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.
