The Prepper Broadcasting Network - Herbal Medicine for Preppers: Jamaican Dogwood

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey y'all, welcome to this week's show. Today I'm going to tell you about a really interesting plant. Now, depending on where you live, this may not be one you can actually grow, but you're probably going to want to order some of this and store it away for an emergency or build up supply of it or whatever. The plant, it's a tree. It's called Jamaican dogwood. It's not a true dogwood. It's not in the cornice family. family, it's Piskidia, Piskulah, I don't know how to pronounce that, but anyway, it's P-I-S-C-I-D-A, P-I-U-L-A. Now, it's a bitter herb and has some narcotic properties, but unlike, we've talked about bugle weed, Juga Depends, we've talked about, oh, so many that have slight narcotic properties, Lily the Valley, those can be rather dangerous because they can slow your heart really to the point where it can stop if it's used. So you want to be really careful

Starting point is 00:01:08 with that. Jamaican Dogwood is much safer. It is a sedative, antisposomatic, spasmodic, and has pain reducing effects. The late herbalist Michael Moore, not the fat communist filmmaker but the one that was an herbalist said that Jamaican dogwood was primarily used for diminishing referred pain and is somewhat similar to an opiate in certain people and just like we talked about wild lettuce which says similar qualities for some people it only works for like 50% of people so you would want to you know get a little bit of it probably in a tinctured form from a good herb company so that you know you've got a good quality and then you can order the plant you know dried and make your own tinctures but i would start with a

Starting point is 00:02:03 professionally made tincture and try it and see if it has any effect on you in my case very little effect whatsoever and with wild lettuce like none i get no effect whatsoever but for 50% of the people of people who experience pain and such, these are really better, safer alternatives than, I should say, I should use the disclaimer, I say they may be better safer alternatives than prescription pain medications, especially opiates. To the best of my knowledge, these do not have an addictive quality. They do, however, affect the central nervous system. It is a central nervous system sedative so you can never combine it with any prescription or non-prescription opiates. That could be extremely dangerous. It would enhance the sedation of the central nerve

Starting point is 00:03:03 system of the opioid and that would likely lead to an overdose. So you want to be very careful with that. I consider a Jamaican dog would to be safer, far safer than gilsimium, which is one of my favorites. About in the same quality category as Cava Cava but Cava Cava works better for me you're just gonna you know if you're interested in this you know look into it going back to what Michael Moore said he said it was good for insomnia with spasms pain nervous irritability and tachycardia cervical neuralgia several kinds of neuralgia he lists and as a general antispasmodic he recommended

Starting point is 00:03:49 the tree root and bark tincture, a 60% alcohol tincture. That's about 120 proof. That could be very hard to find. And this is if you're making it yourself. But you know, you can use Everclear. If you do get around and making yourself, I would, I would start with a commercial one. He said, use 10 to 90 drops. That's a huge dosage variation there. He said, use with care responses highly individuals who start with a low dose. Jamaican Dogwood is a new world herb, so it doesn't have a long history of documented use in European herbal medicine. But Ms. Grieve was aware of it. She wrote in 1931. She said, in some cases, it cures violent toothache, neuralgia, and whooping cough, and promotes sleep,

Starting point is 00:04:39 and acts as an antispasmodic in asthma. It also dilates the pupils, and is useful in dysmenorrhea and nervous stability. in other subject, it only causes gastric distress and nausea. She said overdoses produce toxic effects. So this is one if you want to use it, you want to be very careful with it. And I'm not recommending you use any of the herbs I talk about. I'm recommending learning about them in case you want to use them. She dates its use in the official pharmacopoeia as beginning in 1844.

