Did you know the root of the common iris found throughout the United States was reputed by the American Indians to be a remarkable cure for gastric disturbances? or that hops — aside from being used in brewing — were noted for their sedative qualities? There are hundreds of different plants growing wild throughout the United States that over the centuries have become recognized for their medicinal qualities. Charles F. Millspaugh's American Medicinal Plants was one of the first works to catalogue these many plants and to present thorough exacting descriptions of them as well as their uses and properties to the layman.
After general descriptions of the order and genus, every plant is presented in botanical sequence. Common and scientific names are given along with the name of the botanist who classified it. Then follows a detailed description of the plant with full information on its size, color, shape, range, habitat, and other distinguishing characteristics. The uses of the plant for medicinal purposes are equally detailed, citing observations from the time of the Greeks up to the near present. Each disease or ailment it is reported to have an effect upon is noted, as well as are the plant's adverse or toxic effects. Methods of preparation are dutifully given along with the chemical constituents extracted from the plant. Altogether 180 individual plants are covered — each with a full page illustration; but considering the generic descriptions given at the beginning of each section, over 1,000 valuable species are touched upon.
Although many of the remedies in this book are now considered questionable, many of them may still be useful. The thorough descriptions and true-to-life drawings will greatly aid you in locating and identifying the plants, and you can use the recipes that are given for their preparation. A special feature is the therapeutic index, which keys over 1,000 ailments to alleged botanicals. Anyone who is interested in and uses natural herbs and plants will find this the best book available on their therapeutic aspects.