Herb Lore - Violets to Yellowroot
Herb 283: Violets
Common Name: Violets (also known as Viola, Sweet Violet)
Latin Name: Viola odorata
Medicinal Parts: Flowers, Leaves, Root
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Found in cool, shaded woods and hedgerows.
Medical Use:
Highly cooling and demulcent. Used to soothe coughs, sore throats, and lung inflammation.
Used to cool the heat of fevers and treat insomnia.
Used externally to soothe inflamed eyes.
Preparation Methods:
Syrup/Conserve: Flowers preserved with sugar (cough remedy).
Infusion/Tea: Flowers and leaves steeped.
Herb 284: Viper’s Bugloss
Common Name: Viper’s Bugloss (also known as Echium)
Latin Name: Echium vulgare
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Hennigan's Stead, New Austin. Found on dry, sandy, or waste ground.
Medical Use:
Used specifically against viper and serpent venom (antivenom).
Used to strengthen the heart and relieve melancholy.
Used to induce sweating to break fevers (diaphoretic).
Preparation Methods:
Juice: Pressed from the fresh herb.
Decoction: Herb boiled in water or wine.
Herb 285: Wallflower
Common Name: Wallflower (also known as Cheiranthus)
Latin Name: Erysimum cheiri
Medicinal Parts: Flowers
Habitat: Roanoke Ridge, New Hanover. Found growing on walls, ruins, and rocky banks.
Medical Use:
Used to strengthen the heart and relieve nervous palpitations.
Used to provoke delayed menstruation and cleanse the womb.
Used externally to treat swollen joints and gout.
Preparation Methods:
Syrup/Conserve: Flowers preserved with sugar.
Decoction: Flowers boiled in wine.
Herb 286: Walnut
Common Name: Walnut (also known as Juglans)
Latin Name: Juglans regia (or native Juglans nigra)
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Nuts, Green Husks
Habitat: Scarlett Meadows, Lemoyne. Found in rich, sunny woods and cultivated fields.
Medical Use:
Green husks are highly astringent and used to stop diarrhea and fluxes.
Leaves used as a wash for skin diseases and to kill lice (antiseptic).
Nuts are highly nutritive (brain tonic).
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Leaves or husks boiled.
Eaten: Nuts consumed raw.
Herb 287: Water Chestnuts
Common Name: Water Chestnuts (also known as Trapa)
Latin Name: Trapa natans (Water Caltrop)
Medicinal Parts: Seeds (Nuts)
Habitat: Bayou Nwa, Lemoyne. Aquatic plant found in slow-moving water, ponds, and swamps.
Medical Use:
Seeds are highly nutritive and gently cooling.
Used to stop diarrhea and fluxes (astringent).
Used to strengthen the back and treat nervous weakness.
Preparation Methods:
Eaten: Seeds consumed raw or cooked.
Herb 288: Watercress
Common Name: Watercress (also known as Nasturtium)
Latin Name: Nasturtium officinale
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Stems
Habitat: Almost all regions, found in cool, running streams and clear springs.
Medical Use:
Highly effective for scurvy (rich in Vitamin C) and as a blood purifier (alterative).
Used to clear obstructions of the liver and spleen and treat jaundice.
Strong diuretic used to expel water and stones.
Preparation Methods:
Eaten: Leaves consumed raw (salad).
Juice: Pressed and mixed with water.
Herb 289: Water Lily
Common Name: Water Lily (also known as Nymphaea)
Latin Name: Nymphaea alba (White) or Nuphar lutea (Yellow)
Medicinal Parts: Flowers, Root (Rhizome)
Habitat: Bluewater Marsh, Lemoyne. Found in ponds, lakes, and slow-moving water.
Medical Use:
Highly cooling and sedative. Used to soothe insomnia and cool the heat of the body in fevers.
Root is strongly astringent and used to stop diarrhea and fluxes.
Used externally to soothe inflamed skin and burns.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion: Flowers steeped.
Poultice: Root mashed and applied externally.
Herb 290: Water Pepper
Common Name: Water Pepper (also known as Arsmart, Persicaria hydropiper)
Latin Name: Persicaria hydropiper
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Big Valley, West Elizabeth. Found in wet ground, ditches, and near ponds.
Medical Use:
Highly warming and diuretic. Used to provoke urine and clear kidney stones.
Used to provoke delayed menstruation and cleanse the womb.
Used externally as a rubefacient (mustard plaster effect) to relieve joint pain.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Herb boiled (used cautiously).
Poultice: Bruised herb applied externally (caustic effect).
Herb 291: Wheat
Common Name: Wheat (also known as Triticum)
Latin Name: Triticum aestivum
Medicinal Parts: Grain (Seeds), Starch, Bran
Habitat: The Heartlands, New Hanover. Widely cultivated grain crop.
Medical Use:
Nutritive tonic and staple food.
Flour poultice used to draw out boils and soothe ulcers.
Bran used as a gentle laxative (high fiber).
Decoction of the grain used as a demulcent for inflammation.
Preparation Methods:
Food: Grain ground into flour.
Poultice: Flour mixed with hot water.
Herb 292: White Willow
Common Name: White Willow (also known as Salix alba)
Latin Name: Salix alba
Medicinal Parts: Bark, Leaves
Habitat: Almost all regions, found near water (rivers, streams, ponds).
