Native American Medicinal Plants H

John White Watercolor c 1585 British Museum

H

Hawthorn – Of the Crataegus species, Hawthorn has been used to treat heart disease as far back as the 1st century. By the early 1800’s, American doctors were using it to treat circulatory disorders and respiratory illnesses.

Hellebores – Commonly known as Hellebore, these flowering plants were native to Eurasia, there are approximately 20 species, many of which are poisonous. Also known as Bugbane, Devil’s Bite, Earth Gall, Indian Poke, Itchweed, and Tickleweed, it has long been used in old medicinal remedies, but is no longer used today as the herb has been found to be severely toxic and has numerous severe side effects. The Cherokee were known to have used the green hellebore to relive body pains.

Hops – Native throughout Europe and Asia, the female flower clusters, commonly called seed cones or strobiles, have long been known as the flavoring and stability agent in beer. However, they were also used in traditional herbal medicine. In Native American remedies, the Mohegan tribe were known to have prepared a sedative medicine that was applied to toothache; the Dakota people used a tea to relieve pains of the digestive organs, and the Menominee tribe regarded a related species of hops as a general panacea.

Horsemint – Officially known as Mentha Longifolia, this is a species of the Mint family native to Europe and Asia, it has long been valued for its antiseptic properties and effect on the digestion. In Native American Medicine, the Catawba tribe crushed and steeped fresh horsemint leaves in cold water and drank the infusion to allay back pain. Other tribes used horsemint for fever, inflammation, and chills.

Disclaimer:  These herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Plants listed here must not be used to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Many are poisonous.

Hamamelis virginiana, also known as Witch Hazel. Native Americans produced witch hazel extract by boiling the stems of the shrub & producing a decoction, which was used to treat swellings, inflammations, & tumors. Witch hazel is utilized by many tribes, including the Menominee for sore legs of tribesmen who participate in sporting games, the Osage for skin ulcers & sores, the Potawatomi in sweat lodges for sore muscles & the Iroquois in tea for coughs & colds.

Tribe Uses

Cherokee Pain relief, colds, skin issues & fever

Chippewa Skin issues, emetic, sore eyes

Iroquois Confederation Antidiarrheal, blood purifier, arthritis, appetite stimulant

Menominee Predictor of future healing

Potawatomi Sore muscles

Mohegan Dowsing

Heracleum maximum, used by various Native American peoples. Perhaps the most common use was to make poultices to be applied to bruises or sores

Holodiscus discolor, used by Indian tribes, such as the Stl'atl'imx. They would steep the berries in boiling water to use as a treatment for diarrhea, smallpox, chickenpox & as a blood tonic.

Holodiscus dumosus, used by the Paiute & Shoshone as medicine for problems such as stomach aches & colds.

Native American Medicinal Plants I

John White Watercolor c 1585 British Museum

I

Indian Hemp – Formally known as Apocynum Cannabinum, and also called American Hemp, Dogbane, Amy Root, Hemp Dogbane, Rheumatism Root, and Wild Cotton, this is a type of marijuana. Native throughout much of North America, it grows in Gravelly or sandy soil, mainly near stream, and is known as a common weed of cultivated land. Primarily used by Native Americans for its fiber numerous tribes used it for making clothes, twine, bags, linen, and paper. Though it is a poisonous plant that can cause cardiac arrest if ingested, it was also common in Native American herbal remedies. Its boiled roots were made into teas to treat syphilis, rheumatism, intestinal worms,fever, asthma, and dysentery. The Prairie Potawatomi also utilized it as a heart medicine, problems and dropsy.

Indian Paintbrush – Officially known as Castilleja, and also called Prairie-fire, this is a genus of about 200 species of Broomrape family, that are native to the west of the Americas from Alaska south to the Andes. The flowers of Indian Paintbrush are edible and sweet, and were consumed in moderation by various Native American tribes as a condiment with other fresh greens.  The Chippewa Indians are known to use Indian Paintbrush as a medicine to treat rheumatism and as a bath rinse to make their hair glossy.  Nevada Indian tribes used the plant to treat sexually-transmitted diseases and to enhance the immune system, and Hopi women drank a tea of the whole Indian paintbrush to “Dry up the menstrual flow.”

Ilex verticillata, used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes, the origin of the name "fever bush."

Iris missouriensis, the roots of which were used by some Plateau tribes to treat toothache.

