Categories
Herbs & Plants

Balsamorhiza sagittata

Botanical Name :Balsamorhiza sagittata
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Heliantheae
Genus: Balsamorhiza
Species: B. sagittata
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asterales
Common Name:Balsamorhiza sagittata,Arrowleaf balsamroot, Oregon Sunflower, Arrowleaf balsamroot

Habitat:Balsamorhiza sagittata is native to much of western North America from British Columbia to California to the Dakotas, where it grows in many types of habitat from mountain forests to grassland to desert scrub.

Description:
Balsamorhiza sagittata is a taprooted perennial herb growing a hairy, glandular stem 20 to 60 centimeters tall. The branching, barky root may extend over two meters deep into the soil. The basal leaves are generally triangular in shape and are large, approaching 50 centimeters in maximum length. Leaves farther up the stem are linear to narrowly oval in shape and smaller. The leaves have untoothed edges and are coated in fine to rough hairs, especially on the undersides.

click to see the pictures….>…....(01).………(1).…...(2).……...(3)..

The inflorescence bears one or more flower heads. Each head has a center of long yellowish tubular disc florets and a fringe of bright yellow ray florets, each up to 4 centimeters long. The fruit is a hairless achene about 8 millimeters long. Grazing animals find the plant palatable, especially the flowers and developing seed heads

It is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower tribe of the plant family Asteraceae known by the common name arrowleaf balsamroot.  It is drought tolerant.

Edible Uses:
Root – raw or cooked. The root has a thick crown that is edible raw. Roots have a sweet taste when cooked. A long slow baking is best, the Flathead Indians would bake them in a fire pit for at least 3 days. The roots are resinous and woody with a taste like balsam. Young shoots – raw or cooked. Added to salads or used as a potherb. The large leaves and petioles are boiled and eaten. When eaten in large quantities they act like sleeping pills to cause sleepiness. The young flowering stem can be peeled and eaten raw like celery. Seed – raw or cooked. A highly prized source of food. It can be roasted, ground into a powder and used with cereals when making bread. The raw seed can also be ground into a powder then formed into cakes and eaten without cooking. The seed is rich in oil. Oil. The seed was a prized source of oil for many native North Americans. The roasted root is a coffee substitute.

Medicinal Uses:
Oregon sunflower was quite widely employed as a medicinal herb by various native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints, but especially stomach problems. It is little used in modern herbalism. The root is antirheumatic, diuretic, cathartic, diaphoretic, febrifuge and vulnerary. An infusion of the leaves, roots and stems has been used as a treatment for stomach pains, colds, whooping cough, TB, fevers and headaches. A decoction of the root has been taken at the beginning of labour to insure easy delivery. The juice from the chewed root is allowed to trickle down the throat to treat sore mouths and throats whilst the root has also been chewed to treat toothaches. The smoke from the root has been inhaled as a remedy for body aches such as rheumatism. The root is chewed or pounded and used as a paste on wounds, blisters, bites, swellings and sores. A poultice made from the coarse, large leaves has been used to treat severe burns. An infusion of the leaves has been used as a wash for poison ivy rash and running sores. The seeds have been eaten as a treatment for dysentery.

Other Uses:
The large hairy leaves are used as an insulation in shoes to keep the feet warm. An infusion of the root has been rubbed into the scalp to promote hair growth.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.herbnet.com/Herb%20Uses_AB.htm
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/range/RangeID/Plants/BalsSagi.html
http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/yellow%20enlarged%20photo%20pages/balsamorhiza.htm

https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Balsamorhiza+sagittata

Enhanced by Zemanta
Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies Pediatric

Febrile convulsions

Alternative Names:Fever fit,Febrile seizure,Seizure – fever induced

Definition:
Febrile convulsions are seizures associated with a significant rise in body temperature that occur in a child with a high fever of over 39°C (102.2°F).  They most commonly occur in children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years and are twice as common in boys as in girls (Lissauer, Tom-Illustrated Book of Paediatrics 3rd Ed.).

