MEDICINES As Close as Your Door

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In the United States, its uncultivated plants are mostly green and small. Although considered edible, the green type is not as effective medicinally as the red. The larger, well-known red cockscomb is an eyecatcher with its burgundy color and height of up to six feet. The heavy plumes contain seeds which can be used as cereal or made into bread when dry, and young plants can be eaten as greens. The plumes must be picked when the seeds just begin to fall. When dried, the head is pounded to release the seed, then winnowed.

The leaves are harvested when the plume is heavy with flowers and seed. The leaves are dried and used as an astringent, applied topically to cold sores. Made into a tea, they can be used for .ore throats, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids.

The seed may be planted early in the spring; however, when new seeds tell from an early crop, I got a second late in the summer. Plants call also be bought from some nurseries.

There are several species of bee balm (Monarda), and all have been used by Native Americans as a pleasant tea and medicine. All these plants are mints, and there are a variety of colors and tastes from which to choose. The purple horsemint or lemon bee balm (Monarda citriodora) has a strong fragrant odor and has been used by Cherokees as a beverage and medicine to aid sleep and to bring down fevers. Horsemint contains citronella, an ingredient in some perfumes that is used as an insect repellent. It can be crushed and rubbed on the skin for this purpose. Citronella candles are familiar to many who picnic outdoors at night.

Laxative Tea

Several medicinal herbs stimulate intestinal peristalsis. Herbs of this type contain socalled anthraquinones and, though helpful in relieving occasional constipation problems, have damaging side effects Oust as mineral laxatives do) if they are taken regularly for a prolonged period of time. Their chronic use can lead to habituation and/or counterregulation, so that the laxative becomes ever less effective, higher and higher doses are required, and the bowels stray further and further from the ideal of self regulation. Sluggishness of the bowels can be treated with absolute effectiveness and no risk by the consumption of sufficient fiber, ballast materials, and water.

5 parts senna pods
5 parts buckthorn bark
4 parts senna leaves
2 parts raspberry leaves
2 parts fennel
1 part peppermint leaves
1 part calendula flowers

The yellow horsemint (Monarda punctata), closely related to purple horsemint, also has medicinal qualities. Thymol, a substance found in this plant, is used today in cough medicine.

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