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Gentiana – A genus of flowering plants belonging to the Gentianaceae family, which has more than 400 species. Common names include Bitter Root, Bitter Wort, Gal Weed, Yellow Gentian, Sampsons Snakeroot, Longdan, and Qin Jiao. Growing in alpine habitats all over the world, most species have pretty, deep blue flowers. Though it has an extremely bitter taste, it was commonly used by Native Americans to treat digestive ailments and as an appetite stimulator. Various species were also used to treat Malaria, stimulate menstruation, and to rid the body of worms. It was also used topically to treat wounds and painful inflammation, one species of which, the Catawba Indians used the roots in hot water on aching backs.
Geranium – Of the Pelargonium species, there are about 200 types of Geraniums found throughout the world. Other common names include Scented Geranium and Stork’s Bill. In Native American medicine, the Cherokee were known to have boiled geranium root together with wild grape, which was used to rinse the mouths of children affected with thrush. The Chippewa and Ottawa tribes boiled the entire geranium plant and drank the tea for diarrhea.
Goldenseal – Officially known as Hydrastis Canadensis, this herb of the Buttercup family is also known as Yellow Root, Orange Root, Puccoon, Ground Raspberry, and Wild Curcuma. Native to southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States, it was traditionally used by Native Americans to treat skin disorders, digestive problems, liver conditions, diarrhea, as a stimulant, and for eye irritations. The Cherokee were also known to have pounded the large root-stock with bear fat and smeared it on their bodies as an insect repellent. The herb was introduced to early colonists for medical use by the Iroquois.
Green Hellebore – See Hellebore
Greenbriar – Officially known as Smilax Bona-Nox, it is a member of the larger Smilax family of more than 300 species. Also known by several other names such as Bullbriar, Catbriar, Horsebriar, Prickly-ivys, and Pull Out a Sticker to the Cherokee, it grows in temperate zones, tropics and subtropics worldwide. The flowering plants, many of which are woody and/or thorny, its root has often been used as a diuretic, the treatment of dropsy, urinary complaints, and as a blood purifier.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. Plants listed here must not be used to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions.
Gaultheria hispidula (creeping snowberry) Infusion of leaves used as a tonic for overeating by the Algonquin people. Fruit used as food. Used as a sedative by the Anticosti. Decoction of leaves or whole plant taken for unspecified purpose by Micmac. Leaves used by Ojibwa people to make a beverage.
Gentiana villosa, Catawba Indians used the boiled roots as medicine to relieve back pain.
Geranium maculatum, used by Mesquakie tribe to brew a root tea for toothache & for painful nerves. They also mashed the roots for treating hemorrhoids.
Goldenseal, referred to by Prof. Benjamin Smith Barton in his first edition of Collections for an Essay Toward a Materia Medica of the United States (1978), as being used by the Cherokee as a cancer treatment.
Gutierrezia microcephala, used by the Native Americans for various reasons. The Cahuilla used an infusion of the plant as a gargle or placed the plant in their mouths as a toothache remedy. The Hopi & Tewa both used the plant as a carminative, as prayer stick decorations, & for roasting sweet corn.