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

These most typically occur during the early stages of a viral infection such as a respiratory infection, while the temperature is rising rapidly.

Febrile convulsions can be frightening but they’re rarely serious,  as   these convulsions occur without any brain or spinal cord infection or other nervous system (neurologic) cause.

Three per cent of children have at least one febrile convulsion. There may be a genetic predisposition – up to 20 per cent of relatives will have a seizure disorder including febrile convulsions.

Types:
There are two types of febrile seizures.

*A simple febrile convulsion is one in which the seizure lasts less than 15 minutes (usually much less than this), does not recur in 24 hours, and involves the entire body (classically a generalized tonic-clonic seizure).

*A complex febrile convulsion is characterized by longer duration, recurrence, or focus on only part of the body.

The simpleconvulsion  represents the majority of cases and is considered to be less of a cause for concern than the complex.

Symptoms:-
Febrile convulsions may be as mild as the child’s eyes rolling or limbs stiffening. Often a fever triggers a full-blown convulsion that involves the whole body.

Febrile convulsions may begin with the sudden contraction of muscles on both sides of a child’s body — usually the muscles of the face, trunk, arms, and legs. The child may cry or moan from the force of the muscle contraction. The contraction continues for several seconds, or tens of seconds. The child will fall, if standing, and may pass urine.

The child may vomit or bite the tongue. Sometimes children do not breathe, and may begin to turn blue.

Finally, the contraction is broken by brief moments of relaxation. The child’s body begins to jerk rhythmically. The child does not respond to the parent’s voice.

The seizures are brief, usually lasting only a minute or two and never more than five minutes.  It is usually followed by a brief period of drowsiness or confusion. A complex febrile convulsion lasts longer than 15 minutes, is in just one part of the body, or occurs again during the same illness.

The child loses consciousness, becomes stiff, stops breathing for up to 30 seconds and loses control of their bladder or bowel, wetting or soiling themselves.

Febrile convulsions are different than tremors or disorientation that can also occur with fevers. The movements are the same as in a grand mal seizure.

This stops after a few minutes and the child regains consciousness. Following the seizure they fall into a deep sleep and are often confused or irritable when they finally wake.

Causes:
The convulsions occur because the electrical systems in the brain have not yet matured sufficiently to cope with the stress of a high temperature.

About 3 – 5% of otherwise healthy children between ages 9 months and 5 years will have a seizure caused by a fever. Toddlers are most commonly affected. Febrile seizures often run in families.

Most febrile seizures occur in the first 24 hours of an illness, and not necessarily when the fever is highest. The seizure is often the first sign of a fever or illness

Febrile seizures are usually triggered by fevers from:

•Ear infections
•Roseola infantum (a condition with fever and rash caused by several different viruses)
•Upper respiratory infections caused by a virus
Meningitis causes less than 0.1% of febrile seizures but should always be considered, especially in children less than 1 year old, or those who still look ill when the fever comes down.

A child is likely to have more than one febrile seizure if:

•There is a family history of febrile seizures
•The first seizure happened before age 12 months
•The seizure occurred with a fever below 102 degrees Fahrenheit

Complications:
In about 15 per cent of cases, the child will have another febrile convulsion during the same illness. They also have a one in three risk of a convulsion during a subsequent illness.

Onset before the age of one and a family history increase the risk of recurrent problems.

Most children grow out of febrile convulsions without coming to any harm. However, about one per cent of children do subsequently develop epilepsy (this is more likely if the child has a longer than normal convulsion, or recurrent seizures in the same illness). Talk to your doctor if you’re worried.

Diagnosis:
The health care provider may diagnose febrile seizure if the child has a grand mal seizure but does not have a history of seizure disorders (epilepsy). In infants and young children, it is important to rule out other causes of a first-time seizure, especially meningitis.

In a typical febrile seizure, the examination usually shows no abnormalities other than the illness causing the fever. Typically, the child will not need a full seizure workup, which includes an EEG, head CT, and lumbar puncture (spinal tap).