Starting point is 00:05:15 And so that led me to resources of the Southern. Fields and Forest, a classic work for the Civil War era, and that it was actually listed about 1860 as says the Piscidia is said to be used in America for stupefying fish. So it was used as a fish poison, which is why it's the name Piscidia, which is, comes from the Latin for fish. She said, or he said, the fish which are taken as readily in this matter as with several other fish poisons that people use it yields a highly narcotic and diaphoretic tincture so he found it to be strongly narcotic and good for breaking a fever the powdered bark relieves toothache he's got some documentation a doctor from Plymouth

Starting point is 00:06:06 England in a pharmaceutical journal 1844 speaks of this plant as a powerful narcotic capable of producing sleep and relieving pain in an extraordinary manner When he was a resident of the West Indies, he observed its effects as narcotic and taking fish of the largest kind. He was induced to try it as an anodyne and toothache and found a saturated tincture exceedingly efficacious, not only affording relief when taken internally, but uniformly curing the pain when introduced upon a docile of cotton, well, when applied to the tooth with cotton. the bark of the root is to the bark of the root to be effectual should be gathered during the period of inflorescence so when flowering I wish they would use I wish they wouldn't use such terms as that when chewed it has an unpleasant acrimony of like something else anyway bitter is what he's saying it gills its virtues to alcohol but not to water so you can't make it tea out of it. He prepared a tincture by macerating an ounce of the bark and a coarse powder

Starting point is 00:07:15 in four fluid ounces of rectified spirit that's strong liquor, in other words, for 24 hours and then filtered it. The dose is a fluid drachim. That's an old, don't even ask me what a drachim is. I mean, you can look it up. I don't remember. He said he first tried on himself when laboring under severe toothache, taking the quantity mentioned in cold water and going to bed. He first felt a violent sensation of heat internally, which gradually extended to the surface and was followed by profuse perspiration and profound sleep for 12 hours. Upon waking, he was quite free from pain and without the unpleasant sensations which follow a dose of opium. So good for pain, good for cramps, good for fevers as well because of that sweating. It's going to help you break the fever.

Starting point is 00:08:02 Certainly to be used with care, though. This could be a dangerous one. Let's keep that in mind. King's American Dispensatory of 1898 under Actions Medical and Dowsages says, Jamaican Dogwood possesses active properties, its chief use being to control pain and to produce sleep. Dr. Isid Ott in Pharmacology of Newer Materia, who made extensive experiments with the drug, declares its psychological effects to be essentially as follows. It increases salivatory and cutaneous secretions. Slows the pulse, increases arterial tension, succeeded by a fall of tension due to a weakening of the heart. So it does have a slowing effect on the heart, would through being a CNS depressive.

Starting point is 00:08:50 It dilates the pupils, except when passing into a state of asphyxia in which contractions take place. So that would not be a good thing. That would be the overdose when someone actually, the lungs stop working and they exphyxiate. It does not affect irritability of the motor nerve fibers, nor does it. attack the peripheral sensory nerve endings. It reduces reflex action and includes a tetanoid condition by stimulation of the spinal marrow. Finally, he pronounces it narcotic to frogs, rabbits, and men. Sorry, that's who we experimented on. He said that Piskidia or Jamaican dog would kill by causing heart failure and arresting respiratory action.

Starting point is 00:09:38 Unpleasant results have been occasioned by even small doses. I mean, I don't know what he considers a small dose, but we want to be very, very careful if we use this one at all. Among these are nausea, vomiting headache, etc. Convulsions were provoked in the case of a woman who had been given a half drachm dose. And see, the other guy recommended a full drachm. This is just a half gap, drachm, gave her convulsions. And like Michael Moore said, it's really individual. For some people, it does basically nothing.

Starting point is 00:10:05 For some people, it's very strong. and for some, they're going to be in between. He said the drug is recommended to replace opium and similar narcotics. Dr. Hamilton states that a tincture of the bark of this tree, the same as the bark itself is astringent and irritating. He also observes that it is most powerfully and remarkably narcotic, astringent and diaphoretic, and that its local application is specific in toothache.

