Herbs: As Used By Native Americans

AMERICAN MISTLETOE – Phoradendron Glavescens:

Is used in folk medicine as antihypertensive and sedative. Toxic, unsafe.

AMERICAN ELDER – S. Canadensis (Honeysuckle Family):

Bark and roots produce black dye, leaves a green dye, and berries a purple color. Syrup from berry juice was a remedy for coughs. Indians made tea from flowers and drank it as a mild laxative or diuretic and to promote sweating. Elder flower water was used as a skin lotion.

AMERICAN HOLLY – Yaupon (I. vomitoria):

A strong tea was brewed from the leaves and was called “black drink”. It was used in ritual purifications.

AMERICAN CHESTNUT – Castanea Dentate:

Nuts are rich in starch, oils, and Vitamins B & C when eaten roasted or boiled. The nut can also be ground into a flour for thickening soups or baking cakes. Leaves make tea that soothes irritated mucous membranes and relieves cough due to irritation. Leaves, twigs, bark, and flowering catkins are astringents and can be used to control bleeding and to aid healing.

BALSAM FIR – Abies Balsamea:

Is a veritable dispensary for American Indians. Aromatic resin served as salve for cuts, sores, & burns. Is used internally for colds, coughs, and asthma. Inner bark is brewed into a tea as a remedy for chest pains. Twigs, steeped in water acted as a laxative. Indians held bits of the root in the mouth for mouth sores. Needles were placed by the handfuls were placed on hot coals in sweat baths and would be inhaled to clear up congestion of colds and coughs.

BEECH TREE – Fagus grandifolia:

Rappahonnock Indians steeped beech bark in saltwater to produce poison ivy lotion. Bark and leaves have astringent and antiseptic properties.

BIG SAGEBRUSH – Artemisia Tridentata:

Grows in American West. Indians chewed the leaves to ease stomach gas. Tea was brewed from the leaves for stomach disorders as well as colds and sore eyes.

BIRTHROOT – Trillium Erectum:

Indians applied poultices and lotions from the bruised leaves to insect bites and skin irritations.

BLACK BIRCH – Betula Lenta:

Bark has astringent properties used in treating wounds. Oil is applied externally to alleviate pain of sore muscles.

BLACK COHOSH – Cimicifuga Racemose:

Flowers act as insect repellent. Brew made from the rhizome was used by Indians as remedy for menstral cramps and pains of childbirth. A poultice made from rhizome was used as snakebite remedy.

BLACK HAW – Viburnum Prunifolium (Honeysuckle Family):

extract of boiled bark was used as uterine tonic and for relief of painful menstruation and after pain of childbirth.

BLACK LOCUST – Robinia Pseudoacacia (Pea Family):

Indians prepared emetics and strong laxatives from the bark.

BLACK SNAKEROOT – Sanicula Marilandica (Carrot Family):

Indians used it to treat fever and sore throat.

BLOODROOT – Sanguinaria Canadensis (Poppy Family):

Indian name Puccoon. It was used for swellings, aches, and used to paint red on skin and garments. It is unsafe.

BLUE COHOSH – Caulopphyllum Thalictroides (Barberry Family):

Indians ground rhizome with roots into powder and used as a remedy for rheumatism, colic, bronchitis, and menstral cramps.

BLUE FLAG – Iris Versicolor (Iris Family):

Indians regarded it as a virtual panacea and planted it near their villages to ensure convenient supply. They used it as a poultice for treating sores and bruises.

BONESET – Eupatorium Perfoliatum (Composite Family):

Indians isedit to cause profuse perspiration and to loosen the bowels. It was also used to treat fevers associated with colds, influenza, malaria, and similar recurrent illnesses. It was brewed as a hot tea made from the leaves and flowers.

BROOM SNAKEROOT – Gutierrezia Sarothrae (Composite Family):

Western Indians tied stems of yellow flowered Broom Snakeroot and used them for brooms. Leaves of the plant were ground, boiled and made into poultices that were placed directly on rattlesnake bites on sheep.

