Indian Turnip
Botanical Name: Arisaema triphyllum
Common Names and Synonyms: Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Background: Indian turnip was used by American Indians for stomach
and bowel complaints. The plant is white, and its root resembles a small
turnip. The Indians ate the berries and leaves surrounding the flowers,
but considered the root poisonous. The fresh rhizome is very toxic, and
can burn the mouth in the raw state, but once dried, loses its astringent
quality. The Iroquois used the Indian Turnip as a food and as a medicine.
The Osage and Shawnee Indians used the Indian Turnip for fevers and coughs.
For malaria, they combined it with snakeroot and wild cherry bark for a
tonic to be taken after the fever broke. The Ojibwa and Menomonee
Indians used the root for eye sores, and the Medkwakis used the chopped
root on snakebites.
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Indian Turnip in the Cayce Readings
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Edgar Cayce regarded Indian turnip as a cathartic and astringent to the
gastro-intestinal tract.
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Indian turnip was typically prescribed as an ingredient in formula.
The early readings tended to recommend it in a dry form as follows:
1/2 ounce |
6 readings |
1/4 ounce |
5 readings |
1/2 dram |
5 readings |
1 dram |
3 readings |
2 drams |
2 readings |
10 grains |
1 reading |
20 grains |
1 reading |
1 ounce |
1 reading |
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More often (as is typical in the later readings), Indian turnip was recommended
in a processed form (usually essence although tinctures, extracts, and
fusions were also mentioned). The amount are as follows:
20 minims |
12 readings |
10 minims |
7 readings |
1/4 ounce |
6 readings |
3 minims |
3 readings |
1/2 dram |
2 readings |
40 minims |
2 readings |
2 minims |
1 reading |
5 minims |
1 reading |
30 minims |
1 reading |
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Indian turnip 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 Indian turnip
were as follows:
Ginseng |
55 readings |
Stillingia |
39 readings |
Tolu |
19 readings |
Wild Ginger |
18 readings |
Wild Cherry |
16 readings |
Calisaya |
15 readings |
Sarsaparilla |
11 readings |
Yellow Dock |
11 readings |
Buchu Leaves |
8 readings |
Pepsin |
8 readings |
Cayce Quotes on Indian Turnip
5596-1
... those of the Indian Turnip as the cathartic that will REDUCE the
gastric juices in the stomach when taken in the proper proportions with
those of the other properties, to form for the system less of the activities
of the capillary circulation or the fluids of the system are diminished
in such a way and manner that the eliminations are carried along nominally;
and when the PRESSURES are REMOVED.
5664-1
The activities of these properties with the system
- in those of the herbs as are given: The Life Everlasting is for
that tendency of the creation in system of those elements in the system
that create a high vibration in the blood supply, both as to the
respiratory and heart's action; while that in Ginseng for the activity
of the glands in the system as are affected by the subjugation or
depressions of the body, as in a general manner. The Indian Turnip acting
as a stimuli to the functioning of the distresses in the assimilations
in the duodenum; while that activity as is seen in the Elder Flower, that
of the vibratory forces as changed in the whole of the mesenteric system,
aided by those of the Stillingia and Sassafras as the CLARIFIER of the
blood stream and the tendency of the allaying of nerve pressure.
The alcohol a stimuli and carrier, as is the Tolu for the digestive system.
348-13
While there are no indications of ulcerations, lacerations,
or such, there ARE the indications of the excess amount of that created
that forms the lining or portions of the intestinal system as for peristaltic
movement. This isn't well, for it makes the body tire easily - and
with cold, or with any exterior exercise above excess makes for headache,
heaviness in feet, tendency for filling in throat and chest, and a general
achey feeling over the body. These, as we find, may be aided the
best by
using those properties that were once given [in 348-8], as for those
of alum root, Indian turnip, Wild Ginseng, compounded with simple syrup
and alcohol - or just the alum root may be carried in pocket and eaten
or chewed on just occasionally. This will act as an astringent, but
not as a deteriorator, of the muscular activities of the general system
as related to digestion.
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