Herb Lore - Cranesbill to Dwarf Elder
Herb 89: Cranesbill
Common Name: Cranesbill (also known as Wild Geranium, Spotted Cranesbill)
Latin Name: Geranium maculatum
Medicinal Parts: Root, Leaves
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Found in moist woodlands and meadows.
Medical Use:
Powerful astringent. Used to stop bleeding from wounds and hemorrhages.
Specific remedy for diarrhea and dysentery.
Used as a gargle for sore throats.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root boiled in water.
Tincture: Alcohol extract of the root.
Herb 90: Crosswort
Common Name: Crosswort (also known as Maywort)
Latin Name: Cruciata laevipes
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Grizzlies East, Ambarino. Grows on rough, grassy banks and roadsides.
Medical Use:
Warming and vulnerary. Used to heal internal and external wounds.
Expels venom and treats snake bites and poison.
Strengthens the stomach and helps with pains in the side (spleen).
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Herb boiled in wine and drunk.
Poultice: Bruised herb applied to the wound.
Herb 91: Cubebs
Common Name: Cubebs (also known as Tailed Pepper)
Latin Name: Piper cubeba
Medicinal Parts: Berries (Fruit)
Habitat: Imported spice, likely sold in Saint Denis. Tropical climbing plant.
Medical Use:
Warming and highly antiseptic. Used specifically to treat gonorrhea and other urinary tract infections.
Clears the voice and soothes sore throats and coughs.
Helps to disperse wind and aids digestion.
Preparation Methods:
Chewed: Berries chewed (for throat/voice).
Tincture: Berries crushed and infused in spirits.
Herb 92: Cudweed
Common Name: Cudweed (also known as Cottonweed, Everlasting)
Latin Name: Gnaphalium uliginosum (and related species)
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Almost all regions, often found in damp fields and disturbed ground.
Medical Use:
Astringent and mildly diaphoretic (sweating). Used to stop bleeding, especially in the nose and stomach.
Excellent for sore throats, quinsy, and mumps (as a gargle/poultice).
Eases coughs and respiratory issues.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Boiled and used as a wash or gargle.
Poultice: Herb bruised and applied externally.
Herb 93: Cumin
Common Name: Cumin
Latin Name: Cuminum cyminum
Medicinal Parts: Seeds
Habitat: Imported spice, likely sold in Saint Denis. Requires a long, hot summer, suitable for New Austin or Lemoyne (cultivated).
Medical Use:
Highly warming and carminative. Powerfully relieves colic and flatulence.
Strengthens the stomach and aids in the digestion of difficult foods.
Used to clear jaundice and liver obstructions.
Preparation Methods:
Powder/Eaten: Seeds chewed, ground, and added to food.
Infusion: Steeped in water or wine.
Herb 94: Currants
Common Name: Currants (Red, Black, White Currants)
Latin Name: Ribes spp.
Medicinal Parts: Berries, Leaves
Habitat: Grizzlies East, Ambarino. Prefers cooler climates, moist woods, and mountainous regions.
Medical Use:
Highly cooling and nutritive. Used to cool the heat of fevers and stop vomiting.
Juice is an excellent remedy for a sore throat and mouth inflammation (gargle).
Rich in Vitamin C (anti-scurvy).
Preparation Methods:
Eaten: Berries raw or preserved (jam/syrup).
Juice: Pressed and used as a gargle.
Herb 95: Daffodil
Common Name: Daffodil (also known as Narcissus, Lent Lily)
Latin Name: Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Medicinal Parts: Root, Flowers
Habitat: Big Valley, West Elizabeth. Grows in meadows, damp woods, and open fields.
Medical Use:
Root is a strong emetic (causes vomiting).
Poultice of the bruised root is used to draw out splinters and relieve joint pain.
Note: Highly toxic; avoid internal use.
Preparation Methods:
Poultice: Bruised root applied externally.
Herb 96: Daisy
Common Name: Daisy (also known as Day's Eye, Bruisewort)
Latin Name: Bellis perennis
Medicinal Parts: Whole Plant, Flowers
Habitat: Almost all regions, commonly found in lawns and short grass.
Medical Use:
Excellent for bruises, sprains, and open wounds (due to its healing properties).
Used to clear spleen obstructions and treat fever.
Traditionally eaten to relieve melancholy.
Preparation Methods:
Poultice: Bruised leaves/flowers applied to bruises.
Infusion: Flowers steeped.
Herb 97: Dandelion
Common Name: Dandelion (also known as Lion's Tooth, Priest's Crown)
Latin Name: Taraxacum officinale
Medicinal Parts: Root, Leaves
Habitat: Universal across all regions, favoring open fields, waste ground, and roadsides.
Medical Use:
Leaves are a powerful, potassium-sparing diuretic (provokes urine).
Root is a liver tonic used to treat jaundice and clear liver obstructions.
Acts as a mild bitter digestive tonic and purifies the blood.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root boiled in water (for liver).
Eaten: Leaves in salads (diuretic).
Herb 98: Dill
Common Name: Dill (also known as Anethum)
Latin Name: Anethum graveolens
Medicinal Parts: Seeds, Leaves
Habitat: The Heartlands, New Hanover. Cultivated in gardens, preferring warm, sunny conditions.