BUCKBEAN – Menyanthes Trifoliata (Buckbean Family):

This is a perennial aquatic herb. Indians used the boiled roots and stems to make decoction for spitting blood and other internal problems. It was also used to treat skin diseases, jaundice and intestinal worms.

BUTTERFLY WEED – Asclepias Tuberosa (Milkweed Family):

The root was powdered and mixed into paste then spread on sores. Indians brewed a tea from the leaves to induce vomiting in certain rituals. Tea from the root was used to induce perspiration and expectoration in severe respiratory ailments including pleurisy, whooping cough, and pneumonia.

BUTTON SNAKEROOT – Eryngium Yuccifolium (Carrot Family):

Indians valued the plant as an “alexiteric” or antidote.

CALIFORNIA LAUREL – Umbellularia Californica (Laurel Family):

Native to California and Southwest Oregon. Indian tribes strewed leaves around their lodgings to keep away fleas and other biting insects. They fumigated their homes by burning the boughs to ward off colds and made tea from the leaves as a remedy for headache and stomach disorders.

CALIFORNIA POPPY – Eschscholzia California (Poppy Family):

Indians used this plant as a painkiller, especially toothaches. It was also used for insomnia and headache. The plant was cooked in olive oil to make hair tonic for thick and shiny hair (Spanish heritage -hair tonic).

CANAIGRE – Rumex Hymenosepalus (Buckwheat Family):

Indians used the roots to soften their buckskins since it contains tannin. The root was used to make tea for treating diarrhea and as a gargle for easing sore throat. The plant was also used as a source of dye (yellow hue in dyeing wool – stalks are an excellent substitute for rhubarb. This plant is a native of Western

CANKER ROOT – Coptis Groenlandica (Buttercup Family):

A brew was made from the plants bitter tasting rhizome as a gargle for sore throats and ulcerated mouths.

CARDINAL FLOWER – Lobelia Cardinalis:

Cherokee Indians employed the root as a cure for syphilis. This plant was also used an an emetic and expectorant.

CASCARA SAGRADA – Rhammus Purshiana (Buckthorn Family):

Pacific Northwest from British Columbia to Northern California. The bark as stripped from the tree in early spring or autumn. It was dried and aged for at least a year. The bark was steeped in boiling water and drank after cooling to relieve constipation.

CATNIP – Nepeta Cataria (Mint Family):

Catnip was included in the Indian’s inventory of useful plants and did not associate it with the coming of the Europeans. A tea was brewed and used to relieve intestinal cramps, infant’s colic and gas pains. Also used as a mild sedative for relief of insomnia.

CHAPARRAL – Larrea Tridentate (Caltrop Family):

Native to SW US. Indians prepared extract from leaves and used them to purge the body and heal sores.

COLICROOT – Aletris Farinosa (Lily Family):

Indians made bitter tasting tea from roots or leaves for stomach ailments, colic, ysentary, and menstral disorders.

COLORADO FOUR-O’CLOCK – Mirabilis Multiflora (Four-O’clock Family):

Hopi shamans chewed the root to induce visionary trances.

CONEFLOWER – Echinacea Angustifolia (Composite Family):

Indians held this plant in high regard. It was used for snakebite, other poisonous bites, stings, and toothache. Inhaling plant smoke recommended as headache remedy.

COW PARSNIP – Heracleum maximum (Carrot Family):

This was gathered and cooked. The roots were used as a vegetable (young stems can be peeled and cooked or eaten raw. It has many medicinal uses also. Seeds were used in headache remedies, raw pieces of root were stuffed into dental cavities to alleviate toothaches and had many more uses medicinally.

CRANESBILL – Geranium Maculatum (Geranium Family):

Chippewas used dried and powdered rhizome on sores inside the mouth, especially the children’s. Other Indians steeped the plant in water as an eyewash, ate the young green leaves as food mixed with other herbs and water. Powdered rhizome was applied to sores, open wounds and as a poultice to swollen feet.

