July 21, 2025 • 18 mins
Today, we discuss the medicinal use Leucothoe and Lindera. This is a short episode because I am recovering from dental surgery, infection and an intestinal virus..... it has been a fun week!
(Photo by Jason Hollinger - SpicebushUploaded by Amada44, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24213181)
Also, I am back on Youtube Please subscribe to my channel: @judsoncarroll5902 Judson Carroll - YouTube
Tune of the week: Hey Baby Right Away
This is my version of Mississippi John Hurt's "Hey Baby Right Away". It is a laid back, easy going song, but there is more going on with the picking than it may seem. BTW, a few times, I said B when I meant A. Hammer on from the open G string to A.
https://youtu.be/nbCvr1QBP9Y
New today in my Woodcraft shop:
Toasted Holly Cooking Spoon
https://judsoncarrollwoodcraft.substack.com/p/toasted-holly-cooking-spoon
Email: judson@judsoncarroll.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southern-appalachian-herbs--4697544/support
Read about The Spring Foraging Cookbook: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-spring-foraging-cookbook.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRP63R54
Medicinal Weeds and Grasses of the American Southeast, an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/medicinal-weeds-and-grasses-of-american.html
Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47LHTTH
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/confirmation-autobiography-of-faith.html
Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
Visit my Substack and sign up for my free newsletter:
https://judsoncarroll.substack.com/
Read about my new other books:
Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS
The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-omnivores-guide-to-home-cooking-for.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX37Q2
Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html
Available for purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6
and
Growing Your Survival Herb Garden for Preppers, Homesteaders and Everyone Else
(Photo by Jason Hollinger - SpicebushUploaded by Amada44, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24213181)
Also, I am back on Youtube Please subscribe to my channel: @judsoncarroll5902 Judson Carroll - YouTube
Tune of the week: Hey Baby Right Away
This is my version of Mississippi John Hurt's "Hey Baby Right Away". It is a laid back, easy going song, but there is more going on with the picking than it may seem. BTW, a few times, I said B when I meant A. Hammer on from the open G string to A.
https://youtu.be/nbCvr1QBP9Y
New today in my Woodcraft shop:
Toasted Holly Cooking Spoon
https://judsoncarrollwoodcraft.substack.com/p/toasted-holly-cooking-spoon
Email: judson@judsoncarroll.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/southern-appalachian-herbs--4697544/support
Read about The Spring Foraging Cookbook: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-spring-foraging-cookbook.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRP63R54
Medicinal Weeds and Grasses of the American Southeast, an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/medicinal-weeds-and-grasses-of-american.html
Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47LHTTH
and
Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2023/05/confirmation-autobiography-of-faith.html
Available in paperback on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK
Visit my Substack and sign up for my free newsletter:
https://judsoncarroll.substack.com/
Read about my new other books:
Medicinal Ferns and Fern Allies, an Herbalist's Guide https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/11/medicinal-ferns-and-fern-allies.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMSZSJPS
The Omnivore’s Guide to Home Cooking for Preppers, Homesteaders, Permaculture People and Everyone Else: https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/10/the-omnivores-guide-to-home-cooking-for.html
Available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BGKX37Q2
Medicinal Shrubs and Woody Vines of The American Southeast an Herbalist's Guide
https://southernappalachianherbs.blogspot.com/2022/06/medicinal-shrubs-and-woody-vines-of.html
Available for purchase on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2T4Y5L6
and
Growing Your Survival Herb Garden for Preppers, Homesteaders and Everyone Else
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
The name down to the clan, the clan to the.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Hey, welcome to this week's show. Run a little bit
late this week with this episode. Reason being I had
dental surgery on Friday, and it was pretty rough. It's
pretty rough, you know. I had to wait between examinations
and X rays and follow up appointments and getting scheduled
(01:52):
with the dental surgeon. It took about two months from
the time the tooth first broke and got infected to
Friday when they were able to remove it. And I'd
infected three times during that period, so the infection actually
got into my jaw and my lip system and it
was it was pretty pretty serious. So yeah, some from
(02:14):
Friday morning till now, I've been really sore and swollen
in my mouth and kind of froggy in my voice,
of course, because my all the lymph nodes you know,
and my throat were all swollen up. So if my
voice sounds a little funny, that's the reason. But I'm
also uh, I don't know if if I picked it
up when I was in the clinic, or if it
(02:35):
was on one of the follow up visits or what.
