Herb Lore - Motherwort to Origanum
Herb 187: Motherwort
Common Name: Motherwort (also known as Lion's Tail, Leonurus)
Latin Name: Leonurus cardiaca
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowering Tops
Habitat: The Heartlands, New Hanover. Found in hedgerows, waste ground, and near farmsteads.
Medical Use:
Specific cardiac tonic that calms the heart and relieves nervous palpitations and anxiety.
Used to relieve delayed or painful menstruation (hence the name).
Acts as a powerful nervine to ease nervous tension and promote sleep.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion/Tea: Herb steeped in water.
Tincture: Alcohol extract of the fresh herb.
Herb 188: Mugwort
Common Name: Mugwort (also known as Artemisia)
Latin Name: Artemisia vulgaris
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowering Tops, Root
Habitat: Almost all regions, found in waste places, roadsides, and rough ground.
Medical Use:
Powerful remedy for menstrual and uterine disorders. Used to provoke delayed menstruation and ease difficult labor.
Used to clear and cleanse the stomach and aid poor digestion.
Root used against epilepsy and nervous twitching.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion: Leaves/tops steeped in water.
Decoction: Root boiled.
Smoke/Burn: Used historically to ward off evil spirits.
Herb 189: Mulberry
Common Name: Mulberry (Black Mulberry, White Mulberry)
Latin Name: Morus nigra (and Morus alba)
Parts Used: Berries, Bark, Leaves
Habitat: Found in Scarlett Meadows, Lemoyne; thrives in warm, rich, cultivated soil.
Medicinal Uses:
Berries: Highly cooling; effective for sore throats and mouth ulcers (gargle). Also used to reduce body heat during fevers.
Bark: Acts as a mild purgative (laxative) and expels worms (vermifuge).
Preparation:
Syrup/Conserve: Berries are pressed and mixed with sugar.
Decoction: Bark or leaves are boiled.
Herb 190: Mullein
Common Name: Mullein (also known as Velvet Plant, Aaron's Rod)
Latin Name: Verbascum thapsus
Parts Used: Leaves, Flowers, Root
Habitat: Ubiquitous in most regions, favoring dry banks, roadsides, and gravelly ground.
Medicinal Uses:
Lungs: A primary remedy for lung ailments; highly demulcent and expectorant. Treats coughs, asthma, and consumption.
Flower Oil: Used to alleviate earaches and soothe ear infections.
Root Decoction: Addresses urinary inflammation and incontinence.
Preparation:
Infusion: Leaves and flowers are steeped (carefully strained to remove hairs).
Oil: Flowers are infused in oil for ear applications.
Herb 191: Musk
Common Name: Musk (Deer Musk)
Latin Name: Moschus moschiferus (derived from the musk deer gland)
Parts Used: Animal Secretion (imported)
Habitat: An expensive, imported aromatic medicine.
Medicinal Uses:
Stimulant: A powerful stimulant and cardiac tonic, used for faintness, collapse, and severe weakness.
Nervous Disorders: Treats convulsions, vertigo, and various nervous conditions.
Warming: Warms the body and promotes sweating.
Preparation:
Tincture: Dissolved in spirits and taken in very small doses.
Herb 192: Mustard
Common Name: Mustard (also known as Sinapis)
Latin Name: Brassica nigra (Black) or Sinapis alba (White)
Parts Used: Seeds
Habitat: Found in The Heartlands, New Hanover; cultivated in fields or on waste ground.
Medicinal Uses:
External (Rubefacient): Ground seeds mixed with water create a powerful mustard plaster to draw blood to the surface, relieving deep joint pain and pleurisy.
Internal (Emetic): Taken internally with water to induce vomiting and clear poisons.
Digestion: Whole seeds aid digestion and warm the stomach.
Preparation:
Poultice: Ground seeds mixed with water (external application only).
Eaten: Seeds can be consumed whole or as a paste.
Herb 193: Myrrh
Common Name: Myrrh (also known as Commiphora)
Latin Name: Commiphora myrrha
Parts Used: Gum/Resin (imported)
Habitat: Imported from arid regions, sold by apothecaries in Saint Denis/New Austin.
Medicinal Uses:
Antiseptic/Astringent: A potent antiseptic and astringent, used for ulcers, wounds, and as a mouthwash for sore gums/mouths.
Expectorant: A warming expectorant for chronic coughs and consumption.
Menstruation: Used to induce delayed menstruation.
Preparation:
Tincture: Resin dissolved in spirits (alcohol).
Wash/Gargle: Mixed with water for external or oral use.
Powder: Used in incense and medicines.
Herb 194: Myrtle
Common Name: Myrtle (also known as Sweet Myrtus)
Latin Name: Myrtus communis
Parts Used: Leaves, Berries, Oil
Habitat: Found in Scarlett Meadows, Lemoyne; cultivated in warm, mild, coastal regions.
Medicinal Uses:
Astringent/Antiseptic: Highly astringent and antiseptic. Stops bleeding and fluxes (diarrhea).
Topical: Used as a wash for sore eyes and wounds.
Oral: Leaves chewed to combat foul breath.
Preparation:
Decoction: Leaves are boiled.
Distilled Water: Leaves and flowers are pressed to extract water for eyewash.
