Page 170 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Cardinal Flower,
Lobelia cardinalis

Cardinal flower is a beautiful showy plant with brilliant
red flowers. This plant is hard to miss. It is in the Cam-
panulaceae (Bellflower) Family. It grows in wet soil,
swamps, stream banks, and along rivers.

Identification: The flowers are a cardinal red color
and are 2-lipped with five deep lobes. They grow on an
erect raceme approximately 2 to 3 feet (0.6m to 0.9m)
tall and flower during the summer and autumn. The
toothed lanceolate to oval leaves grow 8 inches (20 cm)
long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide.

Medicinal Use: Traditional uses for cardinal flower
are below. It isn’t used as often as it used to be in Vinegar Preparation. It relaxes the muscles and speeds
herbal medicine but is still an important plant to know. healing though I do prefer other plants for this use.
All parts are used medicinally. Warning: Some other plants in the Lobelia genus are

Bronchitis: Cardinal flower is used as an expecto- toxic, so it is wise to be careful in the use of cardinal
rant for bronchitis. flower since it could potentially be toxic in larger doses.
Symptoms of toxicity would include nausea, vomiting,
Epilepsy, Diphtheria, Tonsillitis: The anti-in- diarrhea, excessive saliva, weakness, dilation of pupils,
flammatory and narcotic properties of the roots help it convulsions or coma.
treat convulsive and inflammatory diseases such as
these. It relaxes spasms and allows the body to heal. Lobelia Vinegar Preparation: Use the fast
method only in emergencies. A slower maceration is
Eye Diseases: A weak tea made from 1 teaspoon of best. Ingredients: 4 ounces (113g) powdered Lobelia
root or leaves per cup of boiling water is useful as an seed and 1-quart (1 Liter) of vinegar. Macerate the vin-
eye wash. egar and seed powder for seven days, shaking daily.
Sprains, Bruises, and Skin Irritations: As an Filter mixture through a coffee filter to remove the
external application for relieving pain and encouraging seed powder. Store in a cool, dry place. Fast Method:
healing in sprains, strains, bruises, and other surface Place the vinegar and seed powder in the top of a dou-
irritations, try Cardinal Flower tea or a Lobelia Seed ble boiler and cover. Bring water to a simmer in the
lower pot. Warm the vinegar mixture this way for 1
hour. Cool and strain.

Cat’s Claw, Identification: Cat’s claw, Uncaria tomentosa, is a
tropical woody vine whose hooked claw-shaped thorns
Uncaria tomentosa give it its name. The vine grows to a length of up to 100
feet (30meters), climbing anything in its path.
Cat’s Claw, or uña de gato, grows in Central and South The bright green elongated leaves grow in opposing
America, where it grows profusely in the rainforest. pairs. They have a smooth edge that may be rounded
The root and vine bark are imported here for medicinal or come to a point. The flowers are yellow, trumpet
use. It is a useful plant and I try to keep a supply on shaped, and have five petals. The barbs are hook-
hand. It is in the Rubiaceae (Bedstraw/Madder) Fam- shaped and curled like a cat’s claw.
ily.

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