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HELLEBORE (Black) HELLEBORUS NIGER The roots are very effective in quartan agues and madness. Also known as the Christmas Rose, it is a perennial plant with leaves arising from the root. It has whitish flowers, which are sometimes purplish towards the edges, with pale yellow centres. Where to find it: Mainly grown in gardens, but is a native of the alpine regions of Europe. Flowering time: Winter. Astrology: It is a herb of Saturn. Medicinal virtues: It has some sulleness about it and would be better purified by the alchymist than given raw. Goat's milk is an antidote for it, if' any one suffers from taking too much. The roots help the falling-sickness, the leprosy, yellow and black jaundice, gout, sciatica and convulsions. Used as a pessary, the roots provoke the terms exceedingly. Beaten to powder and strewed upon foul ulcers, it eats away the dead flesh, and instantly heals them. It helps gangrenes in the beginning. Twenty grains (1.3 g) taken inwardly is sufficient a dose for one time and that should be given with half as much Cinnamon. Modem uses: This root is not recommended for domestic use as it contains poisonous constituents which have a similar effect to the Foxglove. It is used in homoeopathic medicine, a tincture being prepared from the fresh root, and used for nervous disorders and epilepsy. |