This section of the book is from "The Complete Herbalist" by Dr. O. Phelps Brown. Also available from Amazon: The Complete Herbalist: The People Their Own Physicians By The Use Of Nature's Remedies.
COMMON NAMES. Colt's Tail, Pride Weed,
Horse Weed, Canada Flea-Bane.
MEDICINAL PART. The whole plant.
Description. -- This is an indigenous, annual
herb, with a high bristly, hairy stem, from six inches to nine feet high.
The leaves are lanceolate; flowers small, white, and very numerous.
History. -- Butterweed is common to the Northern
and Middle States, grows in fields and meadows, by road-sides, and flowers
from June to September. It should be gathered when in bloom, and
carefully dried. It has a feeble odor, somewhat astringent taste,
and yields its virtues to alcohol or water.
Properties and Uses. -- It is tonic, diuretic,
and astringent. It is useful in gravel, diabetes, dropsy, and in
many kidney diseases. It can also be employed in diarrhoea, dysentery,
etc. The volatile oil may be used instead of the infusion.
Dose. -- Of the powder, half a drachm; infusion,
two to four ounces; fl.extract, teaspoonful; oil, from four to six drops
on sugar.
 
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