-
vine ienf, but are very thickly veined'
Each root sends UP n square stalk pear-
ing narrow threc-pointcd leaves, III INC
Franklin county. Vermont. The word 10
nuincd from It's shape Grows apou' 10
inches, average height. and has long mar
row leaves about one fourth incn' ny
three inches and standing almost strals".
| TN. It branches near the top SO tha'
the whole top Often seems a sprawhns
| cluster Of tiny white tippled flowers the
| shape of "A thistle blossom. The wh,te
| Metals are very tiny. fully four-hfths nj
| the weed flower being calyx. Both zeal
and flower have n peculiar pcppery-taste'
which Is unmistakcablc 1t IL made Ill
~ tea ard when seasoned with white
| sugar its flavor is agreeable.
Another native Badger herb scarce
even here, because so easily killed Is
the doctor Dick or "Ca%rIcnter q
| SQUARE" This has n perfectly square
stem. smooth and glossy. when young
but getting ridgy with aee. leaves shap-
cd like n nettlc-lcaf, but soft and smooth
| surfaced. the 'skclcton' all underneath.
The buds are little green balls. with a
tiny poin. and look like secd-Nessels.
The flowers are very small brown.
shaped somewhat like n snap-dragon and
the seed ripens and falls without any
change in the flower. rhc leaf is a
livc-poultico,' which its peculiar odor
suggests. 1t is excellent for corns and
for all surfa CO. irf lamatiors even sprains.
when green no preparations is necessary
tevond Il moments pressure in the
hand.
Bathing in n tea Of the dried leaves
affords great relief in case OF hives
when gathering the leaves in summer,
dc not break tho plant, as it will die II
broken when Young.
Another weed. Hkln 10 inc ABOVE iN'
smooth five sided steam. oak leaf shaped
axis Of which nestlcs the tiny fresh-tint-
ed flower. Tho taste Of the plant is in
tenscly bitter. but very quickly vanishes
leaving a most pleasant taste. This is
also true of the tea, which should IN
drunk cold.
An old lady. n native Of Conrecticu'
once told the writer that the doctor
in E~illiny-sca that NO WOMAN should
ever pass a mothcr-wort without stop
Ping to make her manners" No doubt
II weak nervous woman would drinl
mothcr-woit tea frequently Mrs. PINK
hams burd correspondence woult
be materially lcsscned. Nor it its use
fulncss confined to women. a very merry
oIs gentleman. Il German, used to sent
to n Yankee %neighbors for it and drinl
The tea to give him sleep, when bushes!
cares banished it.
Another useful weed, very omino II
the Badger State and It is TO be hope,
obtainahln everywhere is the colt 's-tli
which is Il positive cure for dysentery
This fact was told years ago. to
lady. recently from Vermont. by on
village great man. himself a native o
leaves and purple heads of tiny flowers
The leaves of this are also a good poul
,ice. but a harsh one while the ,other /
as mild as n poultice containing lauda
mum. The catnip and smart. weed ar
too we'll known to need description
Smart-wced tea. made very sweet, is TX
ccllent for colds. Catnip tea is excellen
for babies. provided the mother drink
It. it makes her milk abundant rirh an,
soothing. But don feed it to the baby
This on the word of a physicians widow
herself will read in medicine and an ex
ctllent nurse.
+. p.
Lancaster. Wis, Sept. 90, 1895.
j, The writer of the above, in a note I
= the Editor. says: Il have mary Nor
mont cousins, one of whom, Prof c. c
Iringle. must to known to YOU. NJ
nOrC de ;lume "F p" Is the initials q
. my maternal grandmother. Flavia Hos
, ford Prindlc-a Vermont Piorcer baby.
THE LATE NJ. 3. KINNEY.