Starting point is 00:10:33 For the latter purpose, it has been applied locally and given internally at the same time. in irritation of the dental pulp, inflammation of the peridental membrane, abscesses, and other affections of the mouth. Burned scalds and hemorrhages have been relieved by it while a solution of it has been recommended as an injection in gonorrhea. That would be basically a douche. Internally administered, it released pain, overcome spasms, allays nerveic decidability, and induces sleep. It is a favorite remedy in prolonged insomnia, particularly the aged and in those of excessively nervous temperament. from it. It should at least be given the preference over opiates until its utility or non-utility is established. Remember this 1898. It has rendered good service in neuralgia, particularly

Starting point is 00:11:20 sciatica, abdominal neural neuralgia, migraine. It allays the pain of gastro issues, enteric fever, painful spasms of the muscles, rheumatisms, acute rheumatism, disorders. of, well, I'm talking extreme menstrual cramping and such as that. With viburnum, it has been administered to check false labor pain, and threatened abortion. Now, you've got to give a big caveat here, right? We know that by burnum, we discussed that plant before is called cramp bark. We'll discuss it again at some point. It has a powerful antispasmodic, and it was used in the past to stop premature labor, miscarriage, due to contract.

Starting point is 00:12:07 Viberm has a long and documented history of use. I don't recommend any herbs during pregnancy. If you're interested in that, you need to speak with an expert on it or read books by experts on, you know, herbs for women, especially during pregnancy and all that. I don't recommend any of them because they can all be dangerous to have taken in a large enough dose. So he's saying that the anti-spasmodic effects of dogwood, of Jamaican dogwood I meant to say, not regular dogwood at all. That would be quite the opposite effect. But the Jamaican dogwood combined with viburnum were used to prevent inducing labor prematurely. Given it's the danger of this plant and the overdose potential, I would not think that would be the best option.

Starting point is 00:13:01 especially for the baby. So, you know, I'm going to give that big caveat that we certainly cannot recommend that anymore. But it was being used for this that time. But then again, so was just, you know, opium and laudanum and such as that. I said it's good for pain and carcinoma and fractures. And it's preferred by some to opium and other anodynes. It relieves the spasmodic element of pertussis and asthma. It has been lauded for reflex coughs and the coughs of spasmodic and chronic bronchitis and pulmonary consumption.

Starting point is 00:13:37 We've got a lot of documentation on this. Dr. Somebody, Fultz, I think you said, praises it in a rourge of the eyeball where opium was not tolerated. That's serious eye pain. He speaks lightly of it for relief of pain of acute catara. Others speak of it in acute abscess of the auditory canal and, basically talking bad ear inflammation and such as that. And they say the dose ranges from 10 drops to two fluid drachms. That's a huge.

Starting point is 00:14:12 I mean, 10 drops is going to be like half a teaspoonful probably and two fluid dracombs. They said one half a drachm calls that woman to have convulsions. So, I mean, like I said, it's incredibly individualistic. You can't just say, use this amount because it's going to vary from person to person if it does anything at all for them. And specific indications and uses insomnia and nervous unrest to allay spasms, control pain, allay nervous excitability, migraine, and neuralgia. Yeah, it's also a good one from migraines. Now, Seventh Song, who is an herbalist up in New York area, he studied at Michael Moore. He really likes Jamaican Dogwood and several of his students that I've discussed with

Starting point is 00:15:03 Bayes study Jamaican Dogwood quite a bit. He runs almost a free emergency care clinic and people come in with injuries and pain and they're usually there as a last resort and they can't afford anything else and he uses herbs. He wrote, I have become an admirer of Piscidia as a medicinal plant when I am glad to get know and apply clinically. I have only used it in tincture form, so all discussion on it here about it is in tincture form. Piscidia is a very serviceable pain medicine, especially for general body pains, such as after an accident and as an adjunct for skeletal muscle pain. Its set of effects

Starting point is 00:15:50 are minimal, which makes it useful for daily use as it does not impair the cognitive process. you know that's I I did not find it to be very strong either but apparently some people do so again we're going to say this is going to probably differ for different people it is an excellent first aid remedy because when it works and no one plant works all the time it works reasonably swiftly and can take the edge off of acute pain in other words it is a useful plant for a wide variety of pain it combines well with other plants some plants for stronger pain relievers such as Valerian or Hop's butt, but they may lead the patient feeling lethargic and not thinking clearly, while Preschidia does not have this effect commonly. It's interesting. Valerian, for me, if I take on a lot of it, I mean, you really, for me, I have to take a whole

