Black Root
Botanical Name: Leptandra virginica
Common Names and Synonyms: Culver's Physic, Culveris Root
Background: Herbalists typically recommend black root as a reliever
of liver congestion and for inflamed gall bladder. Black root may
also be used as a tonic for the stomach, and in the treatment of diarrhea,
dysentery, and cholera. Introduced into European herbalists by the
Seneca Indians the rhizome and root portions should be dug in the fall
and stored for a year before use. Although odorless, the roots and
rhizome have a bitter constituent (leptandrin) and there is a notable
difference between the action of the dried and the fresh herb. The
dried root gently stimulates the liver and increases the flow of bile without
undue strain on the bowels.
Black Root in the Cayce Readings
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Edgar Cayce did state the specific action of black root in the readings
recommending this herb. The most common systemic problem cited in
these readings was toxemia. Ten of these readings cite problems with
the liver or liver-kidney axis, a frequent cause of toxemia in the Cayce
readings.
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The typical dosage of black root in the Cayce readings was as follows:
| 2 ounces |
39 readings |
| 1 ounce |
8 readings |
| 1/2 ounce |
2 readings |
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Black root was always recommended with other substances in a compound,
never by itself. Although a wide diversity of formulas were
given, the most common substances mentioned in the same readings with black
root were as follows:
| Yellow Dock |
41 readings |
| Tolu |
39 readings |
| Burdock Root |
29 readings |
| Elder Flower |
28 readings |
| Sarsaparilla |
28 readings |
| Wild Cherry |
26 readings |
| Buchu Leaves |
22 readings |
| Mandrake |
16 readings |
| Calisaya |
14 readings |
| Sassafras |
9 readings |
| Stillingia |
9 readings |
Cayce Quote on Black Root
4885-1
We would give, then, that which would create the
balance in this body, to produce the proper conditions throughout, enlivening
or giving revivification to the blood supplying forces and assisting nature
- that is the store-house of medicinal properties, in the stomach itself,
to give the proper function to the system. Take this:
Dogwood Bark...........2 ounces,
Prickly Ash Bark.......2 ounces,
Buchu Leaves.........1/2 ounce,
Black Root.............2 ounces,
Elder Flower...........4 ounces.
This should be put into one gallon of water, reduced
by simmering, not boiling, to one quart. Strain; and add one half
pint spiritus frumenti, 8 years old, with six ounces of sugar, beet sugar
preferred.
A dose of this would be a tablespoonful four (4)
times each day.
4679-1
To remove these, we would take this in the system
as that to correct the functioning in blood supply and in producing elimination
and assimilation properly, and to give the incentives for the organs to
function correctly.
To one gallon of rain water, add:
Wild Cherry Bark.............4 ounces,
Yellow Dock Root.............2 ounces,
Burdock Root.................2 ounces,
Black Root...................2 ounces,
Elder Flower.................4 ounces.
Reduce by simmering (not boiling) to one quart.
Strain while warm, and add three drams of Balsam of Tolu, cut in four ounces
of grain alcohol.
4650-1
To remove the condition from the system, to give
the permanent relief is not to treat the local condition first and only,
but the seat of the trouble, see, which is through the action of the eliminating
organs of the system, giving the perfect elimination and effect the better
assimilation of properties for this body. Take this into the system:
To one gallon of rain water, add:
Yellow Dock Root...........2 ounces,
Burdock Root...............2 ounces,
Black Root.................2 ounces,
Yellow Root................2 ounces,
Calisaya Bark..............2 ounces.
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