LADY'S SLIPPER or NERVE ROOT (Cypripedium pubescens; C. hirsutum; C. bulbosum; ORCHIDACEAE)

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=3 height=90 BGCOLOR="#996600" TEXT="#080000" background="04e785a3.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFBF0" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><IMG SRC="ccb4c550.png" border=0 width="76" height="85" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Complete Writings of</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFBF0" FACE="Times New Roman" > Dr. John R. Christopher.</FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dr. John R. 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This hairiness is irritating and causes skin eruptions.</div> <div> Leaves             Oval or elliptical and pointed at the apex (acuminate). They are 3 to 6 inches long, and 2 to 3 inches broad; alternate (generally the same number on each side), sheathed, pubescent (hairy) and parallel-nerved.</div> <div> Flower             Solitary, large, and resembles a slipper or moccasin. It is pale yellow in color and is born at the top of a leafy stem.</div> <div> Roots              The curved fleshy rhizomes are orange-brown or brownish in color, 1-1 1/2 to 4 inches long, 1/12 to 1/4 inches thick, with many cupshaped scars on the top surface. The roots are numerous, thickly-matted, wavy, fibrous, and unbranched, and are 1-1/15 to 6 inches long. The fracture is short and white and the powder is yellowish brown.</div> <div> Taste               Sweetish-bitter, pungent or acrid and aromatic.</div> <div> Odor               Distinct, heavy and slightly valerianic</div> <div> <I><B>Part used:</B></I></div> <div> Rhizome and roots.</div> <div> <I><B>Therapeutic action:</B></I></div> <div> Antispasmodic, nervine, tonic, relaxant, stimulant, antiperiodic, diaphoretic, and diuretic. Lady's slipper is almost a pure nervine and relaxant. Its action is slow, yet it influences the entire nervous system. A common name for lady's slipper is "American Valerian" because of the generic properties it shares with valerian. Lady's slipper is an excellent pain reliever, is beneficial in female weaknesses, induces sleep, and relieves hysteria and most nervous disorders, including any enfeebled nerve condition. Its efficiency is increased when combined with tonic herbs.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 381</div> <div> <I><B>Medicinal uses:</B></I></div> <div> Nervous sleeplessness, nervous headache, hysteria, convulsions, nervous exhaustion (overworked and worried conditions), flatulence, indigestion, chorea (St. Vitus' Dance), weakness and trembling of limbs, nervous irritability, nervousness, cholera, epilepsy, hypochondriasis, neuralgia, female weaknesses, rigid os uteri, recent cold or fever, and inflamed appendix.</div> <div> <I><B>Preparation:</B></I></div> <div> Decoction, fluid extract, infusion, powder, solid extract, and tincture. Lady's slipper may be preserved in glycerine.</div> <div> <I><B>Dosage:</B></I></div> <div> <I>Lady's slipper is non-poisonous and perfectly safe. It may be taken in larger doses when needed.</I></div> <div> Decoction        (strong) 1 tablespoonful in 2 fluid ounces of water 3 to 4 times daily. (This is 3 1/2 times stronger than the infusion)</div> <div> Fluid extract     1/2 to 1 teaspoonful.</div> <div> Infusion            2 fluid ounces 3 to 4 times daily, preferably 1 hour before meals. Children: 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoonful, according to age, etc.</div> <div> Powder            1 teaspoon.</div> <div> Solid extract     300 mg. - 1 gram.</div> <div> Tincture            15 to 30 drops (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoonful).</div> <div> <I><B>Administration:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Anal</B></I></div> <div> <I>Insomnia:</I></div> <div> Give an injection upon retiring (for nymphomania, add some lobelia.) Prevents seminal emissions.</div> <div> <I><B>Oral</B></I></div> <div> <I>Delirium of typhoid:</I></div> <div> Add a little cayenne to the lady slipper tea.</div> <div> <I>Congestions with nerve irritation, low states of typhoid fever:</I></div> <div> Combine lady's slipper with a positive stimulant such as cayenne or golden seal.</div> <div> <I>Children's colds and fevers:</I></div> <div> Administer 1/4 to 1/2 the adult dose of the strong decoction, hot.</div> <div> <I>Break up recent colds or fevers:</I></div> <div> Cover the patient closely and give 2 tablespoonfuls of the strong decoction in 1 teacupful of very hot water.</div> <div> <I>Epilepsy:</I></div> <div> "See "<A HREF="#formulas" TITLE="LADYS SLIPPER or NERVE ROOT (Cypripedium">Formulas</A>."</div> <div> <I>General nerve troubles and sleeplessness:</I></div> <div> Give 1 tablespoonful of the strong decoction in warm water.</div> <div> <I>Hysteria and convulsions:</I></div> <div> See "<A HREF="#formulas" TITLE="LADYS SLIPPER or NERVE ROOT (Cypripedium">Formulas</A>."</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 382</div> <div> <I>Nervous and weakly children (especially with symptoms of contortions or or twitching muscles; St. Vitus' Dance):</I></div> <div> 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoonful given in a copious amount of honey (to avoid nausea or objection).</div> <div> <I>Parturition (tired nervous system, rigid os uteri, nervous irritability, colic and after-pains):</I></div> <div> See "<A HREF="#formulas" TITLE="LADYS SLIPPER or NERVE ROOT (Cypripedium">Formulas</A>."</div> <div> <I>Nervous exhaustion (overworked and worried conditions):</I></div> <div> Give small and frequent doses of the infusion or decoction.</div> <div> <I>Neuritis:</I></div> <div> See "<A HREF="#formulas" TITLE="LADYS SLIPPER or NERVE ROOT (Cypripedium">Formulas</A>."