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Thanks Tom, great information. I hope others will contribute here as I am a believer that the earth holds all remedies for all ailments.
Shirley
http://www.powersource.com/cherokee/herbal.html
Native American Herbal Remedies
Asthma
Skunk Cabbage.
Used by the Winnebago and Dakota tribes to stimulate the removal of phlegm in asthma. The rootstock was official in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 to 1882 when it was used in respiratory and nervous disorders and in rheumatism and dropsy.
Mullein.
Introduced by Europeans. The Menominees smoked the pulverized, dried root for respiratory complaints while the Forest Potawatomis, the Mohegans, and the Penobscots smoked the dried leaves to relieve asthma. The Catawba Indians used a sweetened syrup from the boiled root, which they gave to their children for coughs.
Backache
Arnica.
The Catawba Indians used a tea of arnica roots for treating back pains. The Dispensary of the United States (22nd edition) states this drug can be dangerous if taken internally and that it has caused severe and even fatal poisoning. Also used as a wash to treat sprains and bruises.
Gentian.
The Catawba Indians steeped the roots in hot water and applied the hot fluid on aching backs.
Horsemint.
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.
Bronchitis
Creosote Bush.
A tea of the leaves was used for bronchial and other respiratory problems.
Pleurisy Root.
The Natchez drank a tea of the boiled roots as a remedy for pneumonia and was later used to promote the expulsion of phlegm,
Wormwood.
The Yokia Indians of Mendocino County used a tea of the boiled leaves of a local species of wormwood to cure bronchitis.
Burns
Yellow-Spined Thistle.
The Kiowa Indians boiled yellow-spined thistle blossoms and applied the resulting liquid to burns and skin sores.
Childbirth
To Speed Childbirth:
Partridgeberry.
The Cherokee used a tea of the boiled leaves. Frequent doses of the tea were taken in the few weeks preceding the expected date of delivery.
Blue Cohosh.
To promote a rapid delivery, an infusion of the root in warm water was drunk as a tea for several weeks prior to the expected delivery date.
To Speed Delivery of the Placenta:
American Licorice.
A tea was made from the boiled roots.
Broom Snakeweed.
Navajo women drank a tea of the whole plant to promote the expulsion of the placenta.
To Stop Post-Partum Hemorrhage:
Buckwheat.
Hopi women were given an infusion of the entire buckwheat plant to stop bleeding.
Black Western Chokecherry.
Arikara women were given a drink of the berry juice to stop bleeding.
Smooth Upland Sumac.
The Omahas boiled the smooth upland sumac fruits and applied the liquid as an external wash to stop bleeding.
To relieve the Pain of Childbirth:
Wild Black Cherry.
Cherokee women were given a tea of the inner bark to relieve pain in the early stages.
Cotton.
The Alabama and Koasati tribes made a tea of the roots of the plant to relieve the pains of labor.
Colds
Boneset.
Boneset tea was one of the most frequently used home remedies during the last century. The Menominees used it to reduce fever; the Alabamas, to relive stomachache; the Creeks, for body pain; the Iroquois and the Mohegans, for fever and colds.
Colic
Catnip.
The Mohegans made a tea of catnip leaves for infant colic.
Contraceptives
Ragleaf Bahia.
The Navajos, who called the Ragleaf bahia herb twisted medicine, drank a tea of the roots boiled in water for thirty minutes for contraception purposes.
Indian Paintbrush.
Hopi women drank a tea of the whole Indian paintbrush to “Dry up the menstrual flow.”
Blue Cohosh.
Chippewa women drank a strong decoction of the powdered blue cohosh root to promote parturition and menstruation.
Dogbane.
Generally used by many tribes, a tea from the boiled roots of the plant was drunk once a week.
Milkweed.
Navajo women drank a tea prepared of the whole plant after childbirth.
American Mistletoe.
Indians of Mendocino County drank a tea of the leaves to induce abortion or to prevent conception.
Antelope Sage.
To prevent conception, Navajo women drank one cup of a decoction of boiled antelope sage root during menstruation.
Stoneseed.
Shoshoni women of Nevada reportedly drank a cold water infusion of stoneseed roots everyday for six months to ensure permanent sterility.
Coughs
Aspen.
The Cree Indians used an infusion of the inner bark as a remedy for coughs.
Wild Cherry.
The Flambeau Ojibwa prepared a tea of the bark of wild cherry for coughs and colds, while other tribes used a bark for diarrhea or for lung troubles.
White Pine.
The inner bark was used by Indian people as a tea for colds and coughs.
Sarsaparilla.
The Penobscots pulverized dried sarsaparilla roots and combined them with sweet flag roots in warm water and used the dark liquid as a cough remedy.
Diabetes
Wild Carrot.
