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| DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied. |
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| PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY!! POISONOUS IN LARGE QUANTITIES!! |
An annual weed which appears in grain fields and waste places, moist farm fields, and along roadsides. Stalk is stiff, round, and hollow, growing from 1 to 3 feet in height with long, linear, flat leaves that are rolled up when young; flowers grow in a terminal spike consisting of 5 to 7 flowered spikelets, each enclosed in a bract to almost the full length. Long stiff bristles point upward from the flowers; the seed is small, yellow-brown to orange-brown, ovate and somewhat compressed.
PART USED: Seed
MEDICINAL:
Was sometimes used to treat dizziness, insomnia, blood congestion, and stomach problems.
Was also used for skin problems like herpes, scurf, and sores.
CULINARY: