Pennsylvania Health Dictionary

Marsh.

Family: Salicaceae.

Habitat: Native to America (New York and Pennsylvania).

English: Black Willow.

Unani: Bed-Siyaah.

Action: Astringent, febrifuge, sedative, nervine tonic. Anaphrodisiac (used for reducing sexual activity; in spermatorrhoea). Largely used in the treatment of nocturnal emissions.

The bark contains tannin, about 1% of glucoside salinigrin. Once considered a substitute for potassium bromide, but without a depressant effect.... salix nigra

Notifiable disease. Infectious disease of wild and domesticated animals, with malignant pustule and splenic fever caused by Bacillus anthracis. Its discovery in 1850 by Dr Pollander was one of the brightest events in the history of infectious disease. A disease of cattle passed on to man.

Attack is sudden. If unchecked may be fatal within three days. The germ usually enters the body through a scratch or wound penetrating the skin or internal membrane. A tiny papule may appear where skin has been injured which burns and itches angrily as inflammation spreads. The lesion fills with blood and serum which dry to form bluish scabs. Symptoms of glandular infection follow along the course of the lymphatics with enlargement of the spleen.

Symptoms. Severe chill introduces high fever, rapid breathing, vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhoea and severe prostration. Heartbeat rapidly falls. Pulse is feeble. Nerve distress may end in convulsions and delirium.

While it is the belief that no cure exists apart from inoculation with antiserum, successes with plant medicines appear in medical literature. Dr W.L. Lewis, Canton, Pennsylvania, USA, records a treatment given by doctor pioneers of the ‘out-back’ where they had to do ‘everything’ in emergency. “I claim,” he writes, “to have discovered that Echinacea (cone flower) is a cure for anthrax if a physician has faith in it, and knows how to properly use it. I have used it on cases where its action has been a great wonder. Liquid extract: 1 teaspoonful every 4 hours throughout the day and night.”

This experience is sustained by Dr Finlay Ellingwood who also achieved similar success. (Ellingwood’s Therapeutist: 8, 10, 1914, 394)

To be treated by a general medical practitioner or hospital specialist. ... anthrax

an infection of the lungs caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila, named after an outbreak at the American Legion convention in Pennsylvania in 1976. Legionella organisms are widely found in water; outbreaks of the disease have been associated with defective central heating, air conditioning, and other ventilating systems. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 2–10 days: malaise and muscle pain are succeeded by a fever, dry cough, chest pain, and breathlessness. X-ray of the lungs shows patchy consolidation. Erythromycin provides the most effective therapy.... legionnaires’ disease

Betula lenta

FAMILY: Betulaceae

SYNONYMS: B. capinefolia, cherry birch, southern birch, mahogany birch, mountain mahogany.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A graceful tree about 25 metres high which has a pyramidal shape while young. It has bright green leaves and a dark reddish-brown aromatic bark, which is broken into plates or patches.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to southern Canada and southeastern USA; produced mainly in Pennsylvania.

OTHER SPECIES: There are numerous species of birch, spanning several continents, such as black birch (B. nigra) found in North America. Not to be confused with the European white birch (B. alba), which produces birch tar oil used in chronic skin diseases.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The cambium (the layer directly under the bark) is eaten in the spring, cut into strips like vermicelli. The bark, in the form of an infusion, is used as a general stimulant and to promote sweating. As a decoction or syrup, it is used as a tonic for dysentery and is said to be useful in genito-urinary irritation. The flavour of wintergreen and birch bark, in the form of a tea, was popular with the American Indians and European settlers. More recently, this has been translated into a preference for ‘root beer’ flavourings.

ACTIONS: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antirheumatic, antiseptic, astringent, depurative, diuretic, rubefacient, tonic.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation of the bark macerated in warm water.

CHARACTERISTICS: Colourless, pale yellow or reddish tinted liquid with an intense, sweet-woody, wintergreen-like scent.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Almost entirely methyl salicylate (98 per cent), produced during the maceration process. It is almost identical in composition to wintergreen oil.

SAFETY DATA: Methyl salicylate, the major constituent, is not exactly toxic but very harmful in concentration.’ It can be absorbed through the skin, and fatal poisoning via this route has been reported.’. ’ It is also classed as an enviromental hazard or marine pollutant.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE None.

OTHER USES: Limited use as a counter-irritant in anti-arthritic and antineuralgic ointments and analgesic balms. Limited use as a fragrance component in cosmetics and perfumes; extensively used as a flavouring agent, especially ‘root beer’, chewing gum, toothpaste, etc. (usually very low-level use).... birch, sweet