Medical Use:
Highly carminative. Used to relieve colic and wind in children and infants (gripe water).
Promotes sleep and calms the nerves.
Used to aid in milk production (lactagogue).
Preparation Methods:
Infusion: Seeds steeped in water (colic remedy).
Eaten: Leaves/seeds added to food.
Herb 99: Dock (Curled)
Common Name: Dock (Curled) (also known as Sour Dock, Narrow Dock)
Latin Name: Rumex crispus
Medicinal Parts: Root, Leaves
Habitat: Universal across all regions, favoring moist fields, roadsides, and disturbed soil.
Medical Use:
Root is a blood purifier (alterative) and laxative. Used for chronic skin diseases and constipation.
Poultice of the root and leaves is applied to stinging nettle burns and boils.
Seeds stop diarrhea (astringent).
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root boiled in water.
Poultice: Fresh root mashed.
Herb 100: Dock (Yellow)
Common Name: Dock (Yellow) (also known as Water Dock)
Latin Name: Rumex hydrolapathum
Medicinal Parts: Root
Habitat: Bluewater Marsh, Lemoyne. Found in very wet, swampy ground, ponds, and marshes.
Medical Use:
Extremely strong astringent and antiseptic. Used to staunch bleeding from wounds and internal hemorrhages.
Historically considered the best dock for purifying the blood and fighting the plague (a febrifuge).
Used for gargles to heal the mouth and throat.
Preparation Methods:
Powder: Dried root powdered and used as a topical application.
Decoction: Root boiled in wine.
Herb 101: Dodder
Common Name: Dodder (also known as Hellweed, Strangleweed)
Latin Name: Cuscuta europaea (and related species)
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Almost all regions, found parasitic upon clover, flax, or other herbs.
Medical Use:
Used to clear liver and spleen obstructions (jaundice).
A mild purgative that gently cleanses the body.
Helps with headaches and melancholy.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Herb boiled in water or wine.
Herb 102: Dog Rose
Common Name: Dog Rose (also known as Wild Rose, Briar)
Latin Name: Rosa canina
Medicinal Parts: Hips (Fruit), Flowers
Habitat: Almost all regions, found in hedgerows, thickets, and woodland margins.
Medical Use:
Hips are highly nutritive (rich in Vitamin C) and prevent scurvy.
Flowers are cooling and astringent; used to treat headaches and fevers.
Rose water used to clear sore eyes.
Preparation Methods:
Conserve/Syrup: Hips processed with sugar.
Infusion: Flowers steeped in water.
Herb 103: Dragon's Blood
Common Name: Dragon's Blood (also known as Dracaena Resin)
Latin Name: Daemonorops draco (or Dracaena cinnabari)
Medicinal Parts: Resin (Imported)
Habitat: Imported from tropical regions, likely sold by apothecaries in Saint Denis.
Medical Use:
Powerful astringent and vulnerary. Used to staunch all forms of bleeding (internal and external) and fluxes.
Used to cleanse and heal mouth ulcers and wounds.
Historically used for dysentery.
Preparation Methods:
Powder: Ground resin applied to wounds.
Tincture: Resin dissolved in alcohol.
Herb 104: Dropwort
Common Name: Dropwort (also known as Filipendula)
Latin Name: Filipendula vulgaris
Medicinal Parts: Root
Habitat: Big Valley, West Elizabeth. Found in dry, chalky grasslands and open meadows.
Medical Use:
Excellent for clearing kidney and bladder stones.
Root is a strong astringent used to stop fluxes and diarrhea.
The herb is used to treat fevers.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root boiled in wine.
Powder: Root dried and powdered.
Herb 105: Dyer's Broom
Common Name: Dyer's Broom (also known as Woodwaxen, Greenweed)
Latin Name: Genista tinctoria
Medicinal Parts: Herb, Leaves
Habitat: Roanoke Ridge, New Hanover. Prefers dry, acid soil on heaths and open banks.
Medical Use:
A strong diuretic and purgative. Used to clear water and treat dropsy (edema).
Clears obstructions of the liver and spleen.
Note: Used to dye cloth (hence the name).
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Herb boiled in water (use with caution).
Herb 106: Earthnut
Common Name: Earthnut (also known as Pig Nut, Kipper Nut)
Latin Name: Conopodium majus
Medicinal Parts: Tuber (Nut)
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Found in moist woods, fields, and light pastures.
Medical Use:
Nutritive tonic. Helps to cleanse the lungs and is used for coughs and consumption.
Used to provoke urine and aids in breaking up kidney stones.
Preparation Methods:
Eaten: Tuber eaten raw or cooked.
Decoction: Tuber boiled in wine.
Herb 107: Elder (Dwarf)
Common Name: Elder (Dwarf) (also called Dane Weed, Dwarf Sambucus)
Latin Name: Sambucus ebulus
Parts Used: Berries, Root, Leaves
Habitat: The Heartlands, New Hanover. Typically found on roadsides, waste ground, and in hedgerows.
Medicinal Uses:
Acts as a powerful purgative (laxative) to help clear water and treat dropsy (edema).
Root poultice is used externally to draw out burns and tumors.
Note: Has stronger properties than the Common Elder; handle with care.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Boil the root in wine for a strong purge.
Poultice: Apply leaves or root externally.