Page 206 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

smaller doses of the dried plant, it relieves stomach steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain out the root and use
contractions and calms inflammation. It is important the tea as desired for medicinal purposes.
to note that the herb itself can be toxic, so it is best to
follow a medical professional’s advice. Unicorn Root Leaf Tea: 1/2 teaspoon dried uni-
corn root leaves, 1 cup boiling water. Pour boiling wa-
Promotes Appetite: Unicorn Root is well known ter over the unicorn root leaves and allow the tea to
for its ability to encourage appetite. steep for 8 to 10 minutes. Strain out the leaves and en-
joy.
Harvesting: Wear gloves when harvesting the roots
and leaves to avoid being injured by the spike-like Unicorn Root Salve: Making Unicorn Root Salve
leaves of the plant. Dig up the roots in the late summer is a two-step process. First, you must infuse the oil,
and dry them for later use. Do not use fresh unless you then make the salve.
are trying to induce vomiting.
Infusing the Oil: 1 cup Organic Olive Oil or another
Warning: Because unicorn root has narcotic and carrier oil, 1/4 cup dried unicorn root. Shred or grind
sedative properties, it is easy to take too much. Use the unicorn root into small pieces; grinding is best.
with care and always start with small doses. It can be Place the root into a glass jar and cover it with a suita-
toxic in large doses. Dry the roots and leaves before us- ble carrier oil such as olive oil. Allow the oil to steep for
ing. 4 to 6 weeks to release the beneficial oils from the root.
If you need to speed up the process, you can heat the
Recipes: Unicorn Root Tea: For medicinal pur- oil gently for 10 to 12 hours. Strain the oil through a
poses only, not to be consumed as a routine beverage.
coffee filter or cheesecloth to remove the root. Store
A few sprigs of shredded dried unicorn root, 1 cup wa- the oil in a cool, dark place. Follow our Salve-Making
ter. Place the unicorn root into the water and heat to Recipe on page 38.
boiling. Remove from the heat and allow the tea to

Wild Comfrey,

Hound’s Tongue,

Cynoglossum

virginianum

Wild Comfrey is also known as blue houndstongue, as
its leaves are said to look like a dog’s tongue. It is native
to eastern North America and much of Europe. It pri-
marily grows in deciduous forests and open upland
areas. Cynoglossum virginianum by AlbertHerring
Note that this is not the same plant as Comfrey (Knit- stem the leaves are smaller, clasp the stem, and are un-
bone), Symphytum officinale, which is also in this stalked. It is biennial. The blue-purple to white flowers
book, though they are both in the Borage Family. appear in late spring/early summer. Each flower has
Identification: Wild comfrey grows on an erect five deep lobes connected to an ovary, which is con-
simple stem with fine hairs on both the leaves and nected to the style. Flowers are approximately 1/3 inch
stem. The alternate leaves are simple, 4 to 8 inches (10 (0.8 cm) across and have ragged edges. Fruits are pro-
cm to 20 cm long and 1 to 3 inches (2.5 cm to 7.5 cm) duced in mid-late summer. There are one to four
wide with smooth edges. prickly nutlets per flower, each having one seed that is
covered with bristles that cling to clothing. The plant
The leaves are larger and stalked at the lower end of grows from a taproot.
the stem and grow in a rosette. As you move up the

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