</div> <div> <I>Soothing syrup. (children, neuralgia):</I></div> <div> See "<A HREF="#formulas" TITLE="LADYS SLIPPER or NERVE ROOT (Cypripedium">Formulas</A>."</div> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="formulas"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I><I><B>Formulas:</B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Infusion of lady's slipper:</B></I></div> <div> 1 ounce         Lady's slipper root, cut (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1 1/4 pints     D-cell or distilled water</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the herb. Cover and steep for 15 minutes; strain and sweeten to taste.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 2 fluid ounces 3 to 4 times daily, preferably before meals. Children: 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoonful, according to age, etc.</div> <div> <I><B>Strong decoction of lady's slipper:</B></I></div> <div> 4 ounces     Lady's slipper, root, cut (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1 quart        D-cell or distilled water</div> <div> 8 ounces     Glycerine</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Soak the herb in the cold water for 2 hours. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes; strain and return the liquid to the clean vessel. Reduce by slow boiling to 3/4 pint. Remove from the heat and add the glycerine while hot, mixing thoroughly. Cool, bottle and keep in a cool place.</div> <div> <I><B>Appendix inflammation:</B></I></div> <div> 1 tsp        Lady's slipper root, powder (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1/2 tsp     Lobelia herb, powder (Lobelia inflata)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Place the herbs in 1 cupful of boiling hot water, cover with a saucer and steep for a few minutes.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 cupful every 1/2 hour.</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> Do not take cathartics at the same time. Apply a mullein leaf poultice with lobelia and ginger externally over the affected area.</div> <div> <I><B>Convulsions, fits:</B></I></div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Lady's slipper root (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Scullcap herb (Scutellaria lateriflora)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Rue herb (Ruta graveolens)</div> <div> 4 ounces      Yellow D sugar</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Antispasmodic tincture</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 383</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Infuse the first three herbs in 1 pint of boiling hot water; cover tightly and let stand until cool. Strain, add the sugar, and simmer. Remove scum, cool, and add the antispasmodic tincture.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 teaspoonful every 3 hours.</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> Attend to the bowels (lower bowel tonic), strengthen the stomach with tonics, and exercise care in the diet (the regenerative diet).</div> <div> <I><B>Delirium of fevers, and nervous tension:</B></I></div> <div> 2 parts     Lady's slipper (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1 part      Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Infuse for 15 minutes, covered tightly. Strain and sweeten to taste.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 2 teaspoons occasionally.</div> <div> <I><B>Epilepsy:</B></I></div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Lady's slipper root, powder (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Golden seal root, powder (Hydrastis canadensis)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Lobelia seed, powder (Lobelia inflata)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Cayenne (Capsicum minimum; C. fastigiatum)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Mix together in a mortar, or rub the powders together with the back of a spoon. Fill #4 (much smaller than #0) capsules with this mixture.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 capsule every 3 hours if the fits are frequent; otherwise, give 1 capsule night and morning.</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> This formula should follow the one given under "scullcap" (scullcap, lobelia, cayenne). Follow this with the other formula given under "scullcap" (scullcap, wood betony, etc.).</div> <div> <I><B>Epilepsy:</B></I></div> <div> 1 part     Lady's slipper root (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1 part     Peony root (Paeonia officinalis)</div> <div> 1 part     Virginia snake root (Serpentaria aristolochia)</div> <div> 1 part     Peruvian bark or Cinchona (Cinchona calisaya)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Mix thoroughly. Use 1 teaspoonful of this mixture to one cup of water. Simmer slowly 10 or 15 minutes and sweeten.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 teaspoonful to 1 tablespoonful every 2 hours.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 384</div> <div> <I><B>Hysteria (relax nerve tension, soothe and tone nerves).</B></I></div> <div> 1 ounce        Lady's slipper root (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Scullcap herb (Scutellaria lateriflora)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Ginger (Zingiber officinale)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Raspberry leaves (Rubus idaeus)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Infuse the herbs in 1 1/2 pints of boiling hot water, cover tightly, and allow to cool. Strain, and sweeten to taste.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 2 fluid ounces, 4 to 5 times daily.</div> <div> Administration:</div> <div> Prevent all excitement and allow the patient to rest comfortably. Make the surroundings as cheerful as possible. Give the nervine formula as a calmative, or use the nervine capsules given under "<A HREF="snh_scullcap.