Important: Safety Warning
This page prescribes plants as medicine according to pre-modern medical theory. Several of the plants named are toxic, correct identification is difficult, and the doses given have no scientific basis. Do not ingest or apply any preparation described here.
This page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Order Xc
CAMPANULACEE.
These differ from the last in not having the flowers in heads, in their usually distinct antheræ, which are, however, syngenesious in Lobélia, in their polyspermous fruit, and also in exuding a milky juice. All the genera are pretty, and some highly ornamental. They are mostly herbaceous, and by far the greater number are extra-tropical, abounding especially in the woods and coppices of the North. The roots of Campánula Rapúnculus are used as a vegetable under the name of Rampion. The juice of some of the Lobélias is highly caustic and inflammatory; when taken internally, producing vomiting and even death: nevertheless, the root of Lobélia siphilítica, in small doses, acts as a diaphoretic, in greater quantity as diuretic or purgative, and, if taken in considerable quantities, as an emetic. An infusion of Lobélia infláta is used in North America as a remedy for leucorrhoea; and the root of Lobélia cardinális is employed in the same country as a vermifuge. 464 Lobélia W. 463 Campánula W. 465 Phyteúma W. 466 Trachélium W. 546 Lightfoótia L'Her. 895 Michauxía W. 467 Roélla W. 545 Cýphia W. 834 Canarína W. 547 Jasíone W.