Somehow got a little stomach bug, a stomach flew and
here I was, like the evening of the dental surgery,
started having diary and running fevers. So it's been a
real fun weekend. So but I can get into a
little bit of an herbal topic with that and beer
(02:58):
with me. I'm still running a fever right now. Also,
I may be a little spacey, uh, So I did
not want to leave the house down in the central
part of the state relative's house, and because I need
someone to drive me back from the dental appointment. You know,
I'm I'm a bachelor, so I don't really have anybody
(03:20):
I can count on except a relative, and didn't have
really what I might need when the when the diarrhea
started up, So used whatever was in the cupboard, and
fortunately there was some Camra milt tea can mil tea,
as we discussed just recently, is anti spasmodic and very
(03:43):
good for diarrhea, gas cramping, the whole bit. And I
had a little calamus. Always bring a little calamus with me,
also very good anti spasmodic. It's a string, it helps
kind of dry things up. And there were some clothes
in the spice cabinet, so started with that. Two three
(04:08):
cups of that combination of tea on Saturday and Sunday
and things finally settled down for the most part. So
those are always good to have on hand. Other things
I had on hand that could have been used were
mint and seems there was one other thing I was
trying to remember, Oh, Fintel. There were some Finnel seats
(04:28):
and that was very effective. So if it had continued today,
I was going to include mint and fintel, but things
have stopped. But the inflammation is just extreme in my
lower abdomen and really wrapping around my back. It's just
I don't know what hit me on this one. But
on top of the dental surgery, been knocked down pretty
(04:49):
hard this week. But let's get into the herb of
the week. I think I may be able to do too,
depends on how my voice holds out. The first is Lucatho.
Now this one's called dog hobble. There are two varieties
of Lucatho documented for use in herbal medicine. The first
(05:12):
is Lucatho laxarus alisa ris, which is coastal dog hobble,
and the other is Lucatho guyana that seems to be
more of a European variety I think, or it may
be a Canadian variety. Come to think of it, maybe Canadian.
It doesn't really matter where I live. There too, Native,
and that's the coastal dog hobble down on the coast
(05:35):
and mountain dog hobble in the mountains, and that's Lucatho fontanasia.
Now I don't have specific information for Lucatho Fontanesia, but
the first entry I have here is from the Cherokee,
and that's the one they would have used, because Cherokee
were not a coastal tribe. That was more of the Catawbans.
(05:56):
They had the coastal of the Carolinas. And it doesn't
seem to be a seriously toxic plant. It has a
real dense growth pattern. Now it does, there is some
toxicity listed, but it's not necessarily Like you call it
dog hobble. It sounds like an awful name, like it
paralyzes dogs or something. No. I think it was just
(06:18):
really hard for them to get through the growth and
that's how it gets that name. So the Cherokee used
dog hobble as an ingredient in the medicine for muscle soreness.
An ingredient in the formula for shifting pains. A leaf
decoction including the leaves of dog hobble, Calmia ladifolia, the
plant we talked about last week, and rhododendron is applied
(06:40):
to rheumatic areas for relief. Now, of course, calmia and
rhododendron are very very poisonous, Kalmia being the most poisonous
of all. That would only be used externally, I mean
that could that may be a very good application for
arthritis and sore aching joints externally, but even a small
amount of at taken internally could kill you very quickly.
(07:04):
Dog cobble was also an ooze was made or a
thick decoction. Really more than likely just kind of beat
up the roots and press them. Usually when they say
an ooze, sometimes it's a boiled root press. Sometimes just
like really pulverized like in a mortar and pestle. But
it was applied to the skin of dogs from Ange
and they said for humans who have an itch, take
(07:26):
a bath in some water in which has been poured
intocoction of the leafed and stem tea now modern use
and this is not one that has much modern use.
