Description:
Yellow dock is a perennial plant found as a
troublesome weed in fields and waste places in
Europe, the U.S. and southern Canada. Its
spindleshaped, yellow taproot sends up a smooth,
rather slender stem, 1 to 3 feet high. Lanceolate
to oblong-lanceolatc in shape, the pointed light
green leaves have predominantly wavy margins. The
lower leaves are larger and longer petioled than
the upper. Blooming from June to July, the numerous
pale green, drooping flowers are loosely whorled in
panicled racemes. The fruit is a pointed,
three-angled and heartshaped nut.
Properties and
Uses: Astringent, cholagogue,
tonic. Known as a medical plant since ancient
times, yellow dock has been used a laxative or mild
astringent tonic. In the nineteenth century, it was
considered a "blood purifier" and was prescribed
for eruptive diseases, such as scrofula, and skin
problems. The ointment is valuable for itching,
sores, swellings, and scabby eruptions. American
Indians applied crushed yellow dock leaves to boils
and the pulverized roots to cuts.
Preparation and
Dosage: Decoction: Boil 1
tsp. root in 1 cup water. Take 1 to 2 cups a
day.
Powder:
For skin problems the dose is 12
grains.
By John Lust,
from The Herb Book
More from The Herb
Book
Elder Flower
Facial Mask p532 Tonic, clears and
softens skin. Made by adding flowers or their
infusion to commeral clay packs, or by mixing them
into a paste with yogurt. Lactic bacteria in yogurt
increases elder flowers' effectiveness. Elder
flowers are one of the best plant cosmetics. Their
mildly astringent infusion smoothes skin and
removes wrinkles, bleaches freckles, helps relieve
sunburn, and is good in eye
preparations.
Fennel Facial
Mask for Wrinkles p532 Strong infusion of
fennel herb or seed, a liberal amount of honey, and
some fennel herb added to commercial clay pack or
yogurt; antiseptic, soothing, tones skin as well as
removes wrinkles. Fennel, infusion is also good for
eye baths and compresses.
Herbal Beauty
Baths p532
1) Method: tie 1/2
cup or more , mixture of any of the herbs listed
below into a wash cloth or small muslin bag and
fasten this herb bag to the spout of your tub so
that the hot water runs directly through it. When
the bath is drawn, place the bag in the water. For
a stronger effect, first simmer herbs 10 to 20
minutes in 1 qt. water. Then place both the
resulting decoction and herbs (in a bag or
washcloth) in the bath water.
2) Listing of some
herbs according to their effects as a bath
addition: any of these can be combined into a bath
mixture of several herbs.
Moisturizing
- orange blossoms, camomile flowers, rose
leaves, rose petals, rose hips, white willow
bark.
Softening,
wrinkle-removers - fennel, rose petals,
elder flowers, linden flowers.
Stimulating
circulation - thyme, mother of thyme,
rose mary, lavender.
Price: $
8.95
This is brought to you by
John Lust and is from The Herb
Book.
Soothe your
nerves, cure your cough, color your fabrics, perfume your
bath, stimulate your lover, spice your sauces, stop your
nightmares, freshen your breath — with
herbs...