The Mohegans steeped the blossoms of this wild species in warm water when they were in full bloom and took the drink for diabetes.
Devil’s Club.
The Indians of British Columbia utilized a tea of the root bark to offset the effects of diabetes.
Diarrhea
Blackcherry.
A tea of blackberry roots was the most frequently used remedy for diarrhea among Indians of northern California.
Wild Black Cherry.
The Mohegans allowed the ripe wild black cherry to ferment naturally in a jar about one year than then drank the juice to cure dysentery.
Dogwood.
The Menominees boiled the inner bark of the dogwood and passed the warm solution into the rectum with a rectal syringe made from the bladder of a small mammal and the hollow bone of a bird.
Geranium.
Chippewa and Ottawa tribes boiled the entire geranium plant and drank the tea for diarrhea.
White Oak.
Iroquois and Penobscots boiled the bark of the white oak and drank the liquid for bleeding piles and diarrhea.
Black Raspberry.
The Pawnee, Omaha, and Dakota tribes boiled the root bark of black raspberry for dysentery.
Star Grass.
Catawbas drank a tea of star grass leaves for dysentery.
Digestive Disorders
Dandelion.
A tea of the roots was drunk for heartburn by the Pillager Ojibwas. Mohegans drank a tea of the leaves for a tonic.
Yellow Root.
A tea from the root was used by the Catawbas and the Cherokee as a stomach ache remedy.
Fevers
Dogwood.
The Delaware Indians, who called the tree Hat-ta-wa-no-min-schi, boiled the inner bark in water, using the tea to reduce fevers.
Willow.
The Pomo tribe boiled the inner root bark, then drank strong doses of the resulting tea to induce sweating in cases of chills and fever. In the south, the Natchez prepared their fever remedies from the bark of the red willow, while the Alabama and Creek Indians plunged into willow root baths for the same purpose.
Feverwort.
The Cherokees drank a decoction of the coarse, leafy, perennial herb to cure fevers.
Headache
Pennyroyal.
The Onondagas steeped pennyroyal leaves and drank the tea to cure headaches.
Heart and Circulatory Problems
Green Hellebore.
The Cherokee used the green hellebore to relive body pains.
American Hemp and Dogbane.
Used by the Prairie Potawatomis as a heart medicine, the fruit was boiled when it was still green, and the resulting decoction drunk. It was also used for kidney problems and for dropsy.
Hemorrhoids
White Oak.
The Menominee tribe treated piles by squirting an infusion of the scraped inner bark of oak into the rectum with a syringe made from an animal bladder and the hollow bone of a bird.
Inflammations and Swellings
Witch Hazel.
The Menominees of Wisconsin boiled the leaves and rubbed the liquid on the legs of tribesmen who were participating in sporting games. A decoction of the boiled twigs was used to cure aching backs, while steam derived by placing the twigs in water with hot rocks was a favorite Potawatomi treatment for muscle aches.
Influenza
Native Hemlock (as opposed Poison Hemlock of Socrates fame).
The Menominees prepared a tea if the inner bark and drank it to relieve cold symptoms. A similar tea was used by the Forest Potawatomis to induce sweating and relieve colds and feverish conditions.
Insect Bites and Stings
Fendler Bladderpod.
The Navajos made a tea and used it to treat spider bites.
Purple Coneflower.
The Plains Indians used this as a universal application for the bites and stings of all crawling, flying, or leaping bugs. Between June and September, the bristly stemmed plant, which grows in dry, open woods and on prairies, bears a striking purplish flower.
Stiff Goldenrod.
The Meskwaki Indians of Minnesota ground the flowers into a lotion and applied it to bee stings.
Trumpet Honeysuckle.
The leaves were ground by chewing and then applied to bees stings.
Wild Onion and Garlic.
The Dakotas and Winnebagos applied the crushed bulbs of wild onions and garlics.
Saltbush.
The Navajos chewed the stems and placed the pulpy mash on areas of swelling caused by ant, bee and wasp bites. The Zunis applied the dried, powdered roots and flowers mixed with saliva to ant bites.
Broom Snakeweed.
The Navajos chewed the stem and applied the resin to insect bites and stings of all kinds.
Tobacco.
A favorite remedy for bee stings was the application of wet tobacco leaves.
Insect Repellents and Insecticides
Goldenseal.
The Cherokee pounded the large rootstock with bear fat and smeared it on their bodies as an insect repellent. It was also used as a tonic, stimulant, and astringent.
Rheumatism
Pokeweed.
Indians of Virginia drank a tea of the boiled berries to cure rheumatism. The dried root was also used to allay inflammation.
Bloodroot.
A favorite rheumatism remedy among the Indians of the Mississippi region – the Rappahannocks of Virginia drank a tea of the root
I have shared this before but maybe someone did not see it.