Plants for a future says it promotes the discharge of
mucus from the nose, and infusion of the leaf is
taken internally and also used as a wash in the
treatment of rheumatism, and infusion the leaves and stems has
(07:50):
been used to bathe itchy skin known hazards of leucothoe.
Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species,
at least one other member of the gen is said
to have poisonous fruits, so certainly don't ingest the fruits.
And I think this is when we're going to put
another safest for external use. And yeah, I can get
(08:12):
one more here. And this is really one of my
favorite favorite plants. It grows in the mountains in North
Carolina and it's widespread. You'll find it all up into
New York and Canada and down to the mountains of
Georgia and Alabama. Ites tend to be more of a
mountain foothills plant, But yeah, I think it grows maybe
in the Piedmont areas as well. I don't think it
(08:34):
goes as far as the swamps and coastal areas, but
it's more of a hardwood forest type plant. It's the
way I think of it, and it's lindera or spice bush.
And you know when you've encountered this plant, it smells
like allspice. Yeah, I really, it really does. And you
can use it similarly to all spice, especially if you're
(08:55):
doing like Jamaican cooking. You know where they take the
allspice or promento bush and they cut it and make
a grill and grill the chicken or goat or whatever
they're fixing right on there, and it gets that scent
of the allspice into the meats. Absolutely delicious, but good
for teas and all kinds of stuff, you know, into
the woods because you'd be walking along and suddenly like
that's been allspice, and then you just track it down
(09:18):
and find it. There's an old Appalachian instrument called a
well I think it was called a diddly bow. That's
actually a name for two different instruments. But it was
basically like a small bow like you'd use an archery right,
and you put one end of it between your teeth
and you pluck the string and blow through it and
(09:38):
make a noise with your mouth. It's kind of like
a jaw harp. You know, when people didn't have metal
for jaw harps. That's what they used. I made one
out of a spice bush branch years ago, probably twenty
years ago, and it was so nice to sit there
and play it because they had the aroma and the
flavor was delicious, and yeah, it was kind of fun.
The old timers enjoyed when I'd like, they will be
(10:00):
playing like an old time tune and I'd sit there
and I do the you know, the Diddley bow, and
they really like that. So native to my region, let's see. Well,
first of all, nine varieties of Lindera have documented use
in herbal medicine. Lindera Asamika, Lindera Benzoin, Lindera Glouca, Lindera Megafila,
(10:22):
Lindera Abtu Saluba, Lindera praecox, Lindera Pulcherima, Linderi stricknifolia, and
Lindera Aballada. Native my region are benzoin a smooth northern
spice bush. That's some one that goes all the way
up north. Lindera benzoin variety pubentz that's hairy northern spice bush.
It's actually what pubitz means is it's harry. If you
(10:44):
wonder where that word comes from. Uh. Lindera melissifolia pond
berry or southern spice bush, and I think that is
the one that grows sort of further east than where
I live, and probably for the west too, which get
you know, off the mountains. And finally Lindera Subporeatia, which
is bog spice bush. And that's the one you're gonna
(11:04):
find more in swampy areas. Spice bush, like I said,
one of my absolute favorite plants. And the Cherokee used
spice bush, said, A bunch of twigs as big as
your fist is boiled in water for a short time
for a beverage tea. The bark of spice bush, along
with cornice Florida that's just regul old dogwood.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
And.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Serotina are steeped. Cannot remember what prunas seratina. Well, let's see,
it's with prunas, so it's gonna be in the plum family.
I think I don't know real clear headed right now,
but anyway, those were combined and steeped. And this to
add to this tea pure corn whiskey and drink to
(11:46):
break out the measles. So that's interesting. It must have
I don't know how that works, but couldn't have been
half bad tasting. Actually, the cornice florida that has a
quinine type substance anti viral and the spice bush would
be warm. I'm not sure what the prunus would do,
but you know that would be interesting to do experiment with.
