Page 186 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

Body Aches, Muscle and Joint Pain: A decoc- Collect flowers, leaves, seeds, and roots from the plant.
tion or a salve made from the roots of Lobelia inflata Dry before use.
treats tennis elbow, whiplash injuries, arthritis, and Warning: Due to its lobeline content, Lobelia inflata
other muscle and joint pain. Apply the salve or decoc- is considered toxic if taken large quantities. Start with
tion directly to the skin over the painful area and rub it small doses and slowly increase the dosage as needed
in or make a poultice from the roots and rub it into the and only if necessary. Side effects are uncommon, but
aching body parts.
anyone can develop allergies or reactions without
Minor Skin Irritations: For minor skin irrita- warning. Due to its similarities to nicotine, it may be
tions, sores, and boils, make a decoction of boiled toxic to susceptible individuals, including people with
crushed roots and use it to wash the affected area, leav- cardiac diseases, children, and pregnant women. Ex-
ing it on to dry in place. cessive use of this herb will cause vomiting and nausea.

Relaxing the Neuromuscular System: Indian Recipes: Indian Tobacco Decoction: 1-ounce
tobacco is nervine and antispasmodic. It relaxes the ground root or leaves, 1-quart (1Liter) distilled water.
nerves, calms muscle spasms, and helps with relaxa- Bring the water to a boil in a non-reactive pot. Add the
tion. ground root. Reduce the heat to a very low simmer and
cover the pot tightly. Simmer the root mixture for 20
Inducing Vomiting: To release poisons or re- minutes. Remove from the heat. Strain the decoction
cently ingested harmful substances from the body, In- and discard the root. Keep the decoction in the refrig-
dian tobacco, also known as vomitwort, is excellent. erator for up to 3 days or freeze it in portions for longer
Use a concentrated tincture form to induce vomiting. storage. Use topically (roots and/or leaves) or take up
Harvesting: Harvest in the early summer. Wear gloves 1/4 cup internally (leaves).
to avoid the tiny, spiky hairs that prickle your hands.

Jewelweed, Leaves are bluish-green in color, oval or lance shaped,
and coarsely toothed. Lower leaves are opposite, while
Impatiens capensis upper leaves are alternate.

Orange jewelweed, also known as garden balsam, jewel
balsam weed, and touch-me-not, is a member of the
Balsaminaceae (Touch-Me-Not) Family. There are
several varieties, including Impatiens capensis, which
are medicinally active.

Impatiens are an attractive garden plant popular for
their beauty. Their showy flowers attract butterflies
and hummingbirds. Jewelweed is often found in moist
soil and shady places. Look for it along creek beds, near
streams, and at the edge of the woods. It is found
throughout most of the United States with the excep-
tion of Montana, Wyoming, California, and the south-
west.

Identification: Jewelweed is named for its seeds
and leaves. Ripe seedpods “pop” when touched, giving
it the name Touch-Me-Not. Dew and rain beads up on Jewelweed blooms from May through October and
the leaves, looking like “jewels”, hence the name “jew- produces two kinds of flowers. Showy orange trumpet
elweed”. shaped flowers hang from thin stems. They are about
an inch in length and have mottled reddish-brown
spots inside the throat of the trumpet. The second

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