Disclaimer:  These herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Plants listed here must not be used to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Many are poisonous.

Native American Medicinal Plants J - L

John White Watercolor c 1585 British Museum

J

Jeffersonia diphylla – the Cherokee reportedly used an infusion of this plant for treating dropsy & urinary tract problems, it was also used as a poultice for sores & inflammation. The Iroquois used a decoction of the plant to treat liver problems & diarrhea.

Juniperus communis – Western American tribes combined the berries of Juniperus communis with Berberis root bark in a herbal tea. Native Americans also used juniper berries as a female contraceptive.

Juniperus scopulorum, the leaves & inner bark of which were boiled by some Plateau tribes to create an infusion to treat coughs & fevers. The berries were also sometimes boiled into a drink used as a laxative & to treat colds.

L

Larrea tridentata, used by Native Americans in the Southwest as a treatment for many maladies, including sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis, chicken pox, dysmenorrhea, & snakebite. The shrub is still widely used as a medicine in Mexico. It contains nordihydroguaiaretic acid.

Lobelia – A flowering plant most often found in tropical and warm regions, Native Americans have long used lobelia to treat respiratory and muscle disorders, and as a purgative. Appalachian folk medicine utilized the plant for asthma.

Disclaimer:  These herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Plants listed here must not be used to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Many are poisonous.

Native American Medicinal Plants M

John White Watercolor c 1585 British Museum

Maca – Officially known as Lepidium Meyenii, this plant is native to the high Andes of Peru and Bolivia. It has been harvested and used by humans for centuries, consumed as a food and for medicinal purposes.

Mayapple – Officially known as Podophyllum Peltatum, this plant native to wooded areas of eastern North America, it went by a number of other names including American Mandrake, Ducks Foot, Ground Lemon, Hog Apple, Indian Apple, Love Apple, Racoon Berry, Umbrella Plant, and others. The ripened fruit is edible in moderate amounts, though when consumed in large amounts the fruit is poisonous. The edible fruit was used extensively by Native Americans, eaten raw, cooked or made into jams, jellies, marmalades, and pies. Though other parts of the plant are toxic, Indian Healers used the roots of the plants as a laxative, to treat worms, and for liver function. Externally, they used it to treat snakebite, warts, and some skin conditions. They also used it as an insecticide on their crops.

Milkweed – Formally known as Asclepias Syriaca, this herb, named for its milky juice is also known as Common Milkweed, Common Silkweed, Cottonweed, Silkweed, Wild Cotton, Virginia-Silk, and Silky Swallowwort.  Though it can be toxic if not prepared properly, Milkweed was used as a food and medicine, as well as in making cords, ropes, and a coarse cloth. The young shoots, stems, flower buds, immature fruits, and roots of butterfly milkweed were boiled and eaten as a vegetable by various indigenous groups of eastern and mid-western America. The Meskwaki tribe steamed the flower buds as a food source, which was nutritious but not considered very flavorful. The Cherokee drank an infusion of common milkweed root and Virgin’s Bower (Clematis species) for backache. They also used the plant as a laxative, an antidote for dropsy, and an infusion of the root for venereal diseases. The Meskwaki and Mohaw used a decoction as a contraceptive; the Iroquois and Navajo to prevent problems after childbirth; and the Chippewa, to produce postpartum milk flow.

Mint – Known officially as Mentha, it originated in Asia and the Mediterranean region, but, today there are several varieties which are grown all over the world. Fresh or dried leaves have long been used in teas, beverages. It has also been long used to treat indigestion, respiratory problems, heartburn, colds, flu, allergies, headache, and as a mild sedative. Externally, it has been used to treat minor burns, itching, acne, and skin irritations. The Cherokee were known to have used the leaves and stems to lower high blood pressure.

Mullein – Officially known as genus Verbascum, and also known as velvet plants, this species of flowering plants are native to Europe and Asia, and were first introduced to America by the Europeans. A tobacco-like plant and one of the oldest herbs, it has a long history of use as a medicine, used to treat asthma and respiratory disorders. Native Americans, including the Menominee, Forest Potawatomi, Mohegan, and Penobscot often inhaled the smoke from smoldering mullein roots and leaves to soothe asthma attacks, chest congestion, and other respiratory disorders.  The Catawba Indians used a sweetened syrup from the boiled root, which they gave to their children for cough.

