Page 113 - Lost Book Remedies
P. 113
The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies
catclaw, burro-bush, black grama, bush muhly, and de- Heart Stimulant (Caution): Members of the
sert needle-grass. ephedra family are known to contain ephedrine, which
stimulates the heart and central nervous system. How-
ever, Ephedra nevadensis has little to none of the stim-
ulant effects of ephedrine. However, drug potency var-
ies from plant to plant, use it with care and do not use
it on people with known arrhythmias or other prob-
lems where ephedrine is contraindicated.
Sores and Skin Infections: A poultice made
from the powdered stems can be applied to sores for
effective treatment.
Warning: Pregnant women and breastfeeding
mothers should never use Mormon Tea.
Harvesting: Harvest the seeds of this plant by hand
Ripe Female cones with seeds. Photo by Le.Loup.Gris, CC by SA 3.0
from native stands. On good years abundant collec-
Edible Use: Both the fruit and seeds are edible. The tions of ephedra seeds can be obtained by flailing the
fruit is sweet with a mild flavor, while the seed has a fruiting branches over an open tray. Its stems can be
bitter taste and can be used cooked. It is sometimes harvested at any time of the year - dry them for future
roasted and ground to make bread. However, this plant use.
is famous for its tea. Steep the green or dried twigs in
boiling water until the tea turns an amber or pink Recipes: Mormon Tea Infusion. Break the stems into
color. small pieces and wash them well. Add them to water
and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the
Medicinal Use: Mormon tea foliage is considered twigs for 10 to 15 minutes. Once cooled, strain the liq-
toxic but is used for medicinal purposes. It is a blood uid.
purifier, diuretic, fever-reducer, poultice, and tonic.
Mormon Tea: To make Mormon Tea, follow the in-
Urogenital Complaints: Use the stems for uro- structions for Mormon Tea Infusion, then dilute the in-
genital complaints including kidney problems, gonor- fusion with water until it is the strength you like. I di-
rhea, and syphilis, if caught in its early stages. lute it to the color of tea. You can sweeten it with raw
Asthma and Respiratory Problems: Mormon honey, if desired.
tea and other members of the ephedra family are valu- Mormon Tea Powder: Dry and powder the
able for the treatment of asthma and respiratory sys- branches and twigs of the Mormon Tea Shrub. Moisten
tem complaints. It does not cure asthma, but it opens the powder to make a paste and use to make a poultice
the airways and relieves the symptoms of an attack. It for sores and burns.
is also useful for allergies and hay fever.
more wide. Motherwort leaves vary in size and shape
Motherwort, along the stem. They are dark green on top and pale
Leonurus cardiaca below. Lower leaves are deeply lobed with large teeth
and can resemble maple or oak leaves.
Motherwort is a perennial member of the mint family They can reach five inches long and wide, and are
that is often found at the edges of woodlands and in hairy. Moving up the plant, the leaves become smaller
disturbed soils. It is widely distributed throughout with smaller lobes and teeth. At the top of the plant,
North America and Europe and is sometimes consid- leaves are usually small, narrow, and unlobed.
ered invasive. The stems are square, hairy, and branch only at the up-
Identification: Motherwort is an upright bush that per part of the plant.
can grow to 6 1/2 feet tall (2m) and 3 feet (0.9m) or
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