Pharmacopoeia Sosaria

From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki

Title: Pharmacopoeia Sosaria

Author: Emer Sharpspear

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Compiled by Emer

Sharpspear, sometime

Professor and Scholar of

Spiritwood University

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SUBSTANCE

Therapeutic area(s)

Route of administration -

preparation - use

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ALE

See wine

APPLE/APPLE TREE

Gastrointestinal Oral - fruit (either dried or fresh) as infusion - can soothe stomach problems.

Apple infusion can also be used as the basis for other infusions, may make them more palatable

BANANA

Nutrition and blood, Central nervous system

Oral - peeled fruit - quick easily digested nourishment during/after illness

Oral - peeled fruit - kidney problems

Inhaled - peel dried, then the pith powdered and smoked - mildly hallucinogenic

BLADE PLANT

Skin Topical - sap mixed as salve - soothing to dry, itchy or inflamed skin, eczema

BRAMBLE

Gastrointestinal, Skin

Oral - infusion of roots and leaves - stops diarrhoea, but has a very astringent effect; should not be used in high doses or too long as can cause intestinal ulceration

Topical - crushed fresh leaves - dries up weeping burns and scalds, helps healing

BREAD

Infections

Oral - infusion of mould which grows on it - antibiotic (NB this tastes very bad)

BREATHWORT

Respiratory

Inhaled - crushed and sprinkled onto steaming water - will ease most breathing problems and promote healing of any lung injury.

Oral - in extreme cases an infusion can be made and swallowed while still warm, but this is only recommended as a last resort.

NB: closely resembles bloodmoss, may be confused with it at first glance. Grows only in one place north of the mountains near Luna.

BURNT WOOD

Gastrointestinal

Oral - powdered and drunk in water as suspension - poisoning including food poisoning

CABBAGE

Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal

Oral - infusion of leaves - clots the blood if there is bleeding from an open wound, or internal bleeding (such as from a stomach ulcer), can also be used to combat an overdose of vampire bat saliva, but not very effective for this

Oral - juice - small doses have a purgative effect on the stomach and intestines, in high doses rapidly causes both vomiting and diarrhoea, which may be good to clear poison from the body

CANTELOUPE

Infections

Oral - infusion of mould which grows on it - antibiotic (NB this tastes very bad)

CARROT

Gynaecological, Eye

Oral - seeds chewed whole - causes abortion if used within 2 days of conception, contraceptive if taken regularly

Oral - roots eaten whole either raw (better) or cooked - improves eyesight particularly night vision

CEDAR

Infections

Inhaled - oil from needles in very hot (not boiling) water - inhaled steam can relieve congestion and chesty coughs in colds, bronchitis and flu

CENTURY PLANT

Skin

Topical - sap mixed as salve - soothing to dry, itchy, or inflamed skin, eczema

CHEESE

See milk

CIDER

See wine

COCONUT/COCONUT

PALM

Skin

Topical - oil either neat or in a salve - soothing for sore or burnt skin

DATES/DATE PALM

Gastrointestinal

Oral - fruit either cooked or uncooked - relieves constipation

ELEPHANTS EAR

Gastrointestinal

Oral - infusion of leaves and stems - relieves constipation; caution required as can go too far and cause severe diarrhoea

(NB leaves and stems are poisonous, though unlikely to be fatal except to the very young or old)

FERN

Skin

Topical - spores only - can be used to help stop bleeding of superficial wounds

FLAX

Gastrointestinal

Oral - seeds and oil made into a cake - effective bulk laxative

FOXGLOVE

Cardiovascular

Oral - leaves as infusion (weaker) or roots as tincture (stronger) - treats heart beating too slowly or irregularly, also fluid retention (dropsy) (NB use with extreme caution - highly poisonous, gap between therapeutic and toxic doses very small)

GARLIC

Infections, Cardiovascular

Topical - cloves crushed and made into salve - treats and prevents bacterial and fungal infections, assists clean healing of wounds

Oral - cloves whole or crushed - treats bacterial and fungal infections of the throat

Oral - cloves whole or crushed - thins blood which clots too much (prevents heart attacks, blockage of arteries, pulmonary embolism, some strokes), reduces blood pressure, relieves stress headaches

GINSENG

General

Oral - whole plant as infusion - lots of claimed specific benefits, none well proven, but does seem helpful as generalised tonic, reducing stress and improving the immune system

GRAPES

Nutrition and blood, Gastrointestinal

Oral - fresh fruit excellent for nourishment during illness, but skins and seeds are not easily digested so best used peeled and deseeded

Oral - dried fruit including skin and seeds - relieves constipation See wine

GREEN TEA

Central nervous system Infections

Oral - infusion can be used as a stimulant, to stay awake and increase alertness (but see caution below)

Oral - infusion contains antioxidants which can help avoid infection (NB some caution needed, high doses can cause vivid dreams, not normally nightmares but can be disturbing because of the intensity. Will lessen on continued use. Can also induce a state of abnormal tension and high stress causing insomnia; again tolerance will build up. Once tolerance has built up there may be withdrawal symptoms such as headache and tremor, relatively mild, not normally a cause for concern.)

