Pleurisy Root Tincture

Overview - Pleurisy weed is better known in parts of the country as butterfly weed. The plant is a variety of milkweed native to eastern North America. It’s a popular plant in country gardens, and is known to attract butterflies, particularly monarchs. It has been used medicinally by a number of Native American tribes for centuries. Much of the plant is edible, including the young shoots, flower buds and stems. The milkweed fibers can be used to make fabric or rope. Pleurisy weed does have a darker side, however. The alkaloids it contains include some that can be toxic in the mature plant. It is considered toxic to livestock, and not recommended for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women, or for children.

Medicinal Uses - Antispasmodic, diaphoretic, expectorant, tonic, carminative and mildly cathartic. From early days this Asclepias has been regarded as a valuable medicinal plant. It is one of the most important of the indigenous American remedies, and until lately was official in the United States Pharmacopoeia. It possesses a specific action on the lungs, assisting expectoration, subduing inflammation and exerting a general mild tonic effect on the system, making it valuable in all chest complaints. It is of great use in pleurisy, mitigating the pain and relieving the difficulty of breathing, and is also recommended in pulmonary catarrh.

• It has also been used with great advantage in diarrhea, dysentery and acute and chronic rheumatism, in low typhoid states and in eczema. It is claimed that the drug may be employed with benefit in flatulent colic and indigestion, but in these conditions it is rarely used.

Each tincture comes in a light-resistant amber bottle, with an eye dropper, and a tamper-evident seal.

Parts Used - Root

Precautions - Pleurisy weed products should not be used by pregnant women because of the danger of miscarriage. In addition, pleurisy weed has a similar effect on the heart to digoxin, and should be avoided by those with heart problems, or those who are taking any heart stimulant medications. Pleurisy root may interact with a number of other drugs and herbs, so it’s important to consult your health practitioner if you intend to use pleurisy for medicinal purposes. It use is not recommended by those with pre-existing liver conditions.

Disclaimer - The information presented herein by Mountain Maus’ Remedies is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.