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Contents:
Common Names
Parts Usually Used
Plant(s) & Culture
Where Found
Medicinal Properties
Biochemical Information Legends, Myths and Stories
Uses
Formulas or Dosages
Nutrient Content
Bibliography
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Common Names
Floramor
Flower gentle
Flower Velour
Lady bleeding
Lovely bleeding
Love lies bleeding
Pilewort
Prince's feather
Red cockscomb
Spleen amaranth
Velvet flower
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Parts Usually Used
Leaves
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Amaranth is an annual herb; its stout, upright stem grows 3-4 feet high and
bears alternate, oblong-lanceolate pointed, green leaves that have a red-purplish
spot. Its flowers appear in August and grow in clusters. The flowers are not
properly flowers, but tufts, with no smell, and of a reddish color. Bruised
flowers will yield juice of the same color, dried they make good addition to
flower arrangements. Flowering time is from August until frost. Seeds are a
shiny black.
Other varieties: Smooth pigweed (A. hybridus);
Pigweed or Green Amaranth (A. retroflexus). (also tumbleweed)
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Where Found
Cultivated and occurs wild mainly in the central states of the United States.
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Medicinal Properties
Astringent, hemostatic, nutritive, alterative
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Biochemical Information
Not identified; probably small amount of tannin
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Legends, Myths and Stories
The name is from the Greek, meaning "unfading".
The ash of amaranth has a very large salt peter content.
Some species of amaranth are known as pigweed.
None of the species is poisonous and many are used as potherbs.
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Uses
Taken internally for diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhage from the bowels, nosebleeds,
and excessive menstruation. Can be used as a douche for leucorrhea, as a wash
for skin problems, and as a gargle for mouth and throat irritations.
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Formulas or Dosages
Infusion or decoction: use 1 tsp. leaves with 1 cup water. Take cold, 1-2 cups
a day.
Gargle: 2 tbsp. to 1 quart water, simmered 10 minutes and used as a gargle 3-4 times a day. May be used as a douche for leucorrhea.
Tincture: a dose is 1/2 to 1 tsp.
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Nutrient Content
High in vitamins A and C