Mahonia aquifolium, used by some Plateau tribes to treat dyspepsia.

Mahonia nervosa, an infusion of the root of which was used some Plateau tribes to treat rheumatism.

Mahonia repens, used by the Tolowa & Karok of Northwest California used the roots for a blood & cough tonic.

Malosma, the root bark of which was used by the Chumash to make an herbal tea for treating dysentery.

Menispermum canadense, Cherokee used as a laxative, & as a gynecological & venereal aid. The root was used for skin diseases. The Lenape used it in a salve for sores on the skin.

Disclaimer:  These herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Plants listed here must not be used to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Many are poisonous.

Native American Medicinal Plants O - P

John White Watercolor c 1585 British Museum

O
Oak – Scientifically called Quercus, these trees and shrubs have about 600 species found all over the world. Its fruit, the acorn, was a staple of many Native American cultures and the inner bark of the tree was used for a variety of ailments. Acorns are an ideal food for those with degenerative, wasting diseases such as tuberculosis, and when it was rampant in the early 19th century, acorn porridge was often prescribed. Native Americans used the inner bark of the oak to make a bitter decoction used in the treatment of diarrhea, a gargle for sore throats, kidney and bladder problems, viruses, and menstrual bleeding. Poultices were also used for skin problems, ringworm, burns, sores, sprains, and swelling.

Osha – Formally known as Ligusticum Porteri, it is also called Porter’s Licorice Root, Osha Root, Bear Root, Colorado Cough Root. In some Native American cultures it is called Bear Root and Bear Medicine. Of the celery family, this aromatic plant grows in the mountain woodlands throughout the Southwest. The whole plant has been used medicinally, however the thick taproots are most highly valued. Having a wide variety of medicinal properties and highly valued, it was commonly traded among Native Americans, so tribes far removed from the plants indigenous area, also utilized the herb in their ceremonies and medicines. Osha roots, either fresh or dried were in teas, tonics, and chewed for internal use and made into poultices and salves for external use. It has long been known to have warming properties which were used against cold and chills and to stimulate circulation. Salves and liniments were used for sore muscles, body aches, rheumatism, and arthritis, and because of its strong smell was used as a snake and insect repellent by the Apache and Indians, and to treat insect and spider bites. Internally it was used for digestive problems, respiratory problems, headache, cold and flu systems, fever, heartburn, and sinusitis. Many tribes also used the Osha root as incense for purification and during ceremonies. The Chiricahua and Mescelero Apache use the aromatic root with chilies as a culinary spice to flavor meat.

Osmunda claytoniana, used by the Iroquois for blood & venereal diseases & conditions.

P

Pinus quadrifolia, used medicinally by the Cahuilla by taking the resin & making a face cream usually used by girls to prevent sunburn. The resin was also used as a glue for fixing pottery & reattaching arrowheads to the arrow shafts. The nuts were given to babies as an alternative for breast milk; were ground then mixed with water as a drink; were roasted; were ground into mush; & were an important trade item.The Diegueno also ate nuts & the seeds also.

Pinus strobus, the resin of which was used by the Chippewa to treat infections & gangrene.

Prunus emarginata, used by Kwakwaka'wakw & other tribes for poultices & bark infusions.

Prunus virginiana, the root bark of which was once made into an asperous-textured concoction used to ward off or treat colds, fever & stomach maladies by Native Americans.

Disclaimer:  These herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Plants listed here must not be used to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Many are poisonous.

Native American Medicinal Plants N

John White Watercolor c 1585 British Museum

Native Hemlock – Officially called Tsuga, this is type of Conifer tree in the Pine family. Unlike poison hemlock (conium), the species of Tsuga are not poisonous. Western Hemlock, technically called west coast of North America. It was often used by area tribes as a dye, for tanning hides, making baskets and wooden items. The pitch was often applied topically as a poultice or slave for colds and to prevent sunburn. A decoction of pounded bark was also used in the treatment of hemorrhages. Another species, commonly known as Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga Mertensiana) was also used by Native Americans. The Menominee and the Forest Potawatomi used the inner bark and twigs it in a tea to relieve colds and fever.

Disclaimer:  These herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Plants listed here must not be used to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Many are poisonous.

