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National Geographic : 1974 Sep
Contents
Fraud vs.folk wisdom (1 RF, FOR I\IR\ CU1II'I.:AI\ I'!" went the patter of traveling quacks who peal tiled the. r nostrums to a growing .America. IInh dreds of patent medicines like Cream of Olive;, 11ooper's Pills, and heuchen ('ura found wide pread acceptance through outlandish claims often coupled with a high alcohol or opium con tent. One oft lie best-known remedies, I)I- . Morse's Indian Root Pills, promised to ctire anything tram kidney disease to had breath. shownhen's panaceas often included ingre a dients from the plant world Such as Sassafras, Whose pungent (Al has antiseptic properties. But many _ Americans, unswayed by painted banners. and hard-sell tactics, preferred "simples"- y' homespun preparations of medicinal plants. Early settlers learned much herbal lore from the Indians, who introduced them to such diverse remedies as mayapple, a cathartic, and golden seal, Whose powdered roots dried the runny noses of overall-clad countrytolk. Wild cherry bark still flavors cough syrups, While witch hazel remains a favorite lotion for- insect bites. Pioneers brewed tonics from dandelion and peppermint to soothe stomachs jounced by coy cred wagons rumbling WCSt. I he people of .Ap palachia still fashion poultices of plantain jig for snakebite and jimsonweed for wounds. (;baser root, an alleged aphrodisiac, remains a favorite ingredient for an all-purpose tonic For many years, rural toll: treated teyers with a decoction of willow bark. In the 1820's its active principle, salicin, was isolate(; in 189) a t."' synthetic derivative gave the world aspirin. LLOYD K. )UWNSEND 1 GINSENG PANAx 46 QUINOUFFOLIUM WILLOW SAL IX AIDAi DANDELION IARAXACUM OFF ICIIN ALF JIMSON VVEFD (DAIURA PLANIAIN ST RAM()NIUM) PIANFAG0 MAJoR i PE PH RMINT (MFNTHA vvi L D CHERRY PI PFRIIA RUNUS SFR0TINA) ,ASSAFRAS WI IC H HAZFL SASSAFRAS HAMAMELIS ALP1DUM /VIRGINIANA MAYAPPLE FOP0PHYLLUM PE L IAIUM GOLDFNSFAL HYI)RASIIS CANADENSIS 434
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