| Synonyms: Virginian prune, black cherry,
black choke, choke cherry, rum cherry |
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Prunus is a large tree, up to 30m tall, and is widely distributed in woods
throughout North America, especially in the Northern and Central states. It
produces alternate stiff oblong or ovate leaves with serrated margins and small
white flowers growing in lateral racemes. The bark is rough and nearly black on
older trunks, but that used is younger, smooth, glossy and reddish brown with
white lenticels and underlying greenish-brown cortex. The fruit is a nearly
spherical, purple-black drupe, around 1.5cm in diameter, ripening in late summer
and autumn.
Parts used: dried bark
Constituents: cyanogenic glycosides including prunasin; volatile oil,
benzaldehyde, coumarins, benzoic acid, gallitannins, resin, an enzyme (prunase).
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Actions: antitussive, expectorant, mild sedative, astringent, digestive bitter,
tonic, pectoral, stomachic Indications: irritable and persistent cough of
bronchitis, pertussis, cough due to increased irritability of respiratory
mucosa. Nervous dyspepsia.
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Therapeutics and Pharmacology: Prunus is an important cough
remedy.
The cyanogenic glycosides are hydrolysed in the body to glucose, benzaldehyde
and hyanocyanic acid, otherwise known as prussic acid.
Prussic acid is rapidly excreted via the lungs where it first increases
respiration and then sedates the sensory nerves which provoke the cough reflex.
Due to its powerful sedative action, it is used primarily in the treatment of
irritating and persistent coughs when increasing expectoration is inappropriate,
and thus has a role in the treatment of bronchitis and whooping cough
and in the racking cough of debility or convalescence.
It can be combined with other herbs to control asthma.
Both the cyanogenic glycosides and volatile oil help to improve the
digestion, and Prunus may be used as a bitter where digestion is
sluggish.
The cold infusion of the bark may be used as a wash in eye inflammation
and as an astringent in diarrhea.
Edgar Cayce recommended wild cherry bark for pulmonary conditions
and as an aid to digestion.
It was also noted for its role in cleansing and building blood.
Wild cherry bark was mentioned in 312 readings between 1921 and 1944.
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Cayce Quotes on Wild Cherry Bark
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1012-1 . . . The first ingredient, the Wild Cherry Bark, is a direct activative
force upon the pneumogastrics and the pulmonary system.
643-1 . . . Wild cherry bark is an expectorant and a purifier
as combined especially with other ingredients for the blood supply.
808-3 . . . The taking of those properties indicated for the allaying of cold
and congestion - as in the cherry, the horehound
- will not only aid digestion but stimulate the
circulation for the upper portion of the head and through the
bronchial area, thus giving a better flow of circulation for
the throat and the gums...
2790-1 . . . The active principle from the wild cherry bark, with the other
ingredients, is a stimulation to the lungs, throat and bronchials, and
those organs above the diaphragm.
5653-1 . . . To this we would add Wild Cherry Bark (this is to act as an active
force with the gastric juices of the stomach, as well as a carrier for the rest
of the system, acting with the respiratory system)
457-3 . . . The Wild Cherry Bark is for cleansing the blood supply.
3724-1 . . . The action of these properties combined within the system are to
act on the effects acquired in the lung forces within
clarifying blood. The action of certain properties is to
rebuild the Hemoglobin within the blood to give more Leukocytes to the blood,
as we find in the bark of Wild Cherry and Sarsaparilla.
5681-1 . . . Wild Cherry Bark (Preferable that taken from the North side of the
tree) ... 4 ounces
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| Common Names and Synonyms: Queen's Delight,
Queen's Root, Silver Leaf, Yaw Root
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Background:This plant grows in sandy soil from Maryland to Florida;
along the Gulf of Mexico, and westward toward Colorado. The leaves are
elliptical and leathery, having almost no base where attached to the stem.
Yellow florets appear on the spiked stems from March to August, or longer where
the weather is warm.
The plant must be fresh to be effective.
The resinous, milky juice in the yellow-brown root stalk has an unpleasant smell
and bitter taste.
Native to North America, stillingia has been used extensively to treat syphilis.
Herbalists also use this herb as a blood purifier, digestive aid and
immune enhancer.
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Stillingia in the Cayce Readings
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Edgar Cayce recommended Stillingia as a blood purifier and
digestive aid, especially with reference to stimulating the
liver, kidneys and spleen. Stillingia was mentioned in 201 readings
between 1924-1941. Stillingia utilization peaked in 1928 with another notable
increase in 1935.
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Cayce Quotes on Stillingia
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4742-1 . . . In Stillingia, we will find as a diarrheic
[diuretic?] for the digestive forces of the body (in a quantity which
will be told you is very little, or not much dose but this we want as the
IMPULSE, NOT an active force; for the active FORCES will be created by the
manipulations and the adjustments!).