Herb 195: Nard
Common Name: Nard (also known as Spikenard, Indian Nard)
Latin Name: Nardostachys jatamansi
Parts Used: Root (Rhizome) (imported)
Habitat: An imported aromatic root/oil, sold as an expensive medicine and perfume.
Medicinal Uses:
Organ Support: Strengthens the stomach, heart, and liver.
Digestive Aid: Relieves nausea and vomiting, and clears jaundice and other internal obstructions.
Preservative: A powerful antiseptic and aromatic preservative.
Preparation:
Oil/Perfume: Root is distilled.
Decoction: Root is boiled in water or wine.
Herb 196: Navelwort
Common Name: Navelwort (also known as Wall Pennywort, Cotyledon)
Latin Name: Umbilicus rupestris
Parts Used: Leaves, Juice
Habitat: Found in Roanoke Ridge, New Hanover; grows in shady, mossy areas, particularly on stone walls and rocks.
Medicinal Uses:
Cooling/Emollient: Highly cooling and emollient. Applied externally to treat burns, scalds, and hot inflammation.
Soothing: Soothes piles (hemorrhoids) and cools internal fevers. Applied directly to soothe stings.
Preparation:
Poultice: Leaves are bruised and applied immediately.
Juice: Pressed and consumed with wine.
Herb 197: Nettle
Common Name: Nettle (also known as Stinging Nettle, Urtica)
Latin Name: Urtica dioica
Parts Used: Leaves, Root, Seeds
Habitat: Found in almost all regions, preferring rich, nitrogenous soil near farms and waste places.
Medicinal Uses:
Nutritive Tonic: A nutritive tonic rich in iron and minerals. Treats anemia and cleanses the blood (alterative).
Diuretic: Leaves are a powerful diuretic, treating dropsy and clearing the urinary system.
Root Decoction: Used for gout and hair loss.
Topical: Applied topically as a counter-irritant to relieve rheumatic pain.
Preparation:
Infusion: Leaves are steeped in boiling water (ensuring the sting is safely removed).
Juice: Pressed for consumption.
Decoction: Root is boiled.
Herb 198: Nutmeg
Common Name: Nutmeg (also known as Myristica)
Latin Name: Myristica fragrans
Parts Used: Seed (Nut), Essential Oil
Habitat: An imported spice, sold in Saint Denis; from a tropical evergreen tree.
Medicinal Uses:
Warming/Carminative: Highly warming and carminative. Relieves colic, wind, and vomiting.
Digestion: Strengthens the stomach and aids digestion.
Oil (External): Used externally to relieve rheumatic pain and paralysis.
Caution: Large doses are toxic and psychoactive (narcotic).
Preparation:
Powder: Ground and consumed in small doses.
Oil: Distilled and applied externally.
Herb 199: Oak
Common Name: Oak (White Oak, Red Oak)
Latin Name: Quercus robur (and related native species)
Parts Used: Bark, Acorns
Habitat: Universal across all regions, particularly in forests and open woodlands.
Medicinal Uses:
Astringent: An extremely strong astringent. Bark is used to stop all types of bleeding (internal and external) and chronic diarrhea.
Topical: Bark decoction serves as a powerful wash/gargle for sore throats, piles (hemorrhoids), and wounds.
Acorns: Nutritive but difficult to digest.
Preparation:
Decoction: Bark is boiled for 20-30 minutes (for astringent wash or drink).
Powder: Dried bark is powdered and applied to bleeding wounds.
Herb 200: Onion
Common Name: Onion (also known as Allium cepa)
Latin Name: Allium cepa
Parts Used: Bulb, Juice
Habitat: Found in The Heartlands, New Hanover; widely cultivated in gardens and fields.
Medicinal Uses:
Stimulant/Diuretic: A stimulant and diuretic. Warms the body and purges water (dropsy).
Respiratory: Used for coughs, colds, and shortness of breath (mucilage).
Topical: Raw onion applied to burns, dog bites, and stings to draw out heat/poison.
Preparation:
Eaten: Can be consumed cooked or raw.
Syrup: Juice mixed with honey for cough remedy.
Poultice: Sliced raw bulb applied externally.
Herb 201: Orach
Common Name: Orach (also known as Mountain Spinach, Atriplex)
Latin Name: Atriplex hortensis
Parts Used: Leaves, Seeds
Habitat: Found in almost all regions, in cultivated ground, gardens, and near coastlines.
Medicinal Uses:
Cooling/Emollient: Highly cooling and emollient. Gently softens the belly (mild laxative).
Topical: Applied externally as a poultice to relieve gout and hot swellings.
Nutritive: Leaves are eaten as a nutritive potherb.
Preparation:
Eaten: Leaves consumed raw or cooked (nutritive).
Poultice: Leaves mashed and applied.
Herb 202: Origanum
Common Name: Origanum (also known as Marjoram, Wild Marjoram)
Latin Name: Origanum vulgare
Parts Used: Leaves, Flowering Tops
Habitat: Found in Hennigan's Stead, New Austin; prefers dry, chalky hillsides and open woods.
Medicinal Uses:
Warming/Aromatic: Highly warming and aromatic. Relieves colic and wind (carminative).
Menstruation: Used to induce delayed menstruation and treat spleen obstructions.
Oil (External): Oil used externally for joint pain and nervous weakness.
Preparation:
Infusion: Herb steeped in water or wine.
Oil: Essential oil applied externally.