Herb Lore - Maidenhair to Monk's Hood
Herb 170: Maidenhair
Common Name: Maidenhair (also known as Adiantum, Venus' Hair)
Latin Name: Adiantum capillus-veneris
Medicinal Parts: Fronds (Leaves)
Habitat: Cumberland Forest, New Hanover. Grows on moist, shaded, rocky banks and mossy walls.
Medical Use:
Highly effective for coughs, asthma, and clearing the lungs of phlegm.
Used to expel retained afterbirth and provokes urine.
Clears jaundice and cleanses the blood.
Preparation Methods:
Syrup/Conserve: Fronds boiled and mixed with honey/sugar.
Infusion: Fronds steeped in water.
Herb 171: Mallow
Common Name: Mallow (also known as Common Mallow, Malva)
Latin Name: Malva sylvestris
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowers, Root
Habitat: Almost all regions, found in waste ground, roadsides, and hedgerows.
Medical Use:
Highly demulcent (soothing) and emollient. Used to soothe internal inflammation (coughs, ulcers).
Leaves applied externally to treat burns, scalds, and stings.
Mildly laxative and cleanses the body.
Preparation Methods:
Poultice: Leaves mashed and applied.
Infusion: Leaves steeped in water.
Decoction: Root boiled.
Herb 172: Mandrake (American)
Common Name: Mandrake (American) (also known as Mayapple, Podophyllum)
Latin Name: Podophyllum peltatum
Medicinal Parts: Root (Rhizome) (use with extreme caution)
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Found in moist, open woods and clearings.
Medical Use:
A potent purgative (laxative) used to clear the bowels and liver of phlegm and obstructions.
Historically used for chronic jaundice and liver ailments.
Note: Highly toxic and poisonous in all but professional doses.
Preparation Methods:
Tincture: Prepared by skilled apothecaries only.
Poultice: Crushed root applied externally to warts (caustic).
Herb 173: Mandrake (European)
Common Name: Mandrake (European) (also known as Mandragora)
Latin Name: Mandragora officinarum
Medicinal Parts: Root (use with extreme caution)
Habitat: Imported or cultivated in warm, dry regions (New Austin/Scarlett Meadows, possibly).
Medical Use:
Powerful narcotic, sedative, and analgesic. Used to induce deep sleep and treat severe pain, mania, or melancholia.
Used as an anesthetic in surgery.
Note: Extremely poisonous and causes delirium. Root is highly famous in folklore.
Preparation Methods:
Oil: Root steeped in oil (for external application/massage).
Tincture: Used by trained practitioners only.
Herb 174: Manna
Common Name: Manna (also known as Ash Manna)
Latin Name: Fraxinus ornus (the dried sap)
Medicinal Parts: Dried Sap/Resin (Imported)
Habitat: Imported, often from Southern Europe.
Medical Use:
A very gentle laxative and purgative, safe for children and the elderly.
Used to clear bile and phlegm from the digestive system.
Sweet and palatable.
Preparation Methods:
Consumed: Dissolved in liquid (water, juice).
Eaten: Eaten directly as a sweet.
Herb 175: Marigold
Common Name: Marigold (also known as Corn Marigold)
Latin Name: Chrysanthemum segetum
Medicinal Parts: Flowers
Habitat: The Heartlands, New Hanover. Found in cultivated fields and waste ground.
Medical Use:
Used to break fevers and promote sweating (diaphoretic).
Used to provoke delayed menstruation.
Note: Distinct from Calendula (Pot Marigold), but shares some fever-breaking properties.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion: Flowers steeped in water.
Powder: Dried flowers mixed into a powder.
Herb 176: Marshmallow
Common Name: Marshmallow (also known as Althaea, Sweet Weed)
Latin Name: Althaea officinalis
Medicinal Parts: Root, Leaves
Habitat: Bluewater Marsh, Lemoyne. Thrives in salt marshes, wet ground, and river banks.
Medical Use:
Excellent demulcent (rich in mucilage). Soothes and heals all internal inflammation (stomach ulcers, dry coughs, sore throat).
Root decoction is effective for urinary tract inflammation and gravel (stones).
Applied externally as a poultice to relieve stings, burns, and painful swellings.
Preparation Methods:
Mucilage/Tea: Root or leaves steeped in cold water.
Poultice: Mashed root applied externally.
Herb 177: Masterwort
Common Name: Masterwort (also known as Imperatoria)
Latin Name: Peucedanum ostruthium
Medicinal Parts: Root, Seeds
Habitat: Grizzlies East, Ambarino. Grows in high-altitude meadows and damp, open woods.
Medical Use:
Highly warming and stimulant. Used to guard against venom, poison, and the plague.
Expels wind, relieves colic, and warms a cold stomach.
Used for persistent coughs and short breath.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root boiled in water or wine.
Chewed: Root pieces chewed raw.
Herb 178: Mastic
Common Name: Mastic (also known as Mastich Tree Gum)
Latin Name: Pistacia lentiscus (the dried sap)
Medicinal Parts: Resin/Gum (Imported)
Habitat: Imported from the Mediterranean, likely sold by apothecaries in Saint Denis.
