Butter and Eggs
Parts Usually Used
The whole plant (fresh or dried)
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Butter-and-eggs is a perennial that grows 1-3 feet tall; with creeping underground stems and many erect, hairless flowering stems, clothed with linear, bright green leaves, and with long terminal flower spikes; has many lance-shaped leaves. Flowers are yellow and orange marked; snapdragon-like with long, straight, drooping spurs. The 2 shades of yellow have given this plant the common name butter-and-eggs.
June to October. Fruits are capsules containing winged, flattened seeds.
Where Found
Found in disturbed and waste places, on roadsides and in fields, throughout the United States and much of Canada. Native to Europe.
Medicinal Properties
Diuretic, purgative, astringent
Uses
In folk medicine, a tea prepared from the leaves was traditionally utilized as a laxative and as a strong diuretic for dropsy. Historical herbalists also administered the leaf infusion for complaints involving jaundice, enteritis accompanied by drowsiness, skin conditions, hemorrhoids, and various liver and bladder ailments. Externally, an ointment formulated from the flowers was traditionally applied to treat hemorrhoids, skin eruptions, sores, and ulcers.
Additionally, practitioners formerly prepared a milk-based infusion from the plant for use as an insecticide.
How Sold
The salve is professionally prepared.
Warning
The tincture is not to be self-administered, since even 20 drops can produce serious internal effects. Use only by medical direction.
Bibliography
Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants , by Steven Foster and James A. , 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023 An Instant Guide to Medicinal Plants , by Pamela Forey and Ruth Lindsay, Crescent Books (January 27, 1992).