#purgative

There are many plants that are part of the bindweed family, including the morning glory and sweet potato, but this post is going to specifically discuss Convolvus arvensis. Commonly called field bindweed, bellbind, possession vine, or according to the Brothers Grimm “our Lady’s little glass,” bindweed is a twining vine with pale trumpet-shaped flowers that open at dawn and close at night, as well as arrow-shaped leaves.

Bindweed is a vigorous plant that will spread and become difficult to get rid of, so it is not recommended that you try to grow it in your garden. Instead, look for it growing wild, in your garden and those of your neighbors. If you live on the West coast of the US where it grows in droves, it shouldn't be hard to find. Try not to pull it up by the roots unless you specifically need that part of the plant. Wildharvesting is the way to go with this one. If you must grow it, grow it in a container, preferably indoors. This plant is a dangerous invasive species that will completely overrun the area if you let it take hold.

Bindweed has been known since long ago for its properties to purify and cleanse the body as well as to calm the mind. Bindweed can also be used to make cultivable chemical-laden and overly-used agricultural land, freeing it of heavy metals and restoring the fertility and balance of the soil. Thus, bindweed is a good detoxifying agent that eliminates toxins internally as well as externally. The plant is also a rich source of many compounds like tropine, pseudotropine, aspartic acid, cysteine, alanine and Arginine. The plant also serves as a purgative and anti-bacterial as well as anti-fungal agent, the tribes of the United States have used it as a spider bite remedy, and extracts from it are even believed to help treat diabetes or arrest the growth of tumors!

(Aloe Vera)

Common Names: Barbados aloe, Curacao aloe. 

Medicinal Part: Leaves. 

Description: The aloe is a perennial plant found wild in East and South Africa and also cultivated in the West Indies and other tropical areas. It has also been reported in the Zapata area of Texas. The strong, fibrous root produces a rosette of fleshy basal leaves as in the agave but considerably smaller. The narrow-lanceolate leaves are 1 to 2 feet long and whitish-green on both sides, and they bear spiny teeth on the margins. The yellow to purplish, drooping flowers, which are evident most of the year, grow in a long raceme at the top of a flower stalk up to 4½ feet high. The fruit is a triangular capsule containing numerous seeds. 

Properties and Uses: Emollient, purgative, vulnerary. Aloes is the dried juice of the aloe plant. Because of its nauseating taste, it is generally used in powder or pill form when taken for a purgative. It also tends to gripe and cause a constipative reaction, so that it should be combined with a carminative for best results. The fresh leaves of the aloe can be split to expose the gelatinous juice and then rubbed on the skin for sunburn and other minor burns, wrinkles, insect bites, skin irritations, and minor cuts and scratches. The fresh juice is also said to help heal wounds by preventing or drawing out infection. A tea made from the dried juice makes a good wash for wounds and for the eyes. 

Preparation and Dosage: Powder: A dose is from 1 to 5 grains. Fluid Extract: A dose is from 5 to 30 drops. Wash: Dissolve ½ tsp. aloes in 1 cup water. If desired, add 1 tsp. boric acid as a preservative and to help in healing. NOTE: Several other aloes are also used medicinally, including

ALOE PERRYL

Bombay aloe; Turkey aloe, Zanzibar aloe; found on the island of Socotra near the entrance of the Gulf of Aden. This is used like Barbados aloe, although considered by some to be less powerful.

ALOE LATIFOLIA 009 

Found in South Africa. Some natives use the leaf pulp to treat inflamed boils and sores; others use the leaf pulp and the plant’s yellow juice to cure ringworm.

ALOE SAPONARIA 010 

Found in South Africa. Natives use the leaf pulp and yellow juice for ringworm.

ALOE TENUIOR 011 

The wonderful Success of the Tinctura Cathartica, or Dr. Butler’s Cordial Purging Tincture, having gain’d so just and general a Reputation in Town and Country, for the Cure of the Worms, Scurvy, Dropsie, &c. a parralel [sic] Cure of Mr. Mason, at Chelmsford in Essex, which hath been publish’d in the News Papers. I am at the request of the Person Cured, as well as the whole Faimily [sic] in which she lives engaged to make it publick. It is as follows,—I Anne Waterhouse, Servant to Mr. Somerset Kerry, Oilman, in Union Street, near the New Palace Yard, Westminster, was in a most deplorable degree Afflicted with the Dropsie, and having made use of several Physicians, without any Benefit, and dispairing of Relief, I at last thought my self past Cure, or indeed the Expectation of it, which being hereditary to our Family, my Father and Mother dying of this most Grievous Distemper, till in that most unhappy Circumstance, I at last heard of this most excellent Tincture, which from the first Dose I receiv’d abundant Benefit, and continuing it for 3 Bottles, I am now perfectly well, and in my Service, and capable of doing my business as well as ever in my Life. Sold at Mr. Simon Peck’s Toyshop, at the Blue Leg in Cornhill, near Grace Church street, at Mr. Markham’s Toyshop, at the Seven Stars under St. Dunstan’s Church in Fleetstreet, at MRs. King’s Toyshop in Westminster Hall, and at Mr. Hind’s a Grocers in Chelmsford in Essex. Sealed up in Flint Pocket Bottles. At 2s. and 3s. and 6d. each.

