NATIVE PLANTS THAT CHARM AND HEAL 187 
YARROW, or Milfoil (Achillea millefol- 
iuvi), Thistle family, is one of the most 
useful of the native herbs. Achilles, from 
whom the name came, knew of its virtues 
and applied it to the wounds of his 
soldiers. It has figured in the literature, 
mythology, folklore and medicine of 
many lands. Its potency as a love charm, 
its efficacy as a witches brew, its curative 
property as a doctor’s remedy and its 
aesthetic value to the garden have made it 
notable. It is astringent, alterative and 
diuretic. 
WILD LETTUCE, or Sow Thistle ( Lactuca 
canadensis) , Chicory family, is another in¬ 
teresting herb that was introduced from 
Europe. We know little of its early history 
and scarcely more of its near relative, the 
garden variety. Herodotus speaks of its 
being eaten as a salad in 5 50 B.C., and the 
old Roman served it at his table. The 
plant’s milky juice yields an opium substi¬ 
tute that is used by the medical profession. 
Caterpillars and other insects feast on it, 
but the animal world leaves it untouched. 
Verily, "one man’s meat is another’s 
poison!” It is narcotic and demulcent. 
DOG-TOOTHED VIOLET, or Adder’s 
Tongue ( Erythronium albidum) , Lily 
family, is a perennial of short flowering 
season, usually from March to May, ac¬ 
cording to locality, and the flowers and 
leaves wilt soon after being picked. The 
bulb, which is edible, was roasted and en¬ 
joyed both by the Indians and the early 
settlers. As a property it is emetic, emolli¬ 
ent, and antiscorbutic when fresh, but 
when dried, it is nutritive. 
SENNA ( Cassia roemeriana) , Senna family, 
was first used as a medicine by the Arabs. 
The Red-bud (Cercis Occidentalis), be¬ 
longs to this family, and the old settlers 
claimed its bark would relieve chills and 
fevers. The tender buds of a kindred 
variety are in demand in England for 
salads. The leaves make a valuable, mild 
and effectual tea. It is cathartic in princi- 
• pie. 
HORSEMINT (Monarda dispersa), Mint 
family, is a perennial that got its name 
from a Spanish authority on medicinal 
plants, one Nicholas Monardez. Hore- 
hound (Marrubium vulgare); Skullcap 
(Scutellaria drummondii); Wild Berga¬ 
mot (Monarda fistulosa); and several of 
the Pennyroyals are near relatives, and 
members of the Mint family that are use¬ 
ful in the preparation of curative teas. 
Other herbs which are utilized in infu¬ 
sions are the Wormseed (Chenopodium an- 
thelminticum), naturalized from Europe; 
Balsam Groundsel (Senecio balsamitae); 
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) as a 
salad is rich in Vitamin E; Plantain 
(Plantago occidentalis) ; Wild Parsley 
(Ptilimnium laciniatum); and the Violet 
(Viola missouriensis). 
WILD CARROT ( Daucus pusillus), called 
also Queen Anne’s Lace, is lovely as well 
as useful. The carrot dates its domestica¬ 
tion to the prehistoric period. It is reputed 
to have been used in Rome in Pliny's day, 
and the early Spaniards believed the root 
to be an efficacious remedy for rattle 
snake bite. 
DAMIANA MEXICANA ( Chrysactinia 
mexicana), Thistle family, is pitted with 
oil glands, and is at once aromatic and 
resinous. It is a tonic, stimulative and 
laxative. 
BUTTERFLY WEED ( Asclepias tuberosa), 
Milkweed family, also called Pleurisy 
Root, as the name implies, is much used 
for diseases of the lungs and pulmonary 
organs. 
MISTLETOE ( Phoradendron flavescens) 
Mistletoe family, a parasite growth, is 
similar to the Old World Mistletoe which 
the Druid priests kept in their homes; and 
the Indians chew the leaves to cure tooth¬ 
ache. 
CASTOR BEAN ( Ricinus communis) 
Palma Christi, Spurge family, yields an oil 
that is widely known as a cathartic, and 
as a lubricant for machinery. The plant 
was first introduced as a medicine in 1764 
by Peter Cavone of the West Indies. 
Among the medicinal herbs none was more treasured by the early 
settlers than the lovely Mountain Pink (Erythraea Beyrichii) known as 
Quinine weed. They gathered the plants while in bloom, dried them, and 
Other 
Herbs 
An 
Early 
Fever 
Remedy 
