Herb Lore - Page 8
Herb 151: Horse-Radish
Common Name: Horse-Radish (also known as Redcole, Cochlearia)
Latin Name: Armoracia rusticana
Medicinal Parts: Root
Habitat: The Heartlands, New Hanover. Cultivated in gardens; naturalized in disturbed, moist areas.
Medical Use:
Powerful stimulant and diuretic. Used to purge the body of dropsy (edema) and cold, viscous humours.
Used as a poultice to relieve sciatica and joint pain (mustard plaster effect).
Excellent for coughs and clearing congestion.
Preparation Methods:
Eaten: Grated raw root mixed with vinegar.
Syrup: Root sliced and infused in spirits.
Herb 152: Horse-Tail
Common Name: Horse-Tail (also known as Shavegrass, Equisetum)
Latin Name: Equisetum arvense
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Almost all regions, especially in damp, sandy, or marshy ground.
Medical Use:
Highly effective diuretic and mineral tonic (rich in silica).
Used to staunch bleeding from the urinary tract and strengthen the tissues of the bladder.
Heals wounds and eases the pain of ruptures (hernias).
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Herb boiled for 15-20 minutes.
Wash: Strong decoction used for wounds.
Herb 153: Hound's-Tongue
Common Name: Hound's-Tongue (also known as Cynoglossum)
Latin Name: Cynoglossum officinale
Medicinal Parts: Root, Leaves
Habitat: Gaptooth Ridge, New Austin. Found on waste ground, roadsides, and dry, open areas.
Medical Use:
Powerful sedative and narcotic. Used internally to quiet coughs and stop fluxes (diarrhea).
Used externally in ointments to heal burns, scalds, and piles (hemorrhoids).
Note: Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (toxic to the liver).
Preparation Methods:
Ointment: Leaves/root steeped in lard/oil for external use.
Herb 154: Houseleek
Common Name: Houseleek (also known as Sempervivum, Jupiter's Eye)
Latin Name: Sempervivum tectorum
Medicinal Parts: Leaves (Juice)
Habitat: Almost all regions, typically grown on roofs and walls, requiring little soil.
Medical Use:
Highly cooling and anti-inflammatory. Juice is used to immediately soothe burns, scalds, and bee/wasp stings.
Clears eye inflammation and headaches (applied to temples).
Used to remove warts and corns.
Preparation Methods:
Juice: Leaves crushed and applied immediately.
Herb 155: Juniper
Common Name: Juniper (also known as Gin Berry, Arolla)
Latin Name: Juniperus communis
Medicinal Parts: Berries (Cones), Wood, Oil
Habitat: Grizzlies West, Ambarino. Thrives on high-altitude slopes, rocky ground, and poor soil.
Medical Use:
Powerful diuretic and antiseptic for the urinary system. Used to clear kidney stones and urinary infections.
Highly warming and carminative (colic relief).
Used to warm the body and treat consumption (tuberculosis).
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Berries crushed and boiled.
Oil: Distilled and rubbed externally for pain.
Herb 156: Knotgrass
Common Name: Knotgrass (also known as Swine's Grass, Polygonum)
Latin Name: Polygonum aviculare
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Universal across all regions, found in paths, roadsides, and trampled, poor ground.
Medical Use:
Strong astringent. Used to stop all forms of bleeding (internal/external) and bloody flux.
Clears the body of worms (vermifuge).
Used to break up and expel kidney stones.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Herb boiled in water or wine.
Juice: Pressed and drunk.
Herb 157: Lavender
Common Name: Lavender (also known as Lavandula)
Latin Name: Lavandula angustifolia
Medicinal Parts: Flowers, Essential Oil
Habitat: Hennigan's Stead, New Austin. Cultivated in dry, sunny, open fields and gardens.
Medical Use:
Excellent nervine that comforts the brain, relieves headache, and promotes sleep.
Used as a warming tonic for faintness and palpitations.
Oil used externally to repel insects and soothe stings.
Cleansing wash for the hair and body.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion/Tea: Flowers steeped.
Oil: Flowers distilled or infused in spirits/oil.
Herb 160: Licorice
Common Name: Licorice (also known as Liquorice, Glycyrrhiza)
Latin Name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Medicinal Parts: Root
Habitat: Imported or cultivated in warm, dry regions like New Austin.
Medical Use:
Demulcent (soothing) and expectorant. Specific for coughs, sore throats, and lung consumption.
Used to flavor bitter medicines and soothe stomach ulcers.
Mildly laxative and adrenal tonic.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root boiled in water.
Chewed: Root pieces consumed raw.
Extract: Syrup or conserve made from the boiled root.
Herb 161: Lily of the Valley
Common Name: Lily of the Valley (also known as May Lily, Convallaria)
Latin Name: Convallaria majalis
Medicinal Parts: Flowers, Leaves (use with extreme caution)
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Found in cool, shaded deciduous woods and thickets.