CULVER’S ROOT – Veronicastrum Virginicum (Snapdragon Family):

Indians used the root as a blood cleanser. It was also used for ceremonial purification to cleanse the body by inducing vomiting by drinking tea made from the plant’s dried root.

CUP PLANT – Silphium Perfoliatum (Composite Family):

This is chewing gum. From the broken stem oozes a blob of resinous sap that dries into a chewy breath-freshening gum – Cherokee burned, cooked rhizome and inhaled the smoke to relieve head cold or neurolgia and made potions from the root for liver problems, fever or just general debility.

DANDELION – Traxacum Officinal (Composite Family):

Indians drank tea of the leaf as a rich tonic and tea from the roots for heartburn. Greens are edible raw or cooked and furnish rich sources of Vitamin A and C.

DOGWOOD – Cornus Florida (Dogwood Family):

Dogwood blooms signaled to the Indians that it was time to plant corn. They simmered the bark in water and used the extract to relieve sore and aching muscles. Tea was also used to promote sweating and break a fever.

EVENING PRIMROSE – Oenothera Biennia (Primrose Family):

North American Native.

FAIRYWAND – chamaelirium luteum (lily family):

Indian women chewed the root to prevent miscarriage. Powdered roots were used as a pain reliever, diuretic, and for uterine disorders.

FIREWEED – Epilobium Angustifolium (Primrose Family):

The Indians ate the young shoots or cooked the pith of the stems for soup and the leaves as a potherb. Dried leaves were also used as a tea.

FRINGE TREE – Chionanthus Virginicus (Olive Family):

The bark was boiled in water and used to cleanse wounds with the extract. Bark was mashed to make poultices to help close wounds.

GARLIC – Allium Canadense:

This plant was relied on to treat snakebite, intestinal worms, and a variety of medical problems.

GINSENG – Panax Cinquefoils L.:

stimulant and tonic taken daily to prevent stress and colds. Dried root can be chewed or powered and brewed as a tea.

GOLDEN RAGWORT – Senecio Aureus (Composite Family):

Indian women found the plant helpful in childbirth. It was taken to speed up a protracted labor.

GOLDENROD – Solidago Adora (Composite Family):

Indians used tea of the leaves for intestinal disorders, leaves and flowering tops for colic, and tea from flowers treated urinary disorders.

GOLDENSEAL – Hydrastis Canadensis (Buttercup Family):

rhizomes and roots supplied Indians with brilliant yellow dye for weapons, clothing and paint for their faces, remedies for inflamed eyes, mouth ulcers, tuberculosis, and edema. Was also used to stop bleeding and hemorrhaging.

GROMWELL – Lithospermum Ruderale (Borage Family):

red dye from roots. Indians used root bark for face and body paint and as a contraceptive.

HACKMATACK – P. Balsamifera (related to Black Poplar):

Indians used resins for aches, pains, sprains, burns, heart trouble, and tumors.

HEMP DOGBANE – Apocynum cannabinum (Dogbane Family):

stems furnish a tough fiber from which Indians wove fishing lines, baskets, and mats. From the root they obtained a heart stimulant, cathartic, and diuretic. Mashed leaves were applied to wounds.

HIGHBUSH CRANBERRY – Viburnum Trilobum (Honeysuckle Family):

Indians discovered the antispasmodic virtues and used it to ease the pain of childbirth, menstrual and stomach cramps. Bark tea was used as a remedy for mumps and as a diuretic by boiling the berries with maplesap. Indians prepared a jelly that they ate as a trail food. They also smoked the bark as a substitute for tobacco. Tea was brewed from the leaves.

HOP – Humulus Lupulus (Hemp Family):

Indians made a sedative from the blossoms. They applied heated, dried flowers to relieve toothaches.

HORSE CHESTNUT – Aesculus Hippocastanum (Buckeye Family):

Indians carried the nuts to ward off rheumatism.

HORSEWEED – Erigeron Canadensis (Composite Family):

Indians favored an extract from boiled leaves to reat dysentery. Was also used as a diuretic, tonic, and an astringent to stop bleeding.