To avoid having to undergo a seizure workup:

•The child must be developmentally normal.
•The child must have had a generalized seizure, meaning that the seizure was in more than one part of the child’s body, and not confined to one part of the body.
•The seizure must not have lasted longer than 15 minutes.
•The child must not have had more than one febrile seizure in 24 hours.
•The child must have a normal neurologic exam performed by a health care provider.

Treatment:
During the seizure, leave your child on the floor.

•You may want to slide a blanket under the child if the floor is hard.
•Move him only if he is in a dangerous location.
•Remove objects that may injure him.
•Loosen any tight clothing, especially around the neck. If possible, open or remove clothes from the waist up.
•If he vomits, or if saliva and mucus build up in the mouth, turn him on his side or stomach. This is also important if it looks like the tongue is getting in the way of breathing.
Do NOT try to force anything into his mouth to prevent him from biting the tongue, as this increases the risk of injury. Do NOT try to restrain your child or try to stop the seizure movements.

Focus your attention on bringing the fever down:

•Insert an acetaminophen suppository (if you have some) into the child’s rectum.
•Do NOT try to give anything by mouth.
•Apply cool washcloths to the forehead and neck. Sponge the rest of the body with lukewarm (not cold) water. Cold water or alcohol may make the fever worse.
•After the seizure is over and your child is awake, give the normal dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
After the seizure, the most important step is to identify the cause of the fever.

Prognosis:
The first febrile seizure is a frightening moment for parents. Most parents are afraid that their child will die or have brain damage. However, simple febrile seizures are harmless. There is no evidence that they cause death, brain damage, epilepsy, mental retardation, a decrease in IQ, or learning difficulties.

A small number of children who have had a febrile seizure do go on to develop epilepsy, but not because of the febrile seizures. Children who would develop epilepsy anyway will sometimes have their first seizures during fevers. These are usually prolonged, complex seizures.

Nervous system (neurologic) problems and a family history of epilepsy make it more likely that the child will develop epilepsy. The number of febrile seizures is not related to future epilepsy.

About a third of children who have had a febrile seizure will have another one with a fever. Of those who do have a second seizure, about half will have a third seizure. Few children have more than three febrile seizures in their lifetime.

Most children outgrow febrile convulsions by age 5.

Prevention:
Because  febrile convulsion  can be the first sign of illness, it is often not possible to prevent them. A febrile  convulsion does not mean that your child is not getting the proper care.

Occasionally, a health care provider will prescribe diazepam to prevent or treat febrile convulsions that occur more than once. However, no medication is completely effective in preventing febrile convulsions.

You may click to see:
MoonDragon’s Health & Wellness FEVER …

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/febrileconvulsions2.shtml
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000980.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Febrile_seizure

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/19076.htm

Enhanced by Zemanta
Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies Pediatric

Tetralogy of Fallot

Definition:
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is an abnormality of the heart and major blood vessels, which may be found in babies.

click tom see the pictures..…>...(01)....(1).…...(2)….(3).…...(4).....(5).....
It’s one of the most complex heart problems, as there are four different abnormalities (hence the term ‘tetralogy’):

•A large ventricular septal defect – one of the more serious types of hole in the heart, in which there is a connection between the two main pumping chambers of the heart (ventricles)

•Narrowing of the pulmonary valve (pulmonary stenosis) – this means the heart has to work harder to pump blood into the lungs to collect oxygen

•Right ventricular hypertrophy – thickening of the muscle wall of the right ventricle

•A displaced aorta – the major blood vessel that takes blood out of the heart and directs it around the body

Although these are the main problems, every child is different and there may be all sorts of other abnormalities.

Tetralogy of Fallot occurs in approximately 400 per million live births.

It was described in 1672 by Niels Stensen, in 1773 by Edward Sandifort, and in 1888 by the French physician Étienne-Louis Arthur Fallot, for whom it is named.

