How Blue Flag Can Be Used In Body Detoxification
Other Common Names: Amerikan Suseni, Dagger Flower, Dragon
Flower, Flag, Flag Lily, Harlequin Blueflag, Iris, Larger Blue Flag,
Liver Lily, Poison Flag, Snake Lily, Water Flag, Iris versicolor
Range: Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Florida and Arkansas.
Habitat: Swamps, wet meadows, scrub and by lakes and rivers. Wetlands.
Owing to the similarity of name, and the appearance before blooming,
this flag is sometimes mistaken by American children for Sweet Flag or
Calamus, which grows in the same localities, often with disastrous
results.
Of the 100 species of true Iris, twenty-two inhabit the United
States, but only one, Iris Missouriensis, much resembles this species
(the rhizome of which yields an official American drug), or has a
rhizome likely to be mistaken for it.
The root is an official drug of the United States Pharmacopoeia and
is the source of the Iridin or Irisin of commerce, a powdered
extractive, bitter, nauseous and acrid, with diuretic and aperient
properties.
Blue flag was one of the most popular medicinal plants amongst
various native North American Indian tribes. In modern herbalism it is
mainly employed to detoxify the body - it increases urination and bile
production and has a mild laxative effect. Some caution should be
exercised in its use, however, since there are reports that it is
poisonous.
The fresh root is quite acrid and when taken internally causes
nausea, vomiting, colic and purging. The dried root is much less acrid.
This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women.
The root is alterative, anti-inflammatory, cathartic, cholagogue,
diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and sialagogue. Taken internally as a
tea, the root has been used as a strong laxative or emetic that also
acts strongly on the liver and promotes the excretion of excess body
fluids. It is also stimulant for the circulatory and lymphatic system.
Its detoxifying effect make it useful in the treatment of psoriasis,
acne, herpes, arthritis, swollen glands, pelvic inflammatory disease
etc.
Externally, it is applied to skin diseases, wounds and rheumatic
joints. The roots are harvested in late summer and early autumn and are
usually dried for later use. The roots were boiled in water and then
mashed to make a poultice which was used to relieve the pain and
swelling associated with sores and bruises.
A fine blue infusion is obtained from the flowers and this can be used as a litmus substitute to test for acids and alkalis.
Some native North American Indian tribes used the root as a
protection against rattlesnakes. It was believed that, so long as the
root was handled occasionally to ensure the scent permeated the person
and their clothes, rattlesnakes would not bite them. Some tribes even
used to chew the root and then hold rattlesnakes with their teeth and
were not bitten so long as the scent persisted.
Known Hazards: Many plants in this genus are thought to be
poisonous if ingested, so caution is advised. The roots are especially
likely to be toxic. Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in
some people.
Other Common Names: Amerikan Suseni, Dagger Flower, Dragon
Flower, Flag, Flag Lily, Harlequin Blueflag, Iris, Larger Blue Flag,
Liver Lily, Poison Flag, Snake Lily, Water Flag, Iris versicolor
Range: Eastern N. America - Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Florida and Arkansas.
Habitat: Swamps, wet meadows, scrub and by lakes and rivers. Wetlands.
Owing to the similarity of name, and the appearance before blooming,
this flag is sometimes mistaken by American children for Sweet Flag or
Calamus, which grows in the same localities, often with disastrous
results.
Of the 100 species of true Iris, twenty-two inhabit the United
States, but only one, Iris Missouriensis, much resembles this species
(the rhizome of which yields an official American drug), or has a
rhizome likely to be mistaken for it.
The root is an official drug of the United States Pharmacopoeia and
is the source of the Iridin or Irisin of commerce, a powdered
extractive, bitter, nauseous and acrid, with diuretic and aperient
properties.
Blue flag was one of the most popular medicinal plants amongst
various native North American Indian tribes. In modern herbalism it is
mainly employed to detoxify the body - it increases urination and bile
production and has a mild laxative effect. Some caution should be
exercised in its use, however, since there are reports that it is
poisonous.
The fresh root is quite acrid and when taken internally causes
nausea, vomiting, colic and purging. The dried root is much less acrid.
This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women.
The root is alterative, anti-inflammatory, cathartic, cholagogue,
diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and sialagogue. Taken internally as a
tea, the root has been used as a strong laxative or emetic that also
acts strongly on the liver and promotes the excretion of excess body
fluids. It is also stimulant for the circulatory and lymphatic system.
Its detoxifying effect make it useful in the treatment of psoriasis,
acne, herpes, arthritis, swollen glands, pelvic inflammatory disease
etc.
Externally, it is applied to skin diseases, wounds and rheumatic
joints. The roots are harvested in late summer and early autumn and are
usually dried for later use. The roots were boiled in water and then
mashed to make a poultice which was used to relieve the pain and
swelling associated with sores and bruises.
A fine blue infusion is obtained from the flowers and this can be used as a litmus substitute to test for acids and alkalis.
Some native North American Indian tribes used the root as a
protection against rattlesnakes. It was believed that, so long as the
root was handled occasionally to ensure the scent permeated the person
and their clothes, rattlesnakes would not bite them. Some tribes even
used to chew the root and then hold rattlesnakes with their teeth and
were not bitten so long as the scent persisted.
Known Hazards: Many plants in this genus are thought to be
poisonous if ingested, so caution is advised. The roots are especially
likely to be toxic. Plants can cause skin irritations and allergies in
some people.
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