INDIAN PINK – Spigelia Marilandica (Longania Family):

Indians found the root was a cure for intestinal worms.

INDIAN TOBACCO – Lobelia Inflata (Lobelia Family):

Indians used the leaves for smoking to relieve asthma and other lung ailments. The FDA says it is poisonous.

JOE-PYE-WEED – E. Purpureum (related to Boneset):

This was named for the Indian medicine man who was famous throughout New England for using it to cure typhus. It was considered inferior to Boneset in treating fever.

JUNIPER – Juniper Communis (Cypress Family):

Indians believed the tea of twigs cured stomach aches and colds. They applied hot packs of twigs and boiled berries to sores and aches. The berries were also utilized as a diuretic, blood tonic, and for hemorrhaging.

LADY’S-SLIPPER – Cypripedium Calceolus (Orchid Family):

Indians used an extract boiled from the roots for calming the nerves. It was reported the this plant was superior to opium for inducing sleep and that the plant was not narcotic.

LIVERLEAF – Hepatica Americana (Buttercup Family):

North American native.

MAYAPPLE – Podophyllum Peltatum (Barberry Family):

Indians valued it for its powerful laxative effect, treatment for intestinal worms,as a cure for warts and insece it contains tannin. The root was used to make tea for treating diarrhea and as a gargle for easing sore throat. The plant was also used as a source of dye (yellow hue in dying wool – stalks are an excellent substitute for rhubarb. This plant is a native of Western US.

MILKWEED – Asclepias Syriaca (Milkweed Family):

Indians used white sap for skin ailments like warts, ringworm, poison ivy and other skin problems. Extracts from the boiled roots were used for bowel and kidney disorders.

MOONSEED – Menispermum Canadense (Milkweed Family):

Moonseed was used for a diuretic, laxative, appetite stimulant and alterative (drug that favorably alters the course of an ailment). Tea was prepared from the root or a root extract.

OSWEGO TEA – Monarda Didyma (Mint Family):

Oswego Indians of Western New York made tea from dried leaves. It was reputed to be a treatment for colds and sore throats.

PARTRIDGEBERRY – Mitchella Repens (Madder Family):

Indians made tea from leaves to ease childbirth. Nursing mothers applied a lotion made from the leaves to their breats to relieve soreness.

PASQUEFLOWER – Anemone Patens (Buttercup Family):

Dakota Sioux stuffed the sepals up the nose to help halt bleeding and crushed leaves and applied them externally to relieve rheumatism.

PASSIONFLOWER – Passiflora Incarnata:

Southeastern Indians made a poultice of its leaves to help heal bruises and other injuries. Dried fruits and flower tops were the ingredients of many sedatives.

PIPSISSEWA – Chimaphila Umbellata (Wintergreen Family):

Cree name means “it-breaks-into-small-pieces. They used it for rheumatic, kidney, and urinary tract complaints. The Mohegans and Penobscots steeped it in hot water and applied the infusion externally to heal blisters. The Chippewas used a decoction of the root as eyedrops for sore eyes.

PRICKLY POPPY – Argemone Mexicana (Poppy Family):

Comanche Indians used the extract of the seeds to treat sore eyes.

PUMPKIN – Cucurbita Pepo (Gourd Family):

Catawbas ate the fresh or dried seeds as a kidney medicine. Indians planted Pumpkin with corn and used it for medicine and food.

PUSSYTOES – Antennaria Neglecta (Composite Family):

Indians extracted a gum from the plant stalks and used it for chewing gum.

SASSAFRAS – Sassafras Albidum (Laurel Family):

The bark of the roots was used to treat fevers and rheumatism, as a general tonic, and blood purifier.

SENECA SNAKEROOT – Polygala Senega (Milkweed Family):

Seneca Indians used the root as an antidote for rattlesnake bites. They chewed the woody roots and applied the pulpy mass to the bite. They also brewed teas from the roots to control fevers and ease heart trouble.

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