(12:06):
So it's boil together the bark of spice bush and
hammamelis that's which hazel, and some needles of Pinus virginiana.
I guess it's that white pine, or no, that's Pinus
alba shortly fine maybe, but anyway, Virginia pine for five
or ten minutes to break out a fever, so it
(12:27):
has a fever refuge type effect. It would, you know,
make you sweat and break a fever. Drink this tea
hot and cover up so that again the warming quality
of the spice bush. Give the tea to baby, drink
babies to drink for hives, drink cool sweet tea for
red measles. Interesting now, this was official medicine in eighteen
ninety eight. King's Medical Dispensatory describes where you can find
(12:50):
the plant and what it looks like. And I'm just
gonna say google that because you know it's gonna be
hard to understand just from my description. Sorry, the let's
see the chemical compositions which we don't need to worry about,
but under medicinal uses in dosages. It's aromatic, Italian, tonic,
(13:14):
and stimulant and infusion or decoction has been successfully used
in the treatment of ague, that's fever and typhoid forms
of fever. Also as an enthlementic I think means it
gets rid of parasites, if I remember correctly. Vermafusion and
anthelmintic I mean the same thing. The berries afford a
stimulant oil much esteemed as an application of bruises, chronic rheumatisms, itch,
(13:37):
et cetera, and has some reputation as a carminative. In flatulence.
It means it helps well, like I was telling you
a fintal seed, it helps get rid of the gas
in your stomach and intestines. Used for flaglent colic, et cetera.
The bark in decoction is said to be refrigerant and exhilarating.
I means cooling to the body and exhilarating and exceedingly
useful in all kinds of fever for relaying excessive heat, uneasiness,
(14:00):
or warm decoction employed to produce diaphoreses, and the decoction
may be drunk freely. So yeah, that means it helps
break a fever. It also helps cool the body. So
really interesting plant that way. See apparently there's a Japanese
version that have been imported until they found it in America.
(14:25):
Modern use. Botania Day says Medicinally, the sap is high
in benzolin, which can may be made into an ointment
to help heal wounds. You may have seen benzoin or
benzoia benzoic acid listed in ingredients of healing ointments in
your first aid kit. Absolutely, very good use for that.
Plus refuser says Spice bush has a wide range of
(14:48):
uses as a household remedy, especially in the treatment of colds, dysentery,
and intestinal parasites. It warrants scientific investigation. The bark is aromatic, astringent, diaphoretic, fabrifuge, stimulant, antonic.
It is pleasant to chew, and it is very pleasant
to chew. It is used in the treatment of costs
and colds. The bark can be harvested any time of
(15:09):
the year and is used fresh or dried, very important
cold remedy in the Appalachians, very traditional cold remedy. The
fruits are carmentative. The oil from the fruits have been
used in the treatment of bruises and rheumatism. A tea
made from the twigs was a household remedy for colds, fevers, worms,
and colic. A steam bath of the twigs is used
to cause perspiration in order to ease aches and pains
(15:31):
of the body. The young shoots are harvested during the
spring and can be used fresh or dried. The bark
is diaphoretic in vermafuge. Vermafuge means kills intestinal parasites. It
was once widely used in the treatment of typhoid fevers
and other forms of fever. Addible parts of the spice bush,
(15:53):
the young leaves, twigs, and fruit contain an aromatic essential
oil and make a very fragrant tea. The twigs are
best gathered when in flo as The nectar adds considerably
to the flavor. The dried and fruit is used as
a substitute for the spice allspice. The fruit is about
size of an olive. Usually doesn't get quite that big,
but yeah. The leaves can also be used as a
(16:14):
spice substitute. The new bark is pleasant to chew. Medicinal
plants of the southern Appalachian States. American Indians made tea
of all parts of the spice bush. They drank the
tea as a spring tonic to treat costs and fevers
and measles. Spice bush was also used to bring underlayed
min seas. During the Civil War, spice bush was considered
a substitute for allspice, and the berries were used as
(16:35):
an aromatic seasoning. Finally, Peterson Field Guide tells US American
Indians use berry tea for COFs, cramps, delayed mint sees, croup, measles,
bark tea for swelling, blood, purifying, cold's, rheumatism, and anemia.