HONEY

Infections, Skin, Respiratory

Topical - antibacterial, antifungal

Topical - encourages wound healing

Oral - soothing for sore throat/cough (also see onion)

Can be used in any infusion (may make other medicines taste more palatable)

HOPS

Central nervous system

Oral - infusion of leaves and seed pods - reduces stress and anxiety, helps relaxation and sleep

Dried and used as pot pourri etc can also encourage sleep

JUNIPER

Infections, Musculoskeletal

Inhaled - oil from leaves and berries in very hot (not boiling) water - breathing steam can relieve congestion and chesty coughs in colds and flu

Topical - oil from leaves and berries - massaged onto arthritic and rheumatic joints can reduce inflammation and pain

LEMONS

Nutrition and blood, Infections

Oral - juice and flesh of fruit - prevents scurvy, boosts immune system, reduces infections

Topical - oil from rind acts as an insect repellent See onion

LIMES

Nutrition and blood

Oral - juice and flesh of fruit - prevents scurvy, boosts immune system and reduces infections

LIQUOR

Infections

Topical - antibacterial, antifungal, can be used on open wounds to clean them (but hurts)

Oral - used to make tinctures See wine

(NB medicinal only in low doses, higher doses lead to intoxication which will negate all the health benefits and indeed frequently aggravate the condition being treated. Constant overdosing will lead to permanent liver damage and death. In extreme overdose can be fatal. Potentially very addictive.)

MANDRAKE

Central nervous system

Oral - infusion of leaves (weaker) and roots (stronger) - causes sleep, reduces pain Leaves (weaker) and roots (stronger) hallucinogenic if dried and smoked (NB poisonous in overdose)

MILK

Musculoskeletal, Infections, Gastrointestinal

Oral - as milk, yoghurt or cheese - strengthens bones, prevents rickets in children

Oral - as milk, yoghurt or cheese - osteoporosis in adults (preventative but not curative)

Topical - as yoghurt - can be used for external yeast infections (thrush)

Oral - as yoghurt - can be used sometimes to settle digestion, may be beneficial after poisoning

MORNING GLORY

Central nervous system,

Gynaecological

Oral - seeds chewed whole or alternatively infused are hallucinogenic

Oral - any part of the plant taken whole may cause a spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy, or stimulate labour in late pregnancy, but this is not guaranteed

NIGHTSHADE

Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular, Eye, Central nervous system

Oral - infusion of leaves (acts faster) or tablets made from crushed dried leaves - treatment and prevention for all causes of vomiting, particularly helpful for sea sickness, also nausea associated with dizziness

Oral - infusion of leaves or tablets made from crushed dried leaves - dries up and prevents excessive salivation

Topical - for the two indications above it is also possible to make a salve from the roots and administer it via the skin, but results are slow and variable, should not be used for acute vomiting, may cause hallucinations

Oral - infusion of leaves (weaker) and/or roots (stronger) - treatment of diarrhoea and stomach or intestinal cramping

Oral - infusion of roots - too fast or irregular heartbeats, low blood pressure Oral - infusion of roots

- induces some sedation Intraocular - infusion of leaves - sight problems (causes widening of the pupils) (NB use with extreme caution - highly poisonous, gap between therapeutic and toxic doses very small)

ONION

Cardiovascular, Infections

Oral - bulb eaten raw (minimal benefit if cooked) - some blood thinning action, garlic is better

- induces some sedation Intraocular - infusion of leaves - sight problems (causes widening of the pupils)

(NB use with extreme caution - highly poisonous, gap between therapeutic and toxic doses very small)

WATER LILIES

General, Musculoskeletal, Central nervous system

Oral - infusion or tincture of leaves - like ginseng, rumoured to have all sorts of beneficial effects, none proven Topical - roots crushed and used as poultice - reduces inflammation in muscles and joints Inhaled - leaves when dried and smoked can be hallucinogenic

WILLOW

Anaesthetic, Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal

Oral - pith of fresh bark can be chewed or strong infusion of dried bark - reduces pain and fevers

Oral - strong infusion of dried bark - thins blood and prevents clotting, not as efficient as vampire bat saliva but safer

Oral - strong infusion of dried bark - very good for reducing inflammation in any part of the body but especially muscles and joints (NB never give regularly to anyone with a history of stomach problems, also note that it tastes very bad)

WINE

Central nervous system, Cardiovascular

Oral - reduces stress, encourages sleep, general calming and relaxing effect on whole body

Oral - induces vasodilation which causes flushing but can relieve angina (chest pain from heart) and some headaches (See warning under liquor)

WHEAT

Nutrition and blood

Oral - wheatgerm made into a porridge is excellent for nourishment during illness

YEW

Infections

Topical - strong infusion of fresh bark made into a salve - good for getting rid of fungal infections (NB extremely poisonous. Never use on an open wound, never eat any part of the tree.)