The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-08-02

tines.
Those fragrant night blooming
jasmines that bloom on a vine are
the best cure known to the natives
for nervous troubles. It is said that
when taken fresh. or dried. and
brewed as tea they relax the
nervous tension almost immediate
ly. The liquid may also be used as
an eye wash.
| Night shade is considered by
some to be deadly poisonous but
here the natives use it to lower
fever temperatures. The leaves of
this plant are crushed and placed
on the head and feet of fever suf-
ferers. It is said to be excellent
in cases of tphoid fever. The old
Negroes claim that the leaves of
the China Berry tree placed on the
bed of a fever patient will reduce
the temperature almost immedi-.
ately.
If you have always thought of
the paw-paw (papaya to you) in
terms Of restaurant menus, it will
be worth knowing that this fruit
has other uses. The leaves boiled
and the water strained from them
will cure chest colds. The juice is
said to remove stains from cloth
ing and. if no soap is at hand, the
/ liquid that oozes from the stems
of the leaves viii, take its place.
The seed are an aid to digestion
and the fruit juice is said to be
torpor chasing in it's effect. It has
properties that the valuable in the
manufacture of cosmetics. The
leaves wrapped around the tough
est steak will make the steak ten
der. It is a blood corrective and
is sometimes served with lime
juice. It may be baked or boiled,
preserved as citron when green
and when fried in oil with garlic
is said to be an exotic dish. II is
frequently used as a cocktail base
and may be eaten at any time of
the day or night and is perfectly
harmless to the sysem.
The sword leaf, those thai bear
white blossoms and those that bear
purple blossoms are both useful. It
is said that when the leaves of
these vines are crushed and placed
on the chest they will relieve
shortness of breath. The leaves
brewed as a tea will cure coughs
and colds.
Bay geranium, that creeper
found plentifully on our beaches is
! said to be a sure cure for tuber-
culoSiS when the leaves are brewed
and the concoction taken internally
while hot. AS a contraceptive, the
old folks say it has no equal. The
brew may also be used as a
douche.
Castor oil is not purchased in
small bottles. When Junior has q
pain in bis stomach. mother goes
into the vancant lot or wherever
there may be a plant growing,
takes a handful of castor beans
and makes her young son chew
them. The pain is gone almost be-
fore you can say Presto! The
leaves placed inside the crown of
hat will prevent sunstroke, and
all Negro men, who work in the
open, place these leaves In their
hats while at work. Leaves of the
almond tree have the same effect.
Castor oil leaves applied to any
part Of the body will relieve pain,
also the almond leaves.
Tamarind leaves brewed into q
tea are used to cure colds. and the
fruit is eaten when a laxative is
needed.
The bulb Of the white spider lily
crushed and sprmkled with sugar
then eaten is another popular as.
thma remedy.
Pains in the stomach may be re-
lieved by boiling the fruit of the
pomegranite, straining the liquid
and drinking it while hot.
Old folks and convalescents will
use the prince wood tree for a
tonic. The bark or roots, stepped in
hot water and Let stan d
This tree is not found as a
rule on Key West. but grows on
the upper keys. Madeira wood may
be used in the same way.
The mangrove root, known long
for it's tanning properties is used to
: dye clothing in many homes where
economy makes il necessary to dip
few garments into a color pot.
Shepherd needles tea is a good
tonic. also an effective throat gar
gle.
For constipation the blue flower
plant is sought and the leaves
made into a tea.
Instead of buying tooth paste
and tooth powder there are sou,e
who cut q bit of the bark Of the
cassia tree and rub il on the teeth
until they are white and also on
the gums to strengthen them. II is
said that pyorrhea is almost I'M
known TO the average Negro.
They say that nothing beats