Plant Lore

[peachbug]

Should we compile a list of plants with various properties, like the whistling leaf that lowers fevers in the original Elfquest? Not just herbs, but roots and such too.

[Kris]

Sure! We'll use herbs, roots, and other plants that are referenced in the original EQ and in real life.

[Multi-Facets]

Yarrow - plant used in tea to help colds

Willow - the bark and leaves are used in teas, powders and poultices to lower fevers and ease muscle pain, joint pain, and headaches.

Tatos - wild tubers.

Burdock: Leaves and stems are edible, can be eaten raw or steamed.

Cattails - the leaves can be used for weaving, and the roots are edible, rather like potatoes.

Rose hips - packed with vitamin C (more per ounce than oranges) and also contain vitamins A, B, E, and K, along with organic acids and pectin. Both the hips and the petals have medicinal uses–the hips as a mild laxative and diuretic, the petals for their astringent properties against sore throats, mouth sores, and stomach disorders, and sometimes in eyewashes.

Pine needles - another medicinal tea

Mint - good at soothing upset stomachs

Hyssop - the leaves are used to make a nice-tasting tea and can lower fevers, as well as be an expectorant. When used with hops in tea, two cups a day can help with colds, fevers, and sore throats.

Plantain - a relative of the banana, the leaves can be crushed and used with willow bark to make poultices. Grows fast and well.

Meadowsweet - a painkiller and fever-reducer. The flowers and roots can be used in teas. The decoction is mildly astringent (good for skin), and may help prevent urinary tract infections.

Moss - good for poultices to staunch bleeding.

Alfalfa - nutritional supplement (Vitamins C, D, K, and E), and when made into a tea, it can work as a diuretic.

Sweatbee root - mentioned in the "Blood Of Ten Chiefs" anthologies, it's used to help sweat out fevers and alter scent.

Aloe - the sap soothes burns and softens skin.

Barley - A tea can be used to treat the symptoms of cystitis. Barley water mixed with milk can ease digestion and makes a good convalescent drink. A poultice can be used to relieve inflammation, suggesting their may be some validity to use as relief for the inflammation caused by cystitis.

Comfrey - speeds healing of burns, wounds, skin problems. Fresh leaves, dried leaves, stalks, and rhizome (stem) can all be used, either as is or in a salve or oil.

Witch Hazel - compresses made with witch hazel can be used to ease pain, including eye inflammation, burns, and hemorrhoids. It's also good as a facial wash.

Chamomile - the somewhat volatile oil derived largely from the flowers has three major medicinal uses: An anti-inflammatory for afflictions of the skin and mucus membranes, antispasmodics for treatment of cramps, including indigestion and menstrual cramps, and anti-infectives against minor illness. The tea usually doesn’t contain enough essential oil to have significant value, but it has been used as a mild sedative.

Feverfew - proven useful in treatment of migraines. Chewing three or four of the small leaves can prevent the onset of migraines.

Lavender - soothing in scent and okay for digestion.

Wintergreen - contains methyl salicylate in the leaves and the berries. The oil relieves aches and pains, but should be put in a cream or gel, or thinned, as the pure oil is an irritant. Chewing wintergreen freshens breath, and a mild tea made from fresh leaves is refreshing, if of limited medical value.

[Multi-Facets]

Mushrooms - edible if chosen carefully.

Dreamberries, wild blueberries, wild cherries, wild onions, wild carrots, seaweed, wild apples, raspberries and wild strawberries - no summaries needed. XD

More to come if I can remember them, and even more here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicinal_herb (Wiki, I loves ya. ^n_n^)

[peachbug]

What did Cutter call that whistling plant?

[Multi-Facets]

Just whistling leaves.

[Kris]

Great list!