N.B. This Cordial Tincture will be very Beneficial to Restore the Vital Spirits to their wonted Functions, every Spring and Fall.

October 29, 1719 - Purge Your Distempers Away With Dr. Butler’s Tinctura Cathartica

Tinctura Cathartica, or Dr. Butler’s excellent Cordial purging Tincture, far exceeding all others of this Nature for its kind, safe and easy Operations, gently, and yet effectually prevailing over the most obdurate and stubborn Distempers incident to humane Bodies, incorporating it self in a most wonderful manner with the utmost latent, or secret seeds of all Diseases, dissipates, scatters and totally eradicates them, tho’ never so powerful and of the longest continuance: It has for many Years in private practice been happily Experienced to be the best Alexiterion, Cathartick Medicine that could be invented, Purging the Blood of all that Acrimony and unnatural Acidity which is the chief cause of Scurvy, Dropsie, Gout, King’s Evil and Rheumatism; in all which Diseases it is an admirable Remedy, and in many more as you may find at large in the printed Vertues and Directions at the places of Sale: This great Medicine is Recommended to the Publick in Flint Pocket Bottles, at 2s. and 3s. 6d. per Bottle; Sealed (to prevent Counterfeits) with these United Arms, viz. The Spread Eagle, and Three Cinque foils, between two Pheon heads, at Mr. Simon Peck’s Toy-shop, at the blue Leg in Cornhil, near Grace Church street, at Mrs. Markham’s Toy Shop, at the Seven Stars, under St. Dunstan’s Church in Fleet street, at Mrs. Kings Toy Shop in Westminster Hall, and at Mr Hinds a Grocer in Chelmesford in Essex.

Plantes purgatives et Emetiques (Purgative and emetic plants). Plate taken from 'Plantes Usuelles, Indigènes et Exotiques' by M.J. Dubuisson.

Published 1809 by Duprat-Duverger

khu ba ldan - medicinal root used as purgative [RY]

khu ba ldan - med. root used as purgative [IW]

khron bu - n. of a medicinal root and vegetable purgative [RY]

khron bu - euphorbia sieboldiana morr. et decne. small well, little well, medicinal root, vegetable purgative [JV]

khron sbal - 1) frog in a well, small viewpoint; 2) medicinal root and vegetable purgative [IW]

lcum - plant used as purgative [IW]

lcum - plant, stalks whose stalks are a purgative [JV]

lcum rtsa - plant whose root is used as purgative [IW]

lcum rtsa - rheum palmatum l., plant whose stalks are a purgative [JV]

'jam rtsi - purging clyster, mild purgative medicine, gentle juices, a mild purgative medicine [JV]

'jam bshal - {'jam bshal} med [of the class of cleansing/ purgative medicines given having done khanda byas nas. Its power is softness purging illnesses downward] [IW]

thar nu - medicinal root used as purgative [JV]

thur 'gro'i sman - laxative/ purgative medicine [below the navel gyi nad rnams thur phyogs su gzhol zhing 'gro ba'i mostly of the nature of earth and water aa ru mchu ring gi mchu lta bu nang gi nyes pa rnams downward washing/ purging medicine [IW]

dur byid - {dur byid purgative root, a field herb med [sweet, heating, by its power curing rma rul, nad tsha, grang gnyis ka sbyang syn: kun rjes 'byung, dum bu gsum pa, dor byed ma, mda' 'joms, rdul can, phur ma gsum pa, tshangs gsum, lo ma gsum pa] [IW]

dur byid - a purgative root [RY]

dur byid - {dur byid} field herb med [purgative root, a [R] [IW]

dur byid - purgative root, a field herb med [sweet, heating, by its power curing rma rul, nad tsa, grang gnyis ka sbyang syn: kun rjes 'byung, dum bu gsum pa, dor byed ma, mda' 'joms, rdul can, phur ma gsum pa, tsangs gsum, lo ma gsum pa] [IW]

dur byid - castor-oil plant ricinus communis, ipomoea turpethum with purgative properties, convulvulus turpethum, ricinus communis, castor oil plant [JV]

dong ga - pterospermum acerifolium tree, mild purgative fruit [JV]

drag por sbyong ba - 1) give a strong purgative; 2) skilled in military strategy; 3) study intensely [IW]

snum ldan - 1) oily [laxative/purgative]; 2) tshan dan dmar po; 3) shiny [IW]

dpyad thabs - knowing the means of curing [by purgatives emetics, bshal sman dang, skyug sman, sna sman, 'jam rtsi, ni ru ha, gtar kha, bleeding me btsa', moxibustion bdug lums, thur ma etc.] [IW]

tsi stag - purgative medicine [JV]

rtsa sbyong - 1) give a purgative; 2) blood, bile, dug nad etc. rtsa la zhugs pa'i diseases from the urethra phyir sbyong bar byed pa'i thabs shig [IW]

legs sbyar gyi khrus - {legs sbyar gyi khrus} med. [rlung 'dren pa'i med. purgative root ba and stalk and leaf and fruit having been boiled] [IW]

bshal sman - purgative, purgative medicine [JV]

bshal sman - purgative, laxative [IW]