Symptoms:
Tetralogy of Fallot symptoms vary, depending on the extent of obstruction of blood flow out of the right ventricle and into the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:

click to see the pictures

You may click to see different pictures of  Tetralogy of Fallot

*A bluish coloration of the skin caused by blood low in oxygen (cyanosis)

*Shortness of breath and rapid breathing, especially during feeding

*Loss of consciousness (fainting)

*Clubbing of fingers and toes — an abnormal, rounded shape of the nail bed

*Poor weight gain

*Tiring easily during play

*Irritability

*Prolonged crying

*A heart murmur

Tet spells
Sometimes, babies with tetralogy of Fallot will suddenly develop deep blue skin, nails and lips after crying, feeding, having a bowel movement, or kicking his or her legs upon awakening. These episodes are called “Tet spells” and are caused by a rapid drop in the amount of oxygen in the blood. Toddlers or older children may instinctively squat when they are short of breath. Squatting increases blood flow to the lungs. Tet spells are more common in young infants, around 2 to 4 months old.

Seek medical help if you notice that your baby has the following symptoms:

*Difficulty breathing

*Bluish discoloration of the skin

*Passing out or seizures

*Weakness

*Unusual irritability

If your baby becomes blue (cyanotic), immediately place your child on his or her side and pull the knees up to the chest. This helps increase blood flow to the lungs.

Causes:
The cause of TOF isn’t fully understood. While a baby is in the womb, something interferes with the development of the heart and major blood vessels.

Its cause is thought to be due to environmental or genetic factors or a combination. It is associated with chromosome 22 deletions and DiGeorge syndrome.

Specific genetic associations include:

JAG1[4]
NKX2-5[5]
ZFPM2[6]
VEGF[7]
It occurs slightly more often in males than in females.

Embryology studies show that it is a result of anterior malalignment of the aorticopulmonary septum, resulting in the clinical combination of a VSD, pulmonary stenosis, and an overriding aorta. Right ventricular hypertrophy results from this combination, which causes resistance to blood flow from the right ventricle.

Although no specific single genetic abnormality has yet been found to explain every case, genetics often do play a part in these types of malformations (known as conotruncal abnormalities). In some children, a particular genetic problem can be identified, such as DiGeorge syndrome, where a small piece of chromosome 22 is lost or deleted.

Some researchers have suggested that TOF is caused by an autosomal recessive gene that has yet to be identified and which has variable penetrance (that is, it doesn’t always cause disease).

However, this is far from proven and TOF has also been linked to environmental factors such as certain medications or alcohol taken by the mother while pregnant.

Whatever the cause, in those families who have a child with TOF, the risk of a second child being born with the condition is only increased very slightly.

Risk factors:-
While the exact cause of tetralogy of Fallot is unknown, several factors may increase the risk of a baby being born with this condition. These include:

*A viral illness in the mother, such as rubella (German measles), during pregnancy

*Maternal alcoholism

*Poor nutrition

*A mother older than 40

*A parent with tetralogy of Fallot

*Babies who are also born with Down syndrome or DiGeorge syndrome

Diagnosis:-
The abnormal “coeur-en-sabot” (boot-like) appearance of a heart with tetralogy of Fallot is easily visible via chest x-ray, and before more sophisticated techniques became available, this was the definitive method of diagnosis. Congenital heart defects are now diagnosed with echocardiography, which is quick, involves no radiation, is very specific, and can be done prenatally.

Treatment:-
Emergency management of tet spells:

Prior to corrective surgery, children with tetralogy of Fallot may be prone to consequential acute hypoxia (tet spells), characterized by sudden cyanosis and syncope. These may be treated with beta-blockers such as propranolol, but acute episodes may require rapid intervention with morphine to reduce ventilatory drive and a vasopressor such as epinephrine, phenylephrine, or norepinephrine to increase blood pressure. Oxygen is effective in treating spells because it is a potent pulmonary vasodilator and systemic vasoconstrictor. This allows more blood flow to the lungs. There are also simple procedures such as squatting and the knee chest position which increases aortic wave reflection, increasing pressure on the left side of the heart, decreasing the right to left shunt thus decreasing the amount of deoxygenated blood entering the systemic circulation.

