Pedicularis Canadensis

Pedicularis Canadensis

This is one of the plants certified organic for the first time in history by Mandala Chocolate. It is known by a large variety of different common names including Wood Betony, Beefsteak Plant, Canadian Lousewort, High Heal-all, Snaffles and Canada Lousewort, Common Lousewort, lousewort, Betony, Early lousewort, Canada wood betony, Early Wood Lousewort and Head betony.

It has been loved and utilized traditionally by native peoples for untold generations who ate it as a vegetable crop, a salad green and utilized it as a multipurpose medicine. Its uses included stomachaches, diarrhea, anemia and heart trouble and made a poultice for swellings, tumors and sore muscles. As a nervine and non-narcotic muscle relaxer pedicularis is regaining the attention it deserves. It can help relieve pain in muscles when applied topically or taken as a tincture.

 

APPEARS IN

Chocolate Bars Mandala Chocolate Cacao Alchemy

Traditional uses and benefits of Lousewort (Pedicularis)

  • Roots are blood tonic, cardiac and stomachic.
  • Tea is used in the treatment of stomach aches, ulcers, and diarrhea, anemia and heart troubles.
  • Poultice of the root is applied to swellings, sore muscles and tumors.
  • Finely grated roots were secretly added to food as an alleged aphrodisiac.
  • An infusion of the leaves has been used to procure an abortion.
  • An infusion of the fresh or dried leaves has been used to treat a sore throat.
  • Native Americans used the roots to reduce internal or external swelling by tea or poultice respectively.
  • Medicinal infusion of the roots is used as blood tonic, cardiac for anemia and heart troubles and to treat stomach aches, ulcers, and bloody diarrhea.
  • Medicinal poultice of the crushed root is applied to swellings, sore muscles, varicose veins, and tumors.
  • Roots are finely grated and added to food as an aphrodisiac.
  • Medicinal infusion of the fresh leaves or dried herb has been used to treat a sore throat, tonsillitis, cough and bronchitis.
  • Infusion also used to treat headaches, dizziness, urinary, bladder and kidney pain.
  • Wash or dip in a strong decoction is used to rid animals and people of lice and scabies.
  • Fresh or dried plant is used as an external wash or vulnerary for minor scrapes, abrasions, and skin injuries.
  • Tea of the leaves and roots, taken internally, acts as a skeletal muscle relaxant.
  • An infusion of the leaves has been used to procure an abortion.
  • It is useful as a relaxant herb for muscle tension, and it helps relieve neck and back pain.
  • It can be used as massage oil for spasming muscles and neck tension.
  • For a massage oil blend, mix pedicularis with other musculo-skeletal herbs such as cramp bark, goldenrod, and mullein root to ease back tension.
  • Add St. John’s wort if sharp, shooting nerve pain is present.
  • As a tincture it is used for a muscle relaxant for the upper shoulders and neck.
  • A skeletal muscle relaxant formula of Pedicularis in combination with Skullcapand Black Cohosh will relieve muscle tension specific to the upper and lower back, but will not relieve any pain associated with tension.
  • It was secretly, perhaps maliciously, put in the food of an intended as an aphrodisiac.
Newer Yacon
Back to list
Older Mesquite