Medical Use:
Used for heart failure and dropsy (edema) due to its diuretic and cardiotonic effects.
Used to strengthen the brain and memory.
Note: Highly poisonous (contains cardiac glycosides).
Preparation Methods:
Distilled Water: Flowers pressed for water (used as eyewash).
Tincture: Prepared by skilled apothecaries only.
Herb 162: Lime Tree
Common Name: Lime Tree (also known as Linden, Tilia)
Latin Name: Tilia europaea (or related native species)
Medicinal Parts: Flowers, Sapwood
Habitat: Big Valley, West Elizabeth. Found in woodlands and parks.
Medical Use:
Flowers are an excellent nervine sedative. Used to treat anxiety, nervous palpitations, and insomnia.
Induces sweating (diaphoretic) to break fevers and colds.
Sapwood used as a diuretic and cleanser.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion/Tea: Flowers steeped in water.
Decoction: Sapwood boiled.
Herb 163: Liverwort
Common Name: Liverwort (also known as Hepatica)
Latin Name: Hepatica nobilis (or related species)
Medicinal Parts: Leaves
Habitat: Grizzlies East, Ambarino. Found in mossy, shaded, moist coniferous woods and ravines.
Medical Use:
Specific remedy for the liver (hence the name). Used to clear obstructions of the liver and treat jaundice.
Also used to heal wounds and staunch bleeding.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion/Tea: Leaves steeped in water.
Decoction: Leaves boiled.
Herb 164: Lobelia
Common Name: Lobelia (also known as Indian Tobacco, Emetic Herb)
Latin Name: Lobelia inflata
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb (use with extreme caution)
Habitat: Roanoke Ridge, New Hanover. Found in dry fields, pastures, and open woodlands.
Medical Use:
Powerful anti-asthmatic and expectorant. Used to relax muscles in the lungs for severe asthma attacks and short breath.
Strong emetic (causes vomiting); historically used to induce vomiting to clear poisons.
Note: Highly toxic in large doses.
Preparation Methods:
Tincture: Highly controlled alcohol extract.
Smoke: Dried leaves smoked (for asthma).
Herb 165: Loosestrife (Purple)
Common Name: Loosestrife (Purple) (also known as Lythrum)
Latin Name: Lythrum salicaria
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowering Tops
Habitat: Bluewater Marsh, Lemoyne. Found in wet meadows, marshes, and stream banks.
Medical Use:
Strong astringent. Excellent for stopping diarrhea and bloody flux, especially chronic or severe cases.
Used to staunch bleeding from wounds (topical wash).
Used as a wash for sore eyes.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Herb boiled in water.
Wash/Gargle: Used externally for ulcers.
Herb 166: Loosestrife (Yellow)
Common Name: Loosestrife (Yellow) (also known as Lysimachia)
Latin Name: Lysimachia vulgaris
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Cumberland Forest, New Hanover. Found in damp woods, stream banks, and thickets.
Medical Use:
Used to staunch bleeding from wounds and stop internal fluxes.
Used to clear eye issues and inflammation.
The smoke from the burned herb is said to drive away serpents and venomous creatures.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Herb boiled in water.
Smoke: Dried herb burned.
Herb 167: Lovage
Common Name: Lovage (also known as Ligusticum)
Latin Name: Ligusticum officinale
Medicinal Parts: Root, Seeds, Leaves
Habitat: Grizzlies East, Ambarino. Found in moist meadows and open banks, often near cultivation.
Medical Use:
Highly warming and diuretic. Used to relieve colic and move wind (carminative).
Clears the lungs and aids in treating pleurisy and shortness of breath.
Used to provoke delayed menstruation.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root or seeds boiled in water or wine.
Conserve: Root candied with sugar.
Herb 168: Lungwort
Common Name: Lungwort (also known as Pulmonaria)
Latin Name: Pulmonaria officinalis
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowers
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Found in cool, moist, shaded deciduous woods.
Medical Use:
Specific remedy for coughs, lung consumption, and bloody expectoration (coughing up blood).
The leaves are high in mucilage, making them highly demulcent (soothing) for inflamed lungs.
Used as an astringent to stop fluxes.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion: Leaves steeped in water.
Decoction: Leaves boiled with honey/sugar.
Herb 169: Mace
Common Name: Mace (Nutmeg Aril)
Latin Name: Myristica fragrans (from the fruit of Nutmeg tree)
Medicinal Parts: Aril (outer seed covering)
Habitat: Imported spice, sold in Saint Denis. Tropical evergreen tree.
Medical Use:
Highly warming and carminative. Used to relieve colic and wind.
Strengthens the stomach and aids poor digestion.
Used for nausea and vomiting.
Preparation Methods:
Powder: Ground and added to food or drink.
Tincture: Infused in spirits.