Settlers use berries as an all spice substitute. Medicinally, the
berries were used as a carminita for flatelets and colic. Sorry, oh,
(17:00):
hopefully I'll be better next week. The twig tea was
popular for colds, fevers, worms, gas, and colic. The bark
tea was once used to expel worms for typhoid fevers
and as a diaphoretic for other forms of fever should
be investigated. I agree. One of my favorite plants. Useful
(17:21):
is food and medicine really nice and you've probably find
a variety that will grow most anywhere you live, even
if you're in a real dry climate. You can try
keeping it a pot, being a big container pot, like
at least a five gallon bucket. So y'all have a
good one. I'll talk to you next week. The information
this podcast is non intended to diagnose or treat any
(17:43):
disease or condition. Nothing I say or write has been
evaluated or approved by the FDA. I'm not a doctor.
The US government does not recognize the practice of verbal medicine,
and there is no governing body regulating herbles. Therefore, I'm
really just a guy who says rbs offering any advice.
I won't even claim that anything I write or say
is accurate or true. I can tell you what earths
(18:06):
have been traditionally used for, I can tell you my
own experience, and if I believe in herb has helped me,
I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same.
If you use an herb anyone recommends you are treating yourself,
you take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals,
and no two are identical. What works for me may
not work for you. You may have an allergy of
(18:27):
sensitivity and underlying condition that no one else even shares
and you don't even know about. Be careful with your
health by continuing to listen to my podcast or read
my blog you read it. Be responsible for yourself, to
your own research, make your own choices, and not to
blame me for anything ever.
The name down to the clan, the clan to the.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Hey, welcome to this week's show. Run a little bit
late this week with this episode. Reason being I had
dental surgery on Friday, and it was pretty rough. It's
pretty rough, you know. I had to wait between examinations
and X rays and follow up appointments and getting scheduled
(01:52):
with the dental surgeon. It took about two months from
the time the tooth first broke and got infected to
Friday when they were able to remove it. And I'd
infected three times during that period, so the infection actually
got into my jaw and my lip system and it
was it was pretty pretty serious. So yeah, some from
(02:14):
Friday morning till now, I've been really sore and swollen
in my mouth and kind of froggy in my voice,
of course, because my all the lymph nodes you know,
and my throat were all swollen up. So if my
voice sounds a little funny, that's the reason. But I'm
also uh, I don't know if if I picked it
up when I was in the clinic, or if it
(02:35):
was on one of the follow up visits or what.
Somehow got a little stomach bug, a stomach flew and
here I was, like the evening of the dental surgery,
started having diary and running fevers. So it's been a
real fun weekend. So but I can get into a
little bit of an herbal topic with that and beer
(02:58):
with me. I'm still running a fever right now. Also,
I may be a little spacey, uh, So I did
not want to leave the house down in the central
part of the state relative's house, and because I need
someone to drive me back from the dental appointment. You know,
I'm I'm a bachelor, so I don't really have anybody
(03:20):
I can count on except a relative, and didn't have
really what I might need when the when the diarrhea
started up, So used whatever was in the cupboard, and
fortunately there was some Camra milt tea can mil tea,
as we discussed just recently, is anti spasmodic and very
(03:43):
good for diarrhea, gas cramping, the whole bit. And I
had a little calamus. Always bring a little calamus with me,
also very good anti spasmodic. It's a string, it helps
kind of dry things up. And there were some clothes
in the spice cabinet, so started with that. Two three
(04:08):
cups of that combination of tea on Saturday and Sunday
and things finally settled down for the most part. So
those are always good to have on hand. Other things
I had on hand that could have been used were
mint and seems there was one other thing I was
trying to remember, Oh, Fintel. There were some Finnel seats
(04:28):
and that was very effective. So if it had continued today,
I was going to include mint and fintel, but things
have stopped. But the inflammation is just extreme in my
lower abdomen and really wrapping around my back. It's just
I don't know what hit me on this one. But
on top of the dental surgery, been knocked down pretty
(04:49):
hard this week. But let's get into the herb of
the week. I think I may be able to do too,
depends on how my voice holds out. The first is Lucatho.
