Native America's Pharmacy on the Prairie
(Page 5 of 5)
October/November 2005
By William C. Handel and K.C. Compton
Used in cancer research for replication of blood cells, pokeweed also is being studied for AIDS; a protein present in pokeweed is reported to be 1,000 times more potent than AZT in fighting AIDS. Juice from pokeweed may cause dermatitis and even chromosome damage.
RELATED CONTENT
While many herbs can be used to make delicious herbal tea and tea blends, there are some that I con...
In addition to the antioxidant health benefits of tea, a new study shows that an ordinary cup of te...
My house blend is rigorously traditional, consisting mostly of flavors gathered in the wild or recl...
Are you in the mood for a delicious cup of herbal tea? Brew some from your own tea garden....
Green, black or white, tea offers better health and, potentially, longer life....
*Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)
Indian children supposedly used resinous sap for chewing gum. During the 19th and early 20th centuries compass plant was used to reduce fevers, induce vomiting or sweating, as a diuretic and stimulant.
Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis)
Several Indian tribes used spiderwort as an edible green that was eaten raw or cooked like asparagus. Root tea was used for kidney problems and stomach ailments. The smashed plant was applied to insect bites, stings and skin cancers.
Eastern gama grass (Tripsacum dactyloides)
Large numbers of gamma grass seeds were found among remains of the Ozark Bluff-dwellers. The seeds may have been popped like popcorn.
Eastern gama grass has potential as a perennial agricultural crop because it can be propagated easily, has natural immunity against insect pests and is high in protein and carbohydrates.
Blue vervain (Verbena hastata)
Blue vervain leaf tea was used for stomachaches and a wide range of other medicinal purposes, including use as a sedative, a diuretic, to kill worms, as a bitter tonic and antispasmodic.
*Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica)
American Indians used the root of several species of ironweed as a tonic to regulate menses, relieve pain after childbirth, to stop bleeding and relieve stomachaches. Cherokee Indians made a tea from ironweed to prevent menstruation for two years after childbirth.
*Culver's root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Used as an effective laxative during malaria attacks. American Indians used culver's root to induce vomiting and stimulate the liver. An overdose is potentially toxic.
*Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Used as a traditional poison ivy cure.
Bill Handel is a field biologist and scientist for the Illinois Natural History Survey. K.C. Compton is editor in chief of The Herb Companion.
SourcesRecommended Reading
Information for this article came from these sources, among others:
Elias, T. and P. Dykeman. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., 1990.
Foster, Steven and James A. Duke. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants: Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
Jackson, Wes. New Roots in Agriculture. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1985.
Kindscher, K. Medicinal Wild Plants of the Prairie: An Ethnobotanical Guide. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1992.
Moerman, D. E. Medicinal Plants of Native America. Research Reports in Ethnobotany, 2 vols. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Museum of Anthropology, 1986.
General information
Green Landscaping with Native Plants: An informative website from The Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov/greenacres.
Wild Ones: This nonprofit organization has chapters across the United States. www.for-wild.org; (500) FOR-WILD.
Native Plant and Seed Sources
Abundant Life Seed Foundation: Nonprofit organization that provides seeds and publishes a newsletter. Box 772, Port Townsend, WA 98368; (360) 385-5660.
Monrovia: Teamed up with the National Audubon Society to create the Audubon Habitat Collection of Plants. Plants listed by region and wildlife they attract. Available in most garden centers. (888) PLANT-IT.
An Internet search for native plant societies or seed banks will provide additional information for various regions throughout North America. |
Page:
<< Previous 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 | 5 |