Palliative surgery:
The condition was initially thought untreatable until surgeon Alfred Blalock, cardiologist Helen B. Taussig, and lab assistant Vivien Thomas at Johns Hopkins University developed a palliative surgical procedure, which involved forming an anastomosis between the subclavian artery and the pulmonary artery (See movie “Something the Lord Made”).  It was actually Helen Taussig who convinced Alfred Blalock that the shunt was going to work. This redirected a large portion of the partially oxygenated blood leaving the heart for the body into the lungs, increasing flow through the pulmonary circuit, and greatly relieving symptoms in patients. The first Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunt surgery was performed on 15-month old Eileen Saxon on November 29, 1944 with dramatic results.

The Potts shunt  and the Waterston-Cooley shunt  are other shunt procedures which were developed for the same purpose. These are no longer used.

Currently, Blalock-Thomas-Taussig shunts are not normally performed on infants with TOF except for severe variants such as TOF with pulmonary atresia (pseudotruncus arteriosus).

Total surgical repair:
The Blalock-Thomas-Taussig procedure, initially the only surgical treatment available for Tetralogy of Fallot, was palliative but not curative. The first total repair of Tetralogy of Fallot was done by a team led by C. Walton Lillehei at the University of Minnesota in 1954 on a 11-year-old boy. Total repair on infants has had success from 1981, with research indicating that it has a comparatively low mortality rate.

Total repair of Tetralogy of Fallot initially carried a high mortality risk. This risk has gone down steadily over the years. Surgery is now often carried out in infants one year of age or younger with less than 5% perioperative mortality. The open-heart surgery is designed (1) to relieve the right ventricular outflow tract stenosis by careful resection of muscle and (2) to repair the VSD with a Gore-Tex patch or a homograft. Additional reparative or reconstructive surgery may be done on patients as required by their particular cardiac anatomy

Prognosis:-
Untreated, Tetralogy of Fallot rapidly results in progressive right ventricular hypertrophy due to the increased resistance on the right ventricle. This progresses to heart failure (dilated cardiomyopathy) which begins in the right heart and often leads to left heart failure. Actuarial survival for untreated Tetralogy of Fallot is approximately 75% after the first year of life, 60% by four years, 30% by ten years, and 5% by forty years.

Patients who have undergone total surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot have improved hemodynamics and often have good to excellent cardiac function after the operation with some to no exercise intolerance (New York Heart Association Class I-II). Surgical success and long-term outcome greatly depends on the particular anatomy of the patient and the surgeon’s skill and experience with this type of repair.

Ninety percent of patients with total repair as infants develop a progressively leaky pulmonary valve as the heart grows to its adult size but the valve does not. Patients also may have damage to the electrical system of the heart from surgical incisions if the middle cardiac nerve is accidentally tapped during surgery. If the nerve is touched, it will cause abnormalities as detected by EKG and/or arrhythmias.

Long-term follow up studies show that patients with total repair of TOF are at risk for sudden cardiac death and for heart failure. Therefore, lifetime follow-up care by an adult congenital cardiologist is recommended to monitor these risks and to recommend treatment, such as interventional procedures or re-operation, if it becomes necessary.

The use of antibiotics is no longer required by cardiologists and varies from case to case.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/fallotstetralogy.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetralogy_of_Fallot
http://www.drattawarsandeep.com/tetralogy_of_fallot.php
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tetralogy-of-fallot/DS00615/DSECTION

Enhanced by Zemanta
Categories
Herbs & Plants

Viola japonica

[amazon_link asins=’B004QDQXHQ’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6e40cf8d-19b7-11e7-ada7-1531945303be’]

[amazon_link asins=’0375722467,B00CEYDXVI,B005OPNGBG,B01KVZ5G2K,B06XVB3BSL,B015YOOJTO,B00UFDADZO,B01J8FN4I2,B01LZS9V2C’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a437a860-19b7-11e7-ab82-5da8f5004144′]

Botanical Name :Viola japonica Langsdorff ex Gingius
Family: Violaceae
Subfamily: Violoideae
Genus: Viola
Species: Viola japonica
Order: Malpighiales
Tribe: Violeae.