Now this one's called dog hobble. There are two varieties
of Lucatho documented for use in herbal medicine. The first
(05:12):
is Lucatho laxarus alisa ris, which is coastal dog hobble,
and the other is Lucatho guyana that seems to be
more of a European variety I think, or it may
be a Canadian variety. Come to think of it, maybe Canadian.
It doesn't really matter where I live. There too, Native,
and that's the coastal dog hobble down on the coast
(05:35):
and mountain dog hobble in the mountains, and that's Lucatho fontanasia.
Now I don't have specific information for Lucatho Fontanesia, but
the first entry I have here is from the Cherokee,
and that's the one they would have used, because Cherokee
were not a coastal tribe. That was more of the Catawbans.
(05:56):
They had the coastal of the Carolinas. And it doesn't
seem to be a seriously toxic plant. It has a
real dense growth pattern. Now it does, there is some
toxicity listed, but it's not necessarily Like you call it
dog hobble. It sounds like an awful name, like it
paralyzes dogs or something. No. I think it was just
(06:18):
really hard for them to get through the growth and
that's how it gets that name. So the Cherokee used
dog hobble as an ingredient in the medicine for muscle soreness.
An ingredient in the formula for shifting pains. A leaf
decoction including the leaves of dog hobble, Calmia ladifolia, the
plant we talked about last week, and rhododendron is applied
(06:40):
to rheumatic areas for relief. Now, of course, calmia and
rhododendron are very very poisonous, Kalmia being the most poisonous
of all. That would only be used externally, I mean
that could that may be a very good application for
arthritis and sore aching joints externally, but even a small
amount of at taken internally could kill you very quickly.
(07:04):
Dog cobble was also an ooze was made or a
thick decoction. Really more than likely just kind of beat
up the roots and press them. Usually when they say
an ooze, sometimes it's a boiled root press. Sometimes just
like really pulverized like in a mortar and pestle. But
it was applied to the skin of dogs from Ange
and they said for humans who have an itch, take
(07:26):
a bath in some water in which has been poured
intocoction of the leafed and stem tea now modern use
and this is not one that has much modern use.
Plants for a future says it promotes the discharge of
mucus from the nose, and infusion of the leaf is
taken internally and also used as a wash in the
treatment of rheumatism, and infusion the leaves and stems has
(07:50):
been used to bathe itchy skin known hazards of leucothoe.
Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species,
at least one other member of the gen is said
to have poisonous fruits, so certainly don't ingest the fruits.
And I think this is when we're going to put
another safest for external use. And yeah, I can get
(08:12):
one more here. And this is really one of my
favorite favorite plants. It grows in the mountains in North
Carolina and it's widespread. You'll find it all up into
New York and Canada and down to the mountains of
Georgia and Alabama. Ites tend to be more of a
mountain foothills plant, But yeah, I think it grows maybe
in the Piedmont areas as well. I don't think it
(08:34):
goes as far as the swamps and coastal areas, but
it's more of a hardwood forest type plant. It's the
way I think of it, and it's lindera or spice bush.
And you know when you've encountered this plant, it smells
like allspice. Yeah, I really, it really does. And you
can use it similarly to all spice, especially if you're
(08:55):
doing like Jamaican cooking. You know where they take the
allspice or promento bush and they cut it and make
a grill and grill the chicken or goat or whatever
they're fixing right on there, and it gets that scent
of the allspice into the meats. Absolutely delicious, but good
for teas and all kinds of stuff, you know, into
the woods because you'd be walking along and suddenly like
that's been allspice, and then you just track it down
(09:18):
and find it. There's an old Appalachian instrument called a
well I think it was called a diddly bow. That's
actually a name for two different instruments. But it was
basically like a small bow like you'd use an archery right,
and you put one end of it between your teeth
and you pluck the string and blow through it and
(09:38):
make a noise with your mouth. It's kind of like
a jaw harp. You know, when people didn't have metal
for jaw harps. That's what they used. I made one
out of a spice bush branch years ago, probably twenty
years ago, and it was so nice to sit there
and play it because they had the aroma and the
flavor was delicious, and yeah, it was kind of fun.
