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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.



TURKEY CORN
Fumariaceae
a.k.a. Bleeding Heart, Corydalis, Shone corydalis, Squirrel corn, Staggerweed, Turkey pea
(Dicentra canadensis syn Corydalis canadensis syn Bicuculla canadensis)
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CONTAINS: Is incompatible with tannic acid or any other vegetable astringents.
5% alkaloids.
Corydalin, fumaric acid, resin, starch, protopine, corydine, isocorydine, bulbocapnine.

North American perennial native which is a wild cousin to the more familiar Bleeding Heart of flower gardens. Grows to 1 foot from a filiform rhizome with many small yellow tubers. Leaves all basal and finely cut. Flowers greenish-white, sometimes tinged with purple, fragrant, inner petals crested, corolla cordate.

PROPAGATION: By division of crowns or roots; by seed.
NEEDS: Light, fertile soil.
FLOWERS: Early spring.
HARVEST: Tubers when in flower
PART USED: Dried tubers
RELATED SPECIES:
Dicentra pusilla: Used in Japan for dysentary.



MEDICINAL USES:
Tonic, diuretic, alterative, narcotic.
Was used for chronic skin infections, syphilis, scrofula, and in some types of menstrual disorders.
Was often combined with Stillingia, Burdock, or Prickly Ash.

DOSE: TRADITIONAL DOSAGES FOR PROFESSIONAL NOTE ONLY
All others buy commercial preparations and follow directions carefully.
INFUSION = Was made by combining 1/2 oz. dried root in 1 pint of boiling water, then steeped 15 minutes and taken in wineglassful amounts, 3 or 4 times daily.
FLUID EXTRACT = 1/2 to 1 tsp




©2004 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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