Kidney diseases.
CROTON CORYMBOSUS
(Ind. O-chot-pa-wish)
Spurge. Its habitat is in the southern Mojave sand dunes. This beautiful shrub, like many of the other desert plants, seems to select the worst of soils to grow in, and is often to be found in crevices of mineralized dykes of crystalline rocks. The infusion made from the plant cured kidney infections.
EPHEDRA
(Ind. Tut-tut)
The Tea of the Indian is found in the swamplands of the coastal regions. The infusion made from the leaves and blossoms was taken internally for pleurisy of the kidneys.
An infusion made separately from the roots was also used internally to relieve severe cases of gonorrhea and painful bloating of the stomach. This remedy is very effective and highly esteemed by the Indians as one of the royal plants for the cure of these dangerous ailments, which take the lives of so many of the white race.
APIUM
(Ind. Se-ma-mek)
American Parsley. Its habitat is the swamps and coastal regions. The infusion made from this plant was taken regularly and in preference to water or any other beverage for chronic diseases of the kidneys.
The tea is very rich in flavor and pleasant to the taste. The patient should partake of as much as one half gallon per day and also eat an equal amount of it. The plant having been domesticated it is no trouble to get it anywhere. Even butcher shops and vegetable dealers sell it.
XANTHIUM CANADENSE
(Ind. Cho-co-late)
American Cocklebur. It grows everywhere in California, being found in every swamp and pasture land—a veritable nuisance to the cattle raiser.
From the medical standpoint, however, the plant is very valuable to the members of both sexes who are suffering from diseased kidneys complicated with gonorrhea, diseases which, when allowed to take their own course, will in due time develop into tuberculosis, rheumatism, and finally total paralysis of both the upper and lower limbs, as has happened in such cases.
The introduction of these maladies occurred with the advent of the white race into our territory and this caused the Indians to go into further botanical research to find the proper plants to combat and conquer these dreadful diseases. I introduce the world in general to two other sister plants, and also three belonging to a different group.
CENTAUREA MELITENSIS
(Ind. Se-sa-naa)
American Star Thistle.
XANTHIUM SPINOSUM
(Ind. O-yu-mo-val)
American Spiny Cocklebur.
MALVACEA RUBRA
(Ind. E-ya-wa-manka)
American Creeping Rock Mallow. Spanish Yerba Mora Real.