The old timers enjoyed when I'd like, they will be
(10:00):
playing like an old time tune and I'd sit there
and I do the you know, the Diddley bow, and
they really like that. So native to my region, let's see. Well,
first of all, nine varieties of Lindera have documented use
in herbal medicine. Lindera Asamika, Lindera Benzoin, Lindera Glouca, Lindera Megafila,
(10:22):
Lindera Abtu Saluba, Lindera praecox, Lindera Pulcherima, Linderi stricknifolia, and
Lindera Aballada. Native my region are benzoin a smooth northern
spice bush. That's some one that goes all the way
up north. Lindera benzoin variety pubentz that's hairy northern spice bush.
It's actually what pubitz means is it's harry. If you
(10:44):
wonder where that word comes from. Uh. Lindera melissifolia pond
berry or southern spice bush, and I think that is
the one that grows sort of further east than where
I live, and probably for the west too, which get
you know, off the mountains. And finally Lindera Subporeatia, which
is bog spice bush. And that's the one you're gonna
(11:04):
find more in swampy areas. Spice bush, like I said,
one of my absolute favorite plants. And the Cherokee used
spice bush, said, A bunch of twigs as big as
your fist is boiled in water for a short time
for a beverage tea. The bark of spice bush, along
with cornice Florida that's just regul old dogwood.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
And.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Serotina are steeped. Cannot remember what prunas seratina. Well, let's see,
it's with prunas, so it's gonna be in the plum family.
I think I don't know real clear headed right now,
but anyway, those were combined and steeped. And this to
add to this tea pure corn whiskey and drink to
(11:46):
break out the measles. So that's interesting. It must have
I don't know how that works, but couldn't have been
half bad tasting. Actually, the cornice florida that has a
quinine type substance anti viral and the spice bush would
be warm. I'm not sure what the prunus would do,
but you know that would be interesting to do experiment with.
(12:06):
So it's boil together the bark of spice bush and
hammamelis that's which hazel, and some needles of Pinus virginiana.
I guess it's that white pine, or no, that's Pinus
alba shortly fine maybe, but anyway, Virginia pine for five
or ten minutes to break out a fever, so it
(12:27):
has a fever refuge type effect. It would, you know,
make you sweat and break a fever. Drink this tea
hot and cover up so that again the warming quality
of the spice bush. Give the tea to baby, drink
babies to drink for hives, drink cool sweet tea for
red measles. Interesting now, this was official medicine in eighteen
ninety eight. King's Medical Dispensatory describes where you can find
(12:50):
the plant and what it looks like. And I'm just
gonna say google that because you know it's gonna be
hard to understand just from my description. Sorry, the let's
see the chemical compositions which we don't need to worry about,
but under medicinal uses in dosages. It's aromatic, Italian, tonic,
(13:14):
and stimulant and infusion or decoction has been successfully used
in the treatment of ague, that's fever and typhoid forms
of fever. Also as an enthlementic I think means it
gets rid of parasites, if I remember correctly. Vermafusion and
anthelmintic I mean the same thing. The berries afford a
stimulant oil much esteemed as an application of bruises, chronic rheumatisms, itch,
(13:37):
et cetera, and has some reputation as a carminative. In flatulence.
It means it helps well, like I was telling you
a fintal seed, it helps get rid of the gas
in your stomach and intestines. Used for flaglent colic, et cetera.
The bark in decoction is said to be refrigerant and exhilarating.
I means cooling to the body and exhilarating and exceedingly
useful in all kinds of fever for relaying excessive heat, uneasiness,
(14:00):
or warm decoction employed to produce diaphoreses, and the decoction
may be drunk freely. So yeah, that means it helps
break a fever. It also helps cool the body. So
really interesting plant that way. See apparently there's a Japanese
version that have been imported until they found it in America.