Starting point is 00:16:46 lot of it. I have a tolerance like an elephant. It will put me to sleep and it can actually make me go to sleep when I'm in a severe pain, like from a broken bone or, you really, you know, I dislocated shoulder. I mean, you know, real bad pain like that. Hops bud, I don't think there's enough hops in the world that could knock me out. I mean, just doesn't have much effect on me. But that, again, varies from person to person. But he says that can also be a disadvantage as sometimes, such as after traumatic accident,

Starting point is 00:17:15 it is helpful to take the middle edge off, but then it can be combined with them. So he's saying, you know, if you've just been in a car accident or something and you're in acute pain, but you're also in a highly agitated state that he would combine the Jamaican dogwood with something like Valerian, which is a more straight, up sedative, and that it would calm the heart rate and then the mental agitation along with the pain, pain reducing effects. He says another important attribute about Piscidia is that is well tolerated without unwinnant side effects being common. This gives more room to play around with the dosages when using it for treating pain.

Starting point is 00:18:00 For me, it is a classic first aid plant that can be offered to someone soon after they arrive to a first aid station while still evaluating the extent of the injury and the dosage can be incrementally increased. Now, that is really interesting. I mean, after reading all those warnings about Jamaican dogwood, here's Seven Song, despite his name, is one of the most respected herbalist in America right now, It's like his go-to, and he doesn't see people having much trouble with it at all. You know, as an herbalist, it's our responsibility to learn the virtues of each plant and its potential misuse.

Starting point is 00:18:38 I mean, I mentioned bugleweed. It does slow the heart rate. It's a good muscle relaxer. It can help with arrhythmia. It has such an effect on the heart. But it can be misused. You can take too much of it and would hurt you. moderation in all things

Starting point is 00:18:56 herbs like Jamaican dogwood are what we would describe as herbless as an energetic herb and actually a highly energetic herb and that means its effects the use and its effects are dependent upon the individual and the individual's nature

Starting point is 00:19:12 like I said it does apparently very little for some for others it may be a strongly narcotic likely most are in between and really in my opinion any alternative to harmful and addictive prescription painkillers and sedatives should really be explored. Got to use sober judgment.

Starting point is 00:19:33 I had a friend Barbara Crowellis. She was EMT and an herbalist, and she worked a lot like Sevensong. I think she actually studied with Seven Song. She found Jamaican Dogwood to be excellent for treating pain in first aid situations. And she used it in long-term treatment of her own chronic pain. I'm one of the smartest herbalist I've ever met anyway I think it's incumbent upon us as herbalist to undertake further research now I don't expect everybody listening to this show to be a professional herbalist remember we teach kitchen medicine on the show we teach folk medicine so I'm just going to say if you use it as I said start off with a high quality commercial tincture a few drops at a time get used to it figure out what it's going to be all about out, and then you can look into making your own tinctures. Michael Moore recommended 60% alcohol.

Starting point is 00:20:28 That's 120 proof. Probably ever clear is going to be what you can get. But caution should be advised, but fear should be avoided. That's the way I look at it. All right, y'all, have a good one, and I will talk with you next week. The information of this podcast is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. Nothing I say or write has been evaluated or approved by the FDA. I'm not a doctor.

Starting point is 00:20:58 The U.S. government does not recognize the practice of herbal medicine, and there is no governing body regulating herbless. Therefore, I'm really just a guy who studies herbs. I'm not offering any advice. I won't even claim that anything I write or say is accurate or true. I can tell you what herbs have been traditionally used for. I can tell you my own experience, and if I believe an herb has helped me. I cannot nor would I tell you to do the same.

Starting point is 00:21:20 If you use an herb, anyone recommends, you are treating yourself. You take full responsibility for your health. Humans are individuals, and no two are identical. What works for me may not work for you. You may have an allergy, a sensitivity, an underlying condition that no one else even shares and you don't even know about. Be careful with your health. By continuing to listen to my podcast or read my blog, you agree to be responsible for yourself

Starting point is 00:21:46 to your own research, make your own choices, and not to blame me for anything ever. Thank you.

The Prepper Broadcasting Network - Herbal Medicine for Preppers: Jamaican Dogwood

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