Page 140 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Identification: These 2 to 5-foot-tall annual bushes Burns, Wounds, Boils, and Skin Inflamma-
are foul-smelling, freely branching, and erect. The tions: A salve made with thorn apple seeds reduces
plant grows from a long, thick, and fibrous root. Stems inflammations in burns and other skin wounds and in-
are stout, leafy, smooth, and pale yellow-green. They flammations. The seeds have pain-relieving and nar-
form many forks and branches, with a leaf and flower cotic properties.
at each fork. Leaves are 3 to 8 inches (7.5 cm to 20 cm)
long, soft, irregularly undulated and toothed. The sur- Whooping Cough and Other Coughs: The
face is smooth, with a darker green upper surface and narcotic and anti-spasmatic properties of thorn apple
a light green underside. seeds are potent and useful in severe cases of whooping
cough and muscle spasms.

Muscle Spasms and Parkinson’s Disease:
The tremors of Parkinson’s disease and other muscle
spasms respond to the anti-spasmatic properties of the
seed extract. Start with the minimum dose and in-
crease it only if necessary.
Warning: The plant contains dangerous levels of
toxins and has a significant risk of overdose when used
without medical supervision. Toxicity can also vary
from plant to plant and with the maturity of the plant,
so a safe dose one year might be toxic the next year as
the plant matures. Use thorn apple only under the su-
pervision of a highly skilled medical professional.

White, creamy, or violet trumpet-shaped flowers ap- Recipes. Thorn Apple Seed Extract: 1/4 tea-
pear throughout the summer. Flowers are approxi- spoon thorn apple seeds, 1/4 cup 80 proof alcohol. Mix
mately 2 to 4 inches (5 cm to 10 cm) long on short the alcohol and crushed seeds together in a small bottle
stems growing from the branch forks or the leaf axils. and cover tightly. Allow the mixture to steep for 2 to 4
The calyx is swollen at the base, long and tubular and weeks. Strain out the seeds and store the extract in a
surrounded with five sharp teeth. The corolla is only cool, dark place for up to 3 years. Keep out of reach of
partially open and has prominent ribs. The flowers children and mark it clearly as a poison.
open at night.
Dosing: It is im-
Seeds are egg-shaped capsules, approximately 1 to 3 possible to accu-
inches (2.5 cm to 7.5 cm) in diameter and either bald rately recom-
or covered with spines. When mature, it splits into four mend a dosage
chambers, each containing many small black seeds. since the strength
Medicinal Use: The leaves and seeds are used in of seeds from
medicine. Traditionally the leaves are smoked. Today, each individual
some people use a Thorn Apple Seed Salve for external plant varies. Start
use and have discontinued using the herb as a smoke with 1 drop and
or extract because of its toxic effects. It is similar to increase the dos-
Belladonna (deadly nightshade) in its constituents. age only as
needed to get the
Asthma: Thorn apple leaves have long been smoked desired effects.
in cigarette or pipe form, mixed with tobacco, for the Watch carefully
treatment of asthma. for symptoms of
I do not recommend this method since over-consump- toxicity. Use only Thorn Apple, Skäpperöd, CC by SA 3.0
tion causes delirium and hallucinations and even under medical supervision.
death. Mullein is a much better choice. Thorn Apple Oil or Salve (For external use only):
You will need 1/4 teaspoon thorn apple seeds, 1/2 cup
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