[Kidney and bladder 165]

Dropsy.—­Dropsy should be regarded as a symptom, which may arise from many causes, such as heart disease, lung disease or kidney disease, or it may depend upon obstruction to the normal flow of blood and lymph through the vessels and tissues.

From Heart Disease.—­In heart disease dropsy is due to a weak heart.  The heart is unable to supply the arteries with enough blood to maintain the normal pressure, or to damming up of blood in the venous system as the result of imperfect emptying of the heart cavities.  In kidney trouble the dropsy depends more on the lack of proper nourishing processes in the capillary walls and upon changes in the blood and blood pressure.  If the kidneys are diseased, they may not be able to eliminate the proper amount of liquids which accumulate and finally escape into the tissues.  Liver troubles cause dropsy by producing pressure upon the large blood-vessels going to the liver, and consequently the fluid is generally confined to the lower limbs and abdomen.

Mothers’ remedies.  Dropsy, 1.  Juniper Berries Fresh or Dry for.—­“The berries of the juniper tree are regarded as excellent home remedies in dropsy.  They may be eaten fresh or dry, or make a decoction and drink.  Two teaspoonfuls of the berries two or three times a day is considered a dose.  It is well to bruise them thoroughly by breaking the seeds with a hammer before taking.”  The decoction is more effective.  This helps the dropsy by acting on the kidneys.

2.  Dropsy, Wild Milkweed for.—­“Steep the root of the wild milkweek and drink the tea in doses of a wineglass three times a day.  This is a sure cure if taken in early stages.”

3.  Dropsy, White Bay Buds for.—­“White bay buds steeped in water.”  The white bay buds can be secured at any drug store, and are easily prepared.  Make a tea of these the same as you would make green tea for the table, only stronger.  Take several times a day.  This is an excellent remedy.

4.  Dropsy, Canada Thistle for.—­“Steep dwarf elder root, or Canada thistle root, and drink the tea.”  This is an old tried remedy that our grandmothers used to use, and can be depended upon.  We all know that in olden times mothers had to use these herb remedies, as doctors could not be secured as easily as they can in these days.

5.  Dropsy, Very Effective Remedy for.—­“Make a decoction of fresh dandelion root slices, one ounce to one pint of water boiled down to one-half pint, strain, adding two drams of cream of tartar.  Dose:  A wine glassful two or three times a day.”

6.  Dropsy, Common Herb Remedy for.—­“One gallon white beech bark, after the rough bark is removed, good big handful of blackberry root, cut fine, and also of sassafras root.  Cover with cold water and steep to get the strength; then strain.  When cool, not cold, add one pint bakers’ yeast and one cup of sugar.  Let it stand twenty-four hours in a warm place.  Then strain and set in a cool place.  Take a wineglassful three times a day before meals.  This has been highly recommended to me by a friend in Kalkaska, Michigan.”