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Weeds used in medicine

Chapter 15: DOCKS. Rumex species.
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About This Book

A practical handbook for farmers and collectors describing how common field weeds may be gathered, prepared, and cured for use as crude medicinal drugs. It explains proper seasons and techniques for digging roots and harvesting barks, leaves, flowers, and seeds; cleaning, drying, slicing, and storage methods; and precautions to prevent mold, contamination, and misidentification. The main portion offers concise botanical descriptions, uses, and preparation tips for many familiar species—such as burdock, dandelion, docks, couch grass, pokeweed, foxglove, mullein, lobelia, tansy, yarrow, jimson weed, poison hemlock, and mustards—supported by illustrations and practical advice on handling and marketing small lots.

DOCKS.
Rumex species.

Several species of docks possess medicinal properties. Among these are the yellow dock (Rumex crispus L.), the broad-leaved dock (R. obtusifolius L.), and the yellow-rooted water dock (R. britannica L.), all more or less abundant throughout the United States. Other species are also recognized as possessing value in medicine, but those above mentioned are the kinds generally collected.