Native American Medicinal Plants R

Raspberry – Known by the biological names of Rubus Idaeus and Rosaceae, the leaves and fruits have a long tradition of use in pregnancy to strengthen and tone the uterine tissue, assisting contractions, and checking any hemorrhage during labor. As an astringent it is useful in a wide range of cases, including diarrhea, and to alleviate the problems of the mouth, such as mouth sores, bleeding gums and inflammation. As a gargle to help sore throats. Fresh or dried leaves were also steeped in tea for digestive complaints and mild nausea.

Rhodiola – Known officially as Rhodiola Rosea, it is also known as Golden Root, Roseroot, Aaron’s Rod. It grows in cold regions of the world, including the Rocky Mountains. It has long been used to improve mood and alleviate depression. It has also been found to improve physical and mental performance, reduce fatigue, stress, anxiety.

Ribes divaricatum, used by various tribes in the Pacific Northwest.

Ribes glandulosum (skunk currant), used in a compound decoction of the root for back pain & for "female weakness" by the Ojibwa people. The Cree people use a decoction of the stem, either by itself or mixed with wild red raspberry, to prevent clotting after birth. The Algonquin people use the berries as food.

Ribes laxiflorum, used an infusion to make an eyewash (roots & or branches, by the Bella Coolah). Decoctions of: bark to remedy tuberculosis (with the roots, by the Skokomish); or for the common cold (Skagit): leaves & twigs, as a general tonic (Lummi).

Disclaimer:  These herbs have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Plants listed here must not be used to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Many are poisonous.

Cherokee Plant Lore

Extracted from:  Myths of the Cherokee.  Extract from the Nineteenth Annual Report of the Bureau  of American Ethnology. Washington Government Printing Office 1902  Recorded by James Mooney (1861-1921) was an American ethnographer who lived for several years among the Cherokee.

PLANT LORE

The Indians are close observers, and some of their plant names are peculiarly apt. Thus the mistletoe, which never grows alone, but is found always with its roots fixed in the bark of some supporting tree or shrub from which it draws its sustenance, is called by a name which signifies "it is married" (uda'`li).

The violet is still called by a plural name, dinda'skwate'ski, "they pull each other's heads off," showing that the Cherokee children have discovered a game not unknown among our own. 

The bear-grass (Eryngium), with its long, slender leaves like small blades of corn, is called salikwâ'yi, "greensnake," and the larger grass known as Job's tears, on account of its glossy, rounded grains, which the Indian children use for necklaces, is called sel-utsi', "the mother of corn." 

The black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) of our children is the "deer-eye" (a`wi'-akta') of the Cherokee, and our lady-slipper (Cypripedium) is their "partridge moccasin" (gugwe'-ulasu'la). 

The May-apple (Podophyllum), with its umbrella-shaped top, is called u'niskwetu'`gi, meaning "it wears a hat," while the white puffball fungus is nakwisi'-usdi', "the little star," and the common rock lichen bears the musical, if rather unpoetic, name of utsale'ta, "pot scrapings." 

Some plants are named from their real or supposed place in the animal economy, as the wild rose, tsist-uni'gisti, "the rabbits eat it"--referring to the seed berries--and the shield fern (Aspidium), yân-utse'stû, "the bear lies on it." 

Others, again, are named from their domestic or ceremonial uses, as the fleabane (Erigeron canadense), called atsil'-sûñ`ti, "fire maker," because its dried stalk was anciently employed in producing fire by friction, and the bugle weed (Lycopus virginicus), known as aniwani'ski, "talkers," because the chewed root, given to children to swallow, or rubbed upon their lips, is supposed to endow them with the gift of eloquence. 

Some few, in addition to the ordinary term used among the common people, have a sacred or symbolic name, used only by the priests and doctors in the prayer formulas. Thus ginseng, or "sang," as it is more often called by the white mountaineers, is known to the laity as â'tali-gûli', "the mountain climber," but is addressed in the formulas as Yûñwi Usdi', "Little Man," while selu (corn) is invoked under the name of Agawe'la in myths, as, for instance, that of Prosartes lanuginosa, which bears the curious name of walâs'-unûl'sti, "frogs fight with it," from a story that in the long ago--hilahi'yu--two quarrelsome frogs once fought a duel, using its stalks as lances. In the locative form this was the name of a former Cherokee settlement in Georgia, called by the whites Fighting-town, from a misapprehension of the meaning of the word. Of the white clover, the Cherokee say that "it follows the white man."