Indian Medicine

The information below comes from the second printing of The Indian Household Medicine guide ©1883 by J. I. Lighthall

Hydrastis Canadensis.
Golden Seal. Orange Root. Yellow Root. These are the various names that are ascribed to this plant by botanists, by medical men, and by those who are familiar with the plant or herb. Itis generally known by the name of Yellow Root. The fruit it bears is similar to that of a raspberry. The root is the part that possesses the medicinal properties. It is used by the Indians in coloring their garments. It colors them a bright yellow. Yellow Root, when in combination with indigo, will color goods a fine green. This root is one of the Indian's favorite remedies; and medical men of the present age recognize it as one of the standard remedies for many pathological conditions or diseases of the human body. Too much cannot be said of this valuable agent, that has been veiled in darkness to the medical world so long. I consider it one of the kings of diseases of the mucous membrane. It is unsurpassed by any known remedy. Many medical powers and properties have been claimed^for this root, but at present its true therapeutical or medical properties are well understood. Medical properties and uses.—It is admitted by all to be a fine tonic. It acts very gently on the liver, and as an alterative on the mucous membrane. It is a fine remedy*in|the treatment of dyspepsia and many other affections requiring a tonic treatment. It is a diuretic. When taken, it can, in a few hours, be smelled in the urine. It is a good blood purifier. To snuff the powder in small quantities in a great many cases will cure catarrh. Many a bad case of chronic diarrhoea is said to have been cured by chewing the root as one would chew tobacco. It is splendid to take the powder and sprinkle in on an old cancer sore or ulcer. Take the powder and mix with water; this makes a fine gargle for a chronic sore throat, diptheria, or any ulceration of the mucous membrane. It should be gargled some five or six times a day. The fluid extract, diluted one-half with water, and injected four times, is a certain cure for gonorrhoea. It is unparalleled as an appetizer. The way it should be prepared so as to constitute a bitters for the stomach and general system, is to take the root and cut it up fine and put in a quart bottle till it is half full, add one pint of alcohol or good whisky, and as much water, let it stand fourteen days, shake well once every day, and at the end of the fourteenth day you have a pure tincture ready for use. The dose is a tablespoonful or a common swallow before each meal. Crushed sarsaparilla, gentian root, and anise seed, will prove a great addition to it, acting as a blood purifier, appetizer, tonic and alterative. If everybody, when first feeling bad, would commence taking this, they would seldom be obliged to suffer with fevers and bilious attacks. The Indian holds this as sacred to the welfare of his body as the farmer does paint for the protection and preservation of his house. A watery solution of the powder has been known to cure, by injections, many cases of whites and womb troubles. It is something that is worthy of a place in every doctor's office and citizen's house.