Jimsonweed: The leaves were parched and crumbled and then smoked with brown paper bag used as wrapper.Worked for ashma.
Dirt Dauber Nest: knocked down and dead insects removed. ground up and mixed with vinegar to make a poultice for insect bites and stings and for sprains.
Blackberry Wine: given for diarea, disentary and stomac problems; even better when you are not sick and used to soak the fruit cake
Strong Believer here in Calamus root, been using it regularly for 2 years, as a Pow Wow Drum/singer, most drums I know of use it, keeps the voice for a long time, bitter taste, but its natural! Aho
After reading White Hawks post, I think I will decline any offers to have herb tea with any Menominee descendants. At least in public:)
I know this isn’t a herbal remedy….but my Aunt Jackie Collins, raised 9 children and she swears by VICK’s Vapor rub for any bump that might bruise. Just rub it in as quickly ASAP after the injury and the pain will quickly disappear and in most cases, no bruising! I have even tried this hours after a hard knock and it still makes the bruising heal faster. Just watch out for little children who might rub it and then rub around their eyes. It really does work if you can stand the smell!
Hey Bushtick, it’s really nice to see a post from you, I have thought about you and where you were.
Welcome back , please “stick” around.!
Good to hear from you Tom.
Oh I am still here………just got out of the habit of checking the forum daily. Have been very busy, but it looks like the forum has been also. I was excited to see new Collins research and have tried to get caught up on reading it all.
I was able to visit Newman’s Ridge and also the Melungeon Union back in June 2006. Had a great time, met some new relatives and do some research on both my Collins & Mullins lines. I visited the local historical person at Newman’s Ridge, Mrs. Johnny Rhea, and I wish I could have spent weeks at her home. She has walls stacked to the ceiling of research records for mostly Newman’s Ridge, but also VA, KY and of course TN documents. However, it isn’t organized well, so it would take lots of time to check through. She is a walking, talking courthouse of lineages. And a most gracious person could not be found. I hope to return there in the future.
Bushtick, before Vick’s Vapor Rub there was Mutton Tallow, that is the grease rendered from sheep fat. Croup and bronical problems as well as sore throats got a good dose of this treatment. The Tallow was melted and reinforced with various herbs and I remember Mama would bathe us lying on the bed. Then apply this very warm poultice over our chest , sides and throat then put cotton teeshirt on then another top and wrap our neck with a thin towel holding in the vapor and warmth of the herbs and tallow. then the covers were pulled up tight around your neck and she tucked you in tighter than a pea in the shell. After listening out for you all night, first thing the next morning you were unwrapped, then bathed good and then bathed with alcohol to close the pores so you didn’t take more cold. A clean teeshirt and good outen shirt came next so as not to expose you again.
Epsom salts was always on hand to soak and cleanse. The remedy for stepping on a nail was a good soaking in strong epson salt water as hot as it could be and not burn you. The area was cleaned and the hole pried open with kerosene oil poured in it to kill the germs and take the soreness out.
By the way a few drops of warm urine helps take care of the ear ache in the middle of the night when there is no other relief to be found. That is applied into the ear. Okay !!!!!!! Ed
Sassafrass is a good blood thinner. Tea’s made from scraping the roots clean and boiling them. Let cool, then strain. Sassafrass is the flavor root beer’s derived from. Caution: if you take blood thinner, do NOT drink sassafrass tea. Voice of experience.
My dad used the inner bark of a slippery elm to chew on to ease his stomach cancer.
A tea made of watermelon seeds eases bladder infection. This is one where the cure is nearly as bad as the ailment, but it does work. It will also help break up kidney stones.
Hey Nadine,
slippery elm works great for a sore throat and gets you back in tune (good for singers).
Ed,
My grandmother always rubbed Vick’s on my chest when I was catching a cold and our family still uses it today. But make sure you down go outside in the cold or catch a draft while it’s applied. It opens the pores and could make you worse if you get cold. She would wrap me up and make me get to bed directly after applying it.
nadine,
I’ve been having kidney stone “issues” AGAIN! I think I’ll try the watermellon seeds.
White Hawk,
Thanks for all of the great info.
Tom,
This discussion is “right up my alley” too. We should talk sometime. My thanks to whoever revived this thread.
Jim
tarcarion
have you tried cranberry juice to help with those kidne stones it is suppose to help prevent and also pass them.I use it on a regular basis and seems to help.
Aubbrey G Cole
Also Corn Silk tea will help with any kidney or bladder problems. You can find it at most health food stores and it works fast. Not very tasteful I am told, but a little honey added is OK. Drink several 6oz cups a day. My niece had large kidney stones ( during pregnancy) and it dissolved them, without laser or surgery. It is an old NA remedy using the silk of corn I am told.
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