5664-1 . . . aided by those of the Stillingia and Sassafras as the
CLARIFIER of the blood stream and the tendency of the allaying
of nerve pressure.
1019-1 . . . the Stillingia, which in this combination makes for an
activity to the kidneys for purifying or cleansing same,
thus building or purifying the blood supply and adding
to the gastric flow.
839-1 . . . the Stillingia as an emit and an active force with the
gastric flow
...
404-4 . . . Other properties, as in the Stillingia, make for that activity with
the pulsations between the liver, the heart, the kidneys,
in such a manner as to STILL the circulatory forces there.
5522-1 . . . This to aid the respiratory system, also
sarsaparilla as a cleanser diathetic, and a purifier, as is also the
stillingia and the properties as are in the other carriers.
5509-1 . . . Stillingia - an active force in the functioning of the
liver, as related to the pancreas, and IS a stimuli TO same ...
5683-1 . . . The Stillingia is as a sedentary action for the glands of
digestion, or the lacteals, WITH those that will make
for a better coordination of the muco-membranes in the intestines,
that will clarify poisons from the body. (That's in the
Syrup of Rhubarb, see?)
5559-1 . . . the stimuli - both in the Stillingia and in the alcohol
content, WITH the Ambergris - for the gastric forces of the
intestines and stomach.
4721-2 . . . (Question) What is the condition of the spleen?
(Answer) Taxed through the strain mentally and through the nerve system
general. Stillingia and Calisaya, especially, for the liver and
spleen.
816-2 . . . The active forces of these ingredients are as these: The Sage or
Senna is as an emit activity upon the organs of the digestive system, and toning
with the Stillingia, the Gin, the Ambergris, the active forces in the
pancreas; especially; as well as a stimulation for the
cleansing through the alimentary canal; cleansing also through the active forces
upon the hepatic circulation.
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Common Names and Synonyms: Curled Dock, Narrow-leafed Dock |
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Background: Native to Europe and now widely distributed in
North American, yellow dock has traditionally been used as a mild laxative and
liver cleanser.
It was also used externally to relieve insect stings.
Today, herbalists use yellow dock as a blood cleanser, tonic and
builder.
It is also used to stimulate the liver and gallbladder
and aid in digestion.
The characteristic of this plant is the light green narrow leaves, curled at the
long edges, a stem 2 or 3 feet high, and a deep root which is bright yellow when
the outer bark is scraped away.
The roots are gathered in the fall, thoroughly cleaned, split lengthwise, and
dried.
A tea made from yellow dock root is mildly cathartic and promotes the
flow of bile.
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Yellow Dock in the Cayce Readings
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Edgar Cayce recommended yellow dock root as a digestive aid and blood
purifier, working especially with the liver and pancreas.
Yellow dock root was mentioned in 265 readings between 1911 and 1944. Yellow
dock root utilization peaked in 1924 and decreased markedly with only a slight
increase between 1932-1935.
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Cayce Quotes on Yellow Dock
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1012-1 . . . The Yellow Dock acts with the DIGESTIVE fluids
themselves.
643-1 . . . The yellow dock root is an emit and blood purifier,
an active principle with the secretions of the liver.
4650-1 . . . We find these conditions, for the condition to produce the
proper secretions to the pancreas and to give the correct
functioning of the liver these elements are added in those of the
Burdock and Yellow Dock root, you see; for that of the liver and to
reduce the high hepatic condition is given the Black root and Yellow
root . . .
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Synonyms: Pokeweed, Pigeon Berry, Poke Root, Coakum, Pocan
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Background:Poke is a toxic herb which may be eaten after long
boiling. Medicinally, poke is used as purgative and anti-inflammatory.
Poke grows in shady soil across eastern North America. The green or purple stems
bearing simple leaves and white flowers that give way to purple staining
berries, was used in small doses by the Indians as a blood purifier.
The roots were crushed and roasted. This plant must
be properly cooked or it can be toxic.
Constituents: Poke root's main constituents include
triterpenoid saponins, alkaloid, resins, phytolacic acid, tannin, formic acid,
fatty oil and sugar.
Medicinal Action and Uses: A slow emetic and purgative with narcotic
properties. As an alterative it is used in chronic rheumatism
and
granular conjunctivitis. As an ointment, in the proportion of a
drachm to the ounce, it is used in psora, tinea capitis, favus
and sycosis, and other skin diseases, causing at first
smarting and heat.
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The slowness of action and the narcotic effects that accompany
it render its use as an emetic inadvisable. It is used as a cathartic in
paralysis of the bowels. Headaches of many sources are
benefited
by it, and both lotion and tincture are used in leucorrhoea.
As a poultice it causes rapid suppuration in felons. The extract is said to have
been used in chronic rheumatism and hemorrhoids.