Synonyms : Viola concordifolia C. J. Wang var. hirtipedicellata Ching J. Wang; Viola crassicalcarata Ching J. Wang; Viola japonica Langsdorff ex Gingius forma variegata (Hatusima) F. Maekawa ex H. Hara; Viola japonica Langsdorff ex Gingius var. stenopetala Franchet ex H. Boissieu; Viola japonica Langsdorff ex Gingius var. variegata Hatusima; Viola metajaponica Nakai; Viola philippica Cavanilles subsp. malesica W. Becker

Common Name: (Japanese common name) ko-sumire [tiny viola],  Arrowhead Grass

Habitat :   Eastern Asia: JapanHokkaido [s.w.], Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku; Korea, South; Taiwan

Description:Viola japonica is a Perennial plant.It’s leaves are about 2-8 cm long. Flowers are pale blue purple petals 1-1.5cm, spurs 6-8mm, flowering in March to May.
click & see the pictures

Cultivation:Wet grassy places in lowlands and hills all over Japan.

Propogation :
Seed – best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Edible Uses: Young leaves and flower buds – raw or cooked. A sweetish flavour. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra. A tea can be made from the leaves.

Medicinal Uses:
Helps reduce inflammation and detoxifies, cools the blood and alleviates pain.  The conditions that can be treated with this plant are boils, ulcers, abscesses, acute conjunctivitis, laryngitis, acute jaundice and hepatitis and various kinds of poisonings such as by Tripterygium wilfordii. This special preparation of the whole plant can be administer to treat lung and chest troubles as an expectorant and specifically for the treatment of chronic catarrhal accumulations.

The leaves are crushed and applied to cuts, swellings, ulcers and wounds.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/v/viola-verecunda.php
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~flower_world/Violaceae/Viola%20japonica.htm
http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Viola_japonica
http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?429806#common

Enhanced by Zemanta
Categories
Herbs & Plants

Philonotis fontana

[amazon_link asins=’B018PMOZ78,B06VWS6RDY,B018IUO1TO,B018IUO1JO,B06XMX9Y7L,B00AG19WKW’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’finmeacur-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’867a130a-cbac-11e7-bd34-03c6d2fa5fb8′]

Botanical Name :Philonotis fontana
Family :Bartramiaceae
Genus :Philonotis Brid.
Species:Philonotis fontana (Hedw.) Brid.
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Bryophyta
Subdivision : Musci
Class :Bryopsida
Subclass: Bryidae
Order:Bryales

Common Name :Aquatic  Apple Mosses

Habitat :Grows  Much of North America south to northern Mexico.On soil or rock along the banks of ditches, brooks, or in springy areas, often in the open.

Description:
Philonotis fontana is a common moss of wet areas. It has an acute tip and a serrate edge, but the most distinguishing characteristic of this moss is a round papilla on the stem end of the leaf cells when viewed with a microscope. The capsules are also a useful identifying character. They are short and globose.
Please click on an image for a large.

CLICK TO SEE THE PICTURES

Stems reddish, 3-10 cm tall, forming dense tufts. Leaves bright green or yellowing, erect to erect-spreading or falcate secund, 1-2 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, usually abruptly acuminate from a more or less broad base; margins doubly serrate, revolute on the lower half or more; upper leaf cells prorulose on both ends; costa short to long excurrent. Dioicous; perigonia discoid. Setae 2-3 cm long; capsules 2-3 mm long, spherical when moist, slender when dry. Spores 24-30 ?m.

Medicinal Uses:
Used by Gasuite Indians of Utah to alleviate pain of burns; crushed into paste and applied as poultice; covering for bruises and wounds or as padding under splints in setting broken bones.  Indians in the Himalayas use burned ash of mosses mixed with fat and honey and prepared in ointment for cuts, burns, and wounds.  This mixture provides both healing and soothing.

 

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Philonotis_fontana
http://www.thismia.com/P/Philonotis_fontana.html
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PHFO6
http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages/gilaflora/philonotis_fontana.html

Enhanced by Zemanta
css.php