The Root.

(Asclepias Tuberosa Butterfly Milkweed)

This plant is sometimes called butterfly weed, flux root, white root, etc. It is a beautiful perennial plant, flourishing best in a light sandy soil by the wayside, under fences, and near old stumps in rye fields. There are sometimes fifteen or twenty stalks the size of a pipe stem, proceeding from one root, rising from one to two feet in height, and spreading to a considerable extent. The flowers are of a bright orange color, and appear in July and August. These are succeeded by long slender pods, containing the seeds. It has a carrot-shaped root, of a light brownish color.

Properties And Uses

This root is diaphoretic, expectorant, and antispasmodic, and is therefore useful in cough, pleurisy, colic, flatulence, and to promote perspiration. It may be given in decoction, or in powder, a teaspoonful at a dose, in some warming herb tea, until relief is obtained.