(14:25):
Modern use. Botania Day says Medicinally, the sap is high
in benzolin, which can may be made into an ointment
to help heal wounds. You may have seen benzoin or
benzoia benzoic acid listed in ingredients of healing ointments in
your first aid kit. Absolutely, very good use for that.
Plus refuser says Spice bush has a wide range of
(14:48):
uses as a household remedy, especially in the treatment of colds, dysentery,
and intestinal parasites. It warrants scientific investigation. The bark is aromatic, astringent, diaphoretic, fabrifuge, stimulant, antonic.
It is pleasant to chew, and it is very pleasant
to chew. It is used in the treatment of costs
and colds. The bark can be harvested any time of
(15:09):
the year and is used fresh or dried, very important
cold remedy in the Appalachians, very traditional cold remedy. The
fruits are carmentative. The oil from the fruits have been
used in the treatment of bruises and rheumatism. A tea
made from the twigs was a household remedy for colds, fevers, worms,
and colic. A steam bath of the twigs is used
to cause perspiration in order to ease aches and pains
(15:31):
of the body. The young shoots are harvested during the
spring and can be used fresh or dried. The bark
is diaphoretic in vermafuge. Vermafuge means kills intestinal parasites. It
was once widely used in the treatment of typhoid fevers
and other forms of fever. Addible parts of the spice bush,
(15:53):
the young leaves, twigs, and fruit contain an aromatic essential
oil and make a very fragrant tea. The twigs are
best gathered when in flo as The nectar adds considerably
to the flavor. The dried and fruit is used as
a substitute for the spice allspice. The fruit is about
size of an olive. Usually doesn't get quite that big,
but yeah. The leaves can also be used as a
(16:14):
spice substitute. The new bark is pleasant to chew. Medicinal
plants of the southern Appalachian States. American Indians made tea
of all parts of the spice bush. They drank the
tea as a spring tonic to treat costs and fevers
and measles. Spice bush was also used to bring underlayed
min seas. During the Civil War, spice bush was considered
a substitute for allspice, and the berries were used as
(16:35):
an aromatic seasoning. Finally, Peterson Field Guide tells US American
Indians use berry tea for COFs, cramps, delayed mint sees, croup, measles,
bark tea for swelling, blood, purifying, cold's, rheumatism, and anemia.
Settlers use berries as an all spice substitute. Medicinally, the
berries were used as a carminita for flatelets and colic. Sorry, oh,
(17:00):
hopefully I'll be better next week. The twig tea was
popular for colds, fevers, worms, gas, and colic. The bark
tea was once used to expel worms for typhoid fevers
and as a diaphoretic for other forms of fever should
be investigated. I agree. One of my favorite plants. Useful
(17:21):
is food and medicine really nice and you've probably find
a variety that will grow most anywhere you live, even
if you're in a real dry climate. You can try
keeping it a pot, being a big container pot, like
at least a five gallon bucket. So y'all have a
good one. I'll talk to you next week. The information
this podcast is non intended to diagnose or treat any
(17:43):
disease or condition. Nothing I say or write has been
evaluated or approved by the FDA. I'm not a doctor.
The US government does not recognize the practice of verbal medicine,
and there is no governing body regulating herbles. Therefore, I'm
really just a guy who says rbs offering any advice.
I won't even claim that anything I write or say
is accurate or true. I can tell you what earths
(18:06):
have been traditionally used for, I can tell you my
own experience, and if I believe in herb has helped me,
I cannot, nor would I tell you to do the same.
If you use an herb anyone recommends you are treating yourself,
you take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals,
and no two are identical. What works for me may
not work for you. You may have an allergy of
(18:27):
sensitivity and underlying condition that no one else even shares
and you don't even know about. Be careful with your
health by continuing to listen to my podcast or read
my blog you read it. Be responsible for yourself, to
your own research, make your own choices, and not to
blame me for anything ever.
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