Authorities differ as to its value in cancer.
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| Poke in the Cayce Readings
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Edgar Cayce did not describe a specific action for poke. Poke is mentioned
in 49 readings between 1922-1943 with peak utilization between 1924-1926.
Poke was recommended as a food (poke greens in 8 reading during the later
years) or as an ingredient in a complex compound. When prescribed in a compound,
the most frequent form was prepared (tincture, extract, essence or fusion
Although a wide diversity of formulas were given that contained poke, the most
common substances mentioned in the same readings with poke were as follows:
Yellow Dock, Wild Cherry, Sarsaparilla, Stillingia, Tolu, Calisaya, Burdock
Root, Mandrake, Potassium Iodide
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Cayce Quotes on Poke
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3741-1 . . . Then to bring the better results to the body, and to
correct these conditions, we would first give that in the system that would give
the correct incentives to the organs of elimination to function properly; that
is, prepare the system first for the corrections in the dorsal region,
and then stimulate all excretory system, and the nerve
centers that are released, and we will bring the better
conditions to the body.
Taking, then, this first: Syrup Sarsaparilla, Syrup or
Fluid Extract Wild Cherry Bark, Fluid Extract Stillingia, Fluid
Extract Yellow Dock Root, Fluid Extract Poke Root.
Add to this sufficient simple syrup to make 12 ounces. The dose would be
teaspoonful three times each day, until the greater, or until three-fourths of
this has been taken.
Then, through deep manipulations, osteopathically, reduce the condition
in the dorsal region, 6th and 7th, 8th and 9th, reflexly.
This will stimulate also the whole excretory system. At the
same time taking those vibrations of the violet ray, using the
heavier applicator, for three minutes each evening. Do not take this while
medicinal properties are being taken, but after all of this has been taken.
Begin with osteopathic treatments before the whole quantity is taken.
4818-1 . . . Then, to reduce the condition and to bring the normal forces to the
body, we would first take those properties in the system that will give the
correct incentives for the eliminations, then correct the condition
in the cerebro-spinal nervous system, giving the
correct functioning of the body and the correct vibrations
through the adjustment
of these conditions and bring about the normal forces.
Taking, then, this: To 4 ounces of simple syrup, add Syrup of Sarsaparilla,
Elixia Calisaya. Fluid Extract Stillingia, Fluid Extract Yellow Dock Root, Fluid
Extract Poke Root, Fluid Extract Capsici.
Shake solution well together before the dosage is taken. The dose would
be half a teaspoonful taken three times each day. When two-thirds of
quantity has been taken (and at the same time keeping the intestinal tract open,
full, free, that we may reduce the eliminations and the excretory forces may be
functioning nearer the normal), begin with the deep manipulations in the
whole cerebro-spinal system, adding the light rays to the lower dorsal and the
lumbar and sacral region, of the Alpine Rays. These we find will give
the correct vibrations and the eliminations necessary to produce the adjustment
and coordination through the body here, [4818].
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Common Names and Synonyms: Beggar's Buttons, Thorny Burr, Gypsy's
Rhubarb, Fox's Clote, Cockle Buttons
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Background: Burdock grows wild throughout much Europe and the
northern United States.
Traditionally, burdock was used as a blood purifier and to treat skin
sores.
Today burdock is also used as a systemic cleanser and is
particularly noted
as a liver purifier and hormone balancer,
especially in cases of skin, arthritic and glandular problems.
The large-leafed plant bears thistle-like red or purple flowers
set in a round, fruiting head, covered with burrs. Burdock grows wild along
field borders from July to September and the burrs cling to the fur of any
passing animal or to a person's clothing.
The idea for the product known as Velcro came from the sticking quality
of the burrs.
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Active Ingredients: Burdock root contains: Approximately 27-45% inulin, mucilage
(up to 75% of the root is carbohydrate in the form of fructo-oligo-saccharides
(FOS) including inulin); 0.06-0.18% essential oil with so far 66 identified
components; antibacterial polyacetylenes; bitter substances (i.e. lactones);
1.9-3.65% polyphenols including caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and other
powerful flavonoid-type antioxidants; sitosterol and stigmasterol.
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Burdock in the Cayce Readings
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According to the Cayce readings, the intended action of burdock was
as a digestive stimulant to the stomach, intestines,
pancreas and liver. Burdock was mentioned in 160 readings between
1911 and 1944.
Burdock was always recommended with other substances in a compound,
never by itself.
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Cayce Quotes on Burdock
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1012-1 . . . The Burdock is an activative force
with or in the juices through the hydrochloric area, or in the
pylorus.
4650-1 . . . We find these conditions, for the condition to produce the
proper secretions to the pancreas and to give the
correct functioning of the liver these elements are added in
those of the Burdock and Yellow Dock root
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