Techniques: Digestion

January 1st, 2008

Digestion resembles maceration, except that the process is assisted by a gentle heat. The ingredients are placed in a flask, such as salad oil is sold in, which should be fitted with a plug of tow or wood, and have a piece of wire twisted round the neck. The flask is held by means of the wire over the flame of a spirit lamp, or else placed in some sand warmed in an old iron saucepan over the fire, care being taken not to place more of the flask below the sand than the portion occupied by the ingredients.

Source: Enquire Within Upon Everything.

Definition: Astringent

January 1st, 2008

Astringents are medicines which condense and coagulate the tissues,
thereby arresting discharges. When taken into the mouth, they produce the sensation known as puckering. They are used internally and locally. The term styptic is used as a synonym of astringent, but is generally employed to designate those astringents which arrest haemorrhage, or bleeding.

Source: The People’s Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English or, Medicine Simplified, R.V. Pierce.

Definition: Inspissated

January 1st, 2008

A liquid which has been inspissated has been reduced by evaporation — either dried completely, or thickened.

Definition: Fomentation, Poultice

January 1st, 2008

Fomentation, Poultice: A warm, moist substance applied to the body (sometimes with compression) to relieve pain or inflammation.

Definition: Cathartic, Purgative, Aperient

January 1st, 2008

Cathartic, Purgative, Aperient: Tending to cause evacuation of the bowels. An aperient is generally milder than a cathartic or a purgative.

Definition: Carminative

January 1st, 2008

Carminative: Preventing the formation, or easing the passing, of gas from the alimentary tract.

Definition: Tolu

January 1st, 2008

Tolu: A balsam from a South American tree of the genus Myroxylon. It was traditionally used for the relief of asthma and coughing, and in wound treatments.

Definition: Emollient

January 1st, 2008

Emollient: softening, soothing, making less harsh or abrasive, moisturizing.

Definition: Aqua Vitae, Ardent Spirit

January 1st, 2008

Aqua Vitae or Ardent Spirit generally signifies a strong distilled spirit, most usually brandy or whisky.

Definition: Tincture

January 1st, 2008

A tincture is an alcoholic solution of a non-volatile substance (for example, tincture of iodine).

“Very uniform and reliable tinctures may be made of most indigenous plants, by procuring the part to be employed, at the proper season, while it is green and fresh, bruising it well, and covering it with good strong whiskey, or with alcohol diluted with one part of water to three of alcohol, corking tightly, and letting it stand about fourteen days, when the tincture may be filtered or poured off from the drugs, and will be ready for use. Prepared in this imperfect manner, they will be found to be much more reliable than any of the fluid extracts found in the drug-stores. An excess of the crude drug should be used in preparing the tincture to insure a perfect saturation of the alcohol with its active principles.”

Source: The People’s Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English or, Medicine Simplified, R.V. Pierce.

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    NOTE: these remedies are listed only for information and/or amusement. They are not to be construed as medical advice of any type, nor are they recommended for use. Consult your doctor or other medical professional for any medical advice you require.