Medical Use:
Astringent and antiseptic. Used to strengthen the gums and preserve the teeth (chewed).
Strengthens the stomach and helps with indigestion and chronic diarrhea.
Used as a warm application for pains and cold aches.
Preparation Methods:
Chewed: Raw resin pieces chewed.
Tincture: Resin dissolved in spirits.
Powder: Used in incense or mixed with wine.
Herb 179: Meadow Saffron
Common Name: Meadow Saffron (also known as Colchicum, Naked Lady)
Latin Name: Colchicum autumnale
Medicinal Parts: Corm, Seeds (use with extreme caution)
Habitat: Big Valley, West Elizabeth. Found in moist, open meadows and rich pastures.
Medical Use:
Highly specific (but dangerous) remedy for gout and rheumatism (due to colchicine).
Used to treat dropsy (edema) by causing vomiting and purging.
Note: Extremely poisonous and highly dangerous.
Preparation Methods:
Tincture: Prepared by skilled apothecaries only.
Herb 180: Meadowsweet
Common Name: Meadowsweet (also known as Queen of the Meadow, Bridewort)
Latin Name: Filipendula ulmaria
Medicinal Parts: Flowers, Leaves, Root
Habitat: Grizzlies East, Ambarino. Found in damp meadows, marshes, and river banks.
Medical Use:
Excellent for fevers and pain relief (contains natural salicylic acid, similar to aspirin).
Used to cool the body and treat fluxes (diarrhea) due to its astringent properties.
Tones the stomach and digestion, aiding ulcers and heartburn.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion/Tea: Flowers and leaves steeped in cold or hot water.
Decoction: Root boiled.
Herb 181: Mechoacan
Common Name: Mechoacan (also known as Jalap, Indian Root)
Latin Name: Ipomoea jalapa (and related species)
Medicinal Parts: Root (Tuber)
Habitat: Imported root, likely from Central America/Mexico, sold in New Austin or Saint Denis.
Medical Use:
A strong, but generally safe, purgative (laxative).
Used to clear bile and phlegm from the digestive system.
Used for dropsy (edema) to expel water.
Preparation Methods:
Powder: Dried root powdered and consumed.
Tincture: Infused in spirits.
Herb 182: Melilot
Common Name: Melilot (also known as Yellow Sweet Clover, King's Clover)
Latin Name: Melilotus officinalis
Medicinal Parts: Flowering Tops, Leaves
Habitat: The Heartlands, New Hanover. Common in rough grassland, roadsides, and waste ground.
Medical Use:
Used externally to ripen and disperse hard swellings, tumors, and boils.
Used in ointments to relieve joint pain and inflammation.
Infusion is mild sedative and carminative.
Preparation Methods:
Poultice: Herb boiled, mashed, and applied externally.
Infusion: Herb steeped in water.
Herb 183: Melons
Common Name: Melons (Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Cucumbers)
Latin Name: Cucumis melo (and related species)
Medicinal Parts: Fruit, Seeds
Habitat: Scarlett Meadows, Lemoyne. Cultivated in warm, rich agricultural soil.
Medical Use:
Highly cooling and diuretic. Used to cool the heat of fevers and cleanse the kidneys.
Seeds ground and made into a drink used to relieve urinary scalding and clear gravel.
Very nutritive and rehydrating.
Preparation Methods:
Eaten: Fruit consumed raw.
Drink: Seeds crushed and mixed with water.
Herb 184: Mint
Common Name: Mint (also known as Peppermint, Spearmint)
Latin Name: Mentha piperita (and related species)
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowering Tops
Habitat: Almost all regions, found near water sources, damp areas, and stream banks.
Medical Use:
Powerful carminative (relieves wind/colic) and stops vomiting (anti-emetic).
Strengthens the stomach and aids digestion.
Used for headaches (applied to the temples) and to promote sweating for colds.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion/Tea: Leaves steeped in water.
Oil: Leaves pressed for essential oil.
Poultice: Bruised leaves applied to the head/temples.
Herb 185: Mistletoe
Common Name: Mistletoe (also known as Viscum album)
Latin Name: Viscum album (or related American species)
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Twigs (Berries are toxic)
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Parasitic plant found growing on Oak, Apple, or Pine trees.
Medical Use:
Specific remedy for epilepsy, vertigo, and nervous disorders.
Used to stop bleeding (hemostatic) and strengthen the heart.
Used to provoke delayed menstruation and ease nervous tension.
Note: Berries are highly toxic.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Leaves/twigs boiled or steeped in water.
Powder: Dried leaves powdered.
Herb 186: Monk's Hood
Common Name: Monk's Hood (also known as Aconite, Wolfsbane)
Latin Name: Aconitum napellus
Medicinal Parts: Root, Leaves (use with extreme caution)
Habitat: Grizzlies West, Ambarino. Found in damp, high-altitude meadows and cold woodlands.
Medical Use:
Extremely powerful analgesic and sedative for nervous pain and high fevers.
Historically used for severe rheumatism and neuralgic pain.
Note: Extremely poisonous. The most dangerous plant in the compendium. Use should be avoided.
Preparation Methods:
Tincture: Highly controlled alcohol extract (external use only).