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SCULLCAP or SKULLCAP (Scutellaria lateri">scullcap</A>" and tone up the digestive tract with the formula given under "<A HREF="snh_red_raspberry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="RED RASPBERRY (Rubus idaeus R. strigosus">raspberry</A>."</div> <div> <I><B>Hysteria with convulsions:</B></I></div> <div> 1 ounce         Lady's slipper root (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Asafetida gum (Ferula assa-foetida)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Ginger (Zingiber officinale)</div> <div> 1/4 ounce     Lobelia herb (Lobelia inflata)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Infuse the herbs in 1 1/2 pints of boiling hot water. Cover tightly, and allow to cool. Strain and sweeten to taste.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 2 fluid ounces 4 to 5 times daily.</div> <div> <I><B>Nervous headache:</B></I></div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Lady's slipper root (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Catnip herb (Nepeta cataria)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Scullcap herb (Scutellaria lateriflora)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Infuse the herbs in 1 1/2 pints of boiling hot water. Cover tightly, and allow to cool. Strain, and sweeten to taste.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1 to 2 warm cupfuls daily.</div> <div> <I><B>Insomnia (nervous sleeplessness):</B></I></div> <div> 1 ounce     Lady's slipper root, fluid extract (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Pleurisy root, fluid extract (Asclepias tuberosa)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Skunk cabbage root, fluid extract (Symplocarpus foetidus)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Scullcap herb, fluid extract (Scutellaria lateriflora)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Mix the fluid extracts thoroughly.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1/2 to 1 teaspoonful, 3 times daily.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 385</div> <div> <I><B>Neuritis (nerve inflammation):</B></I></div> <div> 1 ounce        Lady's slipper root (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1 ounce        Scullcap herb (Scutellaria lateriflora)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Damiana (Turnera diffusa)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)</div> <div> 1/2 ounce     Ginger (Zingiber officinale)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Pour 1 quart of boiling hot water over the herbs, cover tightly, and let stand until cool. Strain and sweeten to taste.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 2 fluid ounces every 3 to 4 hours.</div> <div> <I>Administration:</I></div> <div> A vapor bath or ginger bath will give soothing relief. Give external applications of stimulating liniments (such as cayenne and prickly ash tinctures), and apply a poultice of camomile flowers and poppy heads, or a heated hop bag to the affected area. The nervine capsules will assist in many cases.</div> <div> <I><B>Parturition or child-birth (colic and after-pains):</B></I></div> <div> 3 parts     Lady's slipper root (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 2 parts     Wild yam (Dioscorea villosa)</div> <div> 1 part       Ginger (Zingiber officinale)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Infuse 1 ounce of the herb compound for 20 minutes in 1 pint of boiling water. Cover tightly; strain, and sweeten to taste.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> Administer doses of 2 fluid ounces as the case requires.</div> <div> <I><B>Soothing syrup (children), neuralgia mixture:</B></I></div> <div> 2 ounces    Lady's slipper, fluid extract (Cypripedium pubescens)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Scullcap, fluid extract (Scutellaria lateriflora)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Pleurisy root, fluid extract (Asclepias tuberosa)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Prickly ash, fluid extract (Zanthoxylum americanum)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Lobelia, tincture (Lobelia inflata)</div> <div> 1 ounce     Anise seed, essence (Pimpinella anisum)</div> <div> <I>Preparation:</I></div> <div> Mix thoroughly.</div> <div> <I>Dosage:</I></div> <div> 1/4 to 1 teaspoonful in warm, sweetened water or in a little warm catnip tea.</div> <div> <I><B>Growth characteristics:</B></I></div> <div> Lady's slipper is a perennial plant which grows best in damp, boggy woods, thickets, and hilly ground from Nova Scotia to the mid-west. It flowers from may to July, and may be cultivated in the herb garden.</div> <div> <I><B>Collection:</B></I></div> <div> Dig in August or September.</div> <div> <I><B>Sister plants:</B></I></div> <div> Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum; ORCHIDACEAE). The root is therapeutically equivalent to the larger variety. This plant has a bright yellow pouch with occasional purplish sepals and petals, and has a delicately fragrant flower about one-half the size of its big sister. Both varieties usually grow in the same locale and have the same blooming season. The smaller, fairer and sweeter variety roams westward to Washington.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Page 386</div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=24 BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="cc203181eearkz.gif"> <div>  <A HREF="snh_valerian.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="VALERIAN (Valeriana officinalis VALERIAN">SNH Valerian</A> < Previous  |  Next > <A HREF="snh_mistletoe.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MISTLETOE (Viscum album V. flavescens Ph">SNH Mistletoe</A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>