The Cottage Physician

The feeling of independence and freedom that comes from knowing how to take care of your own body is priceless!  Sure, we must use a doctor if we need surgery, or have a broken bone or other emergency, but many times, the thing that we run to the doctor for could be easily treated at home.  I don't claim to be a doctor, nurse, or any other type of medical expert but I do know that our ancestors knew alot more than we (as individuals) know about staying healthy and treating minor ailments.      The following information was taken from a book left to me by my grandfather.  The book is called, "The Cottage Physician" and was published about 1886.  This is not the complete text of the book, only a sampling of the entries that I believe to be most helpful.

Medicinal Plants When to gather * How to Use

Every realm of nature contributes something, fraught with healing virtues, to the human race.  The root, bark, leaves and flowers of plant, shrub and tree, together with the mineral and animal kingdom are all utilized in the economy of our Divine Creator, to expel disease, restore health, and prolong life in mankind.  This department of "The Cottage Physician" affords ready reference to the properties, uses, and doses of the remedies now in use by the various schools.  The most common name is given, followed by the scientific name in (parenthesis).  If there are two or more common names, one or more will follow the parenthesis. ________________________________***_______________________________________ A few words about gathering and preserving medicinal roots, herbs, barks, etc., may be useful: All Plants  (as a rule) whose leaves or stems are to be employed, should be gathered when in their fullest vigor, which is about the time of flowering.  They should be dried in the shade as quickly as possible, and kept in a dry place, carefully protected from insects and light.  Flowers  should be collected just before fully expanded. Seeds and Fruit  when fully ripe. Roots of Annual Plants  just before they bloom. Bienniels  after their first year's growth has ceased. Perenials  in the autumn. Barks  should be gathered either in autumn or early spring, before the seasons growth has begun. Roots and Barks  may be dried in the sun without injury.                                                    Methods of Employ Decoctions  are made by boiling the medicinal properties in water. Infusions by pouring on boiling water and allowing to cool.  Sometimes, as in the case of wild cherry bark, it is necessary to infuse in cold water.The average proportion is an ounce of the herb to a pint of water. Tinctures  are made by macerating drugs in alchohol.  In cases of resinous substances, strong alchohol is used, otherwise, dilute with an equal quantity of water.  For internal use, good wiskey should be used in place of diluted alchohol.  In preparing tintures from dried roots, barks and seeds, these should first be reduced to a coarse powder by grinding or bruising in a mortar.  Fresh herbs generally make the best tinctures. Pills are made by accurately weighing the substances to be used, and then mixing them with water, alcohol, syrup, bread, molasses, (rose petal puree ?) or some other mild substance.  The mass, after being thoroughly mixed, should be rolled into a long stick and then cut off into equal portions according to the number of pills required.  Each pill should be rolled into a round shape with thumb and finger.

Plants and Uses

Please Note:  the following information is intended to increase your knowledge of traditional uses of plants. I do not necessarily  recommend nor endorse the use of these remedies without the councel of a medical professional.

Acid, carbonic.  Dissolved in water forms the so called "plain soda", is useful as a refrigerant drink, quieting to an irritated stomache. Acid, Citric Prepared from lemon juice.  Often used in the treatment of scurvy. Acid, Tannic  (Tannin) Obtained from nutgalls. (nutshells)  A most powerful vegetable astringent. Aconite (Aconitum Napellus) Monkshood.  Leaves and root are used.  Int the formation of acute inflamations, such as quinsy, pneumonia, pleurisy, rheumatism, aconite is of great value.  A tincture made from the root is the best way to prepare for ordinary use. In ordinary cases, one or two drops may be given every hour or two, until the pulse is lowered and sweating produced.  For breaking up colds and fevers (this remedy) probably has no superior.

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