Eau de Luce ('water of Luce'), so called from the name of its inventor, is made by dissolving white soap in spirit of wine, and adding oil of amber and sal ammoniac. It is a milky fluid, antispasmodio and stimulant. Research Eau de Luce
Smoking is the practice of drawing into the mouth or nose the fumes of a burning vegetable substance with narcotic, sedative or stimulant properties. The chief substances thus used are tobacco, opium and cannabis. Cannabis smoking was traditionally practised in central Asia and India and across Africa from the Middle East to South Africa, and is referred to by Herodotus among the Scythians. Tobacco smoking was practised by the Neolithic age mound builders of the upper Ohio, and for over 300 years for its health-giving properties in Britain until competition from the pharmaceutical manufacturers led to a campaign of counter information claiming connections between tobacco smoking and disease. During the 20th century a widespread campaign of oppression of all forms of smoking commenced, starting with opium, then cannabis and finally tobacco, the oppression being more prevalent in the USA and Britain than other parts of the world. Research Smoking
Capparidaceae is a family of dicotyledonous, polypetalous, herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees, having four petals and sepals, a great number of stamens, and an ovary elevated upon a long stalk. The caper tree is the most familiar example. They are mostly natives of the tropics or of subtropical regions. All of them appear to be more or less acrid. Some are very poisonous, others act as vesicatories, and a few are merely stimulant. Research Capparidaceae
Chloranthaceae is a natural order of apetalous exogens, allied to the peppers, and, like them, having an aromatic fragrant odour. They are natives of the warm regions of India and America. Chloranthus officinalis is reckoned a stimulant and tonic of the highest order. Research Chloranthaceae
Cruciferae is a very extensive natural order of dicotyledonous plants, consisting of herbs which all have flowers with six stamens, two of which are short, and four sepals and petals, the spreading limbs of which form a Maltese cross, whence their name. The fruit is a pod with a membranous placenta dividing it into two cells. The mustard, water-cress, turnip, cabbage, scurvy-grass, radish, horse-radish, etc, belong to this family. They have nearly all a volatile acridity dispersed through every part, from which they have their peculiar odour and sharp taste, and their stimulant and antiscorbutic qualities. None are really poisonous. Some are found in our gardens because of their beauty or fragrance, as the wallflower, stock, candytuft, etc. Research Cruciferae
Dorsetenia is a genus of plants of the natural order Urticaceae or nettles, found in tropical America. They have their naked flowers buried in a flat, fleshy, somewhat concave receptacle. Dorsetenia Contrayerva and other species have a stimulant and tonicrhizome, which was formerly used medicinally under the name of contrayerva. Research Dorstenia
Elecampane (Inula Helenium) is a perennial plant belonging to the Compositae family, found in Britain and other parts of Europe, and in Asia. It is a stout plant standing just over one metre tall, with very large, rectangular, or egg-shaped, toothed leaves, downy beneath, the upper ones embracing the stem. The flowers are few and very large bright yellow with terminal heads. The root, which is perennial, possesses a bitter camphor-like taste. It was formerly much used as a stimulant for all the secreting organs. Research Elecampane
Ephedra (Ephedra vulgaris), also known as Ephedrine, Epitonin and Ma Huang, is an Asiatic plant of the order Gnetaceae found on sandy seashores in temperate climates of both hemispheres in China, Siberia and Japan. The plant has stamens and pistils on separate flowers, the staminate flowers occurring in catkins and a membranous perianth, pistillate flowers occurring terminal on axillary stalks within a two-leaved involucre. The fruit has two carpels with a single seed in each and is a succulentcone. The plant's branches are slender and erect with small leaves which are scale-like, articulated and joined at the base into a sheaf. The plant contains Ephedrine, a sympathetic nervestimulant resembling adrenaline and has antispasmodic properties. Research Ephedra
Erythroxylon Coca is a South American shrub which grows from one to two metres tall and is cultivated for its leaves (Coca) which are a powerful stimulant and the alkaloid derived from the leaves, cocaine. Research Erythroxylon Coca
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a hardy perennial plant, allied to the onion, of the family Liliaceae with an edible bulb divided into segments. Garlic is indigenous to the south of Europe, forming a favourite condiment amongst several nations. The leaves are grass-like, and differ from those of the common onion in not being fistulous; the stem is about 60 cm high; the flowers are white; and the root is a compoundbulb, consisting of several smaller bulbs, commonly denominated cloves, enveloped by a common membrane. It has a strong, penetrating odour, and a pungent acrid taste. Used as a medicine it is stimulant, tonic, and promotes digestion; it has also diuretic and sudorific qualities, and is a good expectorant. Research Garlic
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Eau de Luce