Medical Use:
Powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory (due to salicin content). Specific for fevers, headaches, and joint pain (rheumatism).
Used to staunch bleeding (astringent bark).
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Bark boiled for 20-30 minutes (fever remedy).
Wash: Strong decoction used for ulcers/wounds.
Herb 293: Willow
Common Name: Willow (also known as Salix spp.)
Latin Name: Salix spp. (other species, including Black Willow)
Medicinal Parts: Bark, Leaves
Habitat: Almost all regions, found near water.
Medical Use:
Similar to White Willow; used as a pain reliever and fever remedy.
Decoction used to stop sexual desires (anaphrodisiac).
Used to stop bleeding and fluxes (diarrhea).
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Bark boiled in water.
Powder: Dried bark powdered and consumed.
Herb 296: Woad
Common Name: Woad (also known as Isatis)
Latin Name: Isatis tinctoria
Medicinal Parts: Leaves
Habitat: The Heartlands, New Hanover. Found on roadsides and waste ground (cultivated for dye).
Medical Use:
Used to combat plague, venom, and infectious fevers (antiseptic).
Highly cooling. Used externally to treat inflammation and hot ulcers.
Used to stop bleeding and fluxes.
Preparation Methods:
Juice: Pressed from the fresh leaves.
Decoction: Leaves boiled.
Herb 297: Wood Anemone
Common Name: Wood Anemone (also known as Wind Flower, Anemone nemorosa)
Latin Name: Anemone nemorosa
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb (use with caution)
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Found in moist, shaded deciduous woods.
Medical Use:
Used externally to cause redness and blistering (rubefacient) to relieve gout and joint pain.
Used for headaches.
Note: Herb is acrid and considered poisonous.
Preparation Methods:
Poultice: Herb bruised and applied externally (cautiously).
Herb 298: Wood Sage
Common Name: Wood Sage (also known as Teucrium scorodonia)
Latin Name: Teucrium scorodonia
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Roanoke Ridge, New Hanover. Found in dry woods and on heaths.
Medical Use:
Used for coughs and short breath.
Used to treat fevers (diaphoretic) and aid in breaking up cold humours.
Used externally as a wash for wounds and ulcers.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Herb boiled in water or wine.
Infusion: Herb steeped in water.
Herb 299: Wood Sorrel
Common Name: Wood Sorrel (also known as Oxalis, Cuckoo-Bread)
Latin Name: Oxalis acetosella
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Juice
Habitat: Grizzlies East, Ambarino. Found in cool, deep, shaded woods.
Medical Use:
Highly cooling and diuretic. Used to relieve thirst and cool the heat of fevers.
Used for jaundice and to strengthen the stomach.
Excellent for scurvy (Vitamin C).
Preparation Methods:
Juice: Pressed and mixed with water (cooling drink).
Eaten: Leaves consumed raw (sour taste).
Herb 300: Wormwood
Common Name: Wormwood (also known as Artemisia absinthium)
Latin Name: Artemisia absinthium
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowering Tops, Oil (use with caution)
Habitat: Gaptooth Ridge, New Austin. Found on dry, waste ground and roadsides.
Medical Use:
Famous bitter tonic. Used to strengthen the stomach, stimulate appetite, and aid poor digestion.
Powerful vermifuge (expels worms).
Used for fevers and jaundice (liver cleanser).
Note: High doses are toxic (Absinthe).
Preparation Methods:
Infusion/Tea: Herb steeped in water (bitter).
Tincture: Herb infused in spirits.
Herb 301: Yarrow
Common Name: Yarrow (also known as Achillea, Milfoil)
Latin Name: Achillea millefolium
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowering Tops
Habitat: Universal across all regions, found on roadsides, fields, and poor ground.
Medical Use:
Premier vulnerary (wound healing). Used to staunch bleeding from wounds (chewed leaf applied directly).
Used to treat colds, flu, and fevers (diaphoretic).
Used to relieve headaches and strengthen the stomach.
Preparation Methods:
Poultice: Leaves chewed/crushed and applied to a bleeding wound.
Infusion/Tea: Herb steeped in hot water.
Herb 302: Yellow Flag
Common Name: Yellow Flag (also known as Water Iris, Iris pseudacorus)
Latin Name: Iris pseudacorus
Medicinal Parts: Root (Rhizome) (use with caution)
Habitat: Bluewater Marsh, Lemoyne. Found in water and marshy ground.
Medical Use:
Root is highly astringent and used to stop fluxes and diarrhea.
Used as a gargle for sore throats and mouth ulcers.
Used externally to treat ulcers and skin issues.
Note: Root is acrid and can cause vomiting.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root boiled in water.
Wash: Strong decoction applied externally.
Herb 303: Yellowroot
Common Name: Yellowroot (also known as Xanthorhiza simplicissima)
Latin Name: Xanthorhiza simplicissima
Medicinal Parts: Root
Habitat: Roanoke Ridge, New Hanover. Found on wooded stream banks and moist slopes.
Medical Use:
Strong bitter tonic and antimicrobial. Used to strengthen the stomach and aid poor digestion.
Used to treat jaundice (liver cleanser).
Used as an antiseptic mouthwash/gargle for sore throats.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root boiled in water.
Chew/Wash: Root chewed or decoction used as a gargle.