An Economic Botany Collection

An Economic Botany Collection
Richard H. Zander
July 21, 2006
Res Botanica, a Missouri Botanical Garden Web Site

MEDICINAL PLANTS

Agar - The alga Gelidium and others.

Aloe vera in a medicinal plant store in Mexico City, 1972.

Salol - a white powder, phenyl salicylate, with a pleasant taste and odor; used to absorb light in sun tan lotions or as a preservative or an antiseptic or a coating for pills in which the medicine is intended for enteric release.

Balsam of Peru, Peruvian Balsam - USP, Myroxylon pereire, Fabaceae,

San Salvador.

Poison-Ivy Extract, Rhus toxicodendron, For gradual immunization, oral doses. E. D. Bullard Co., Sausalito, Calif. 1972.

Rauwolfia, Rauwolfia serpentina, Riker Laboratories, Northridge, Calif. 1972.

Tincture of Arnica, Arnica montana, Compositae.

Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium, Compostae. For tea or moxibustion.

Balm-of-Gilead, Populus balsamifera, buds used as stimulant nd expectorant. Buffalo, N.Y., health food store, 1972.

Cade Oil or Juniper Tar, Juniperus oxycedrus, Magnus, Mabee & Reynard, N.Y.

Cañafistula, Cassia fistula, Fabaceae. Medicinal plant store, Mexico City, 1970. Fruit pulp used as laxative, purgative.

Cascara Sagrada Bark, Rhamnus purshiana, Rhamnaceae. Meer Corp., N.J.

Copaiba. "Copaiba balsam" - an oleoresin. A species of Copifera, Fabaceae.

Croton Oil, Croton tiglium. Drastic purgative.

Dog buttons, Strychnos nuxvomica. Source of strychnine. Montreal herbal store. 1972.

St. John’s Wort, Hypericum sp., Hypericaceae. "Mood enhancer."

Ephedra sp., Gnetaceae. Natural foods store, Cleveland.

Golden Seal Tea, Hydrastis canadensis, health food store, Buffalo, N.Y. 1972.

Mescal Beans, Sophora secundifolia, Fabaceae. Arizona.

Muira - Puama, Lirosma ovata, Olacaceae. Nature's Herb Co., San Francisco. Tonic and aphrodisiac, from Brazil.

Asclepias tuberosa, Butterflyweed.

Quassia Chips, Picrasma sp. or Quassia sp., Nature's Herbs, Toronto, 1972. A bitter tonic.

Rauwolfia, Rauwolfia serpentina, Riker Laboratories, Northridge, Calif. 1972.

Red Squills, Urainea maritime, Montreal, herbal store, 1972.

Saw Palmetto and Santal Oils, Sabal palmetto, Arecaceae.

Santalum sp., "Sandalwood," Santalaceae. Old time medicine.

Slippery elm lozenges, Ulmus rubra, Ulmaceae.

Swamp Root Medicine.