Medicinal Plants

**Nativedude** · 03-29-2009, 02:17 AM

PLANTS FOR WOUNDS, SORES & RASHES

Birch - To 80' (24m)
DESCRIPTION: Tree or shrub. Some have bark that peel off in sheets. Oval toothed leaves to 5" (13cm) long. Cone-like oval fruits are up to 4" (10cm) long and disintegrate when ripe.

HABITAT: Wet areas

REMEDY: Strong tea made from bark, twigs or leaves is used as a wash. Gargling tea soothes sore mouth and throat.

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Jewelweed - To 8' (2.4m)
DESCRIPTION: Bushy plant has slender stems. Spotted orange-yellow flowers are horn-shaped.

HABITAT: Wet areas, clearings

REMEDY: Rubbing crushed stems and leaves on skin eases irritation of nettle stings ad poison ivy rashes.

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Alder - To 60' (18m)
DESCRIPTION: Groups of shrubs and trees have distinctive cone-like fruits that do not disintegrate when ripe. Alternate leaves have short stems.

HABITAT: Moist Soils

REMEDY: Strong bark tea is used as a wash. The tea also induces vomiting.

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Burdock - To 9' (2.7m)
DESCRIPTION: Large brushy plant with reddish, celery-like stems. Lower leaves are heart-shaped and hairy beneath. Red-purple flowers are succeeded by spiny, burr-like fruits.

HABITAT: Waste areas

REMEDY: Apply poultice of leaves to irritated area. CAUTION! DO NOT confuse leaves with the toxic leaves of rhubarb.

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Thistle - To 5' (1.5m)
DESCRIPTION: Leaves are scalloped and prickly. Flowers are purplish, red or cream.

HABITAT: Waste areas

REMEDY: Strong tea used as wash for stings, boils and poison ivy rash.

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Pipsissewa - To 12' (30cm)
DESCRIPTION: Shiny leaves grow in whorls. Waxy flowers bloom in nodding clusters.

HABITAT: Dry woods

REMEDY: Tea is good antiseptic wash for wounds. Also can be used as a diuretic.

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Milkweed - To 6' (1.8m)
DESCRIPTION: Stout hairy plant has sticky stems and leaves and milky sap. Purplish, star-shaped flowers bloom in rounded clusters.

HABITAT: Moist & dry soils

REMEDY: Use tea as wash. Milky sap helps sores heal and removes warts and corns. CAUTION! DO NOT ingest sap.

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Common Evening Primrose - To 5' (1.5m)
DESCRIPTION: Leafy plant has terminal spike of yellow, 4-petaled flowers that bloom after sunset. Leaves are lance-shaped and lemon scented.

HABITAT: Fields & roadsides

REMEDY: Tea is an astringent wash.

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Canada Violet - To 18" (45cm)
DESCRIPTION: Leaves are heart-shaped or oval. White flower petals have yellowish bases that turn to violet with age.

HABITAT: Woodlands & stream banks

REMEDY: Use poultice on sores.

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Wintergreen - To 12" (30cm)
DESCRIPTION: Rounded, leathery leaves are clustered at the plant base. Nodding, waxy white flowers bloom along stalk.

HABITAT: Woodlands & clearings

REMEDY: Use poultice on sores, bruises and insect bites.

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Heal-all - To 12" (30cm)
DESCRIPTION: Opposite oval leaves are lance-shaped. Blossoms have a fringed lower lip.

HABITAT: Waste areas, lawns, fields

REMEDY: Use tea as a wash on wounds and sores. Gargling tea will help relieve sore throat.

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Cleaver - To 2' (60cm)
DESCRIPTION: Drooping plant has prickly stems and lance-shaped leaves growing in whorls of 6-8. Small white flowers are succeeded by bristly fruits.

HABITAT: Waste areas & thickets

REMEDY: Use tea as a wash to treat cuts. Is also a strong diuretic. CAUTION! Juice can cause contact dermatitis.

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Coneflowers - To 5' (1.5m)
DESCRIPTION: Lance-shaped leaves are slightly hairy. Purple to pinkish flower rays droop around large central disk.

HABITAT: Dry soils

REMEDY: Root or leaf tea is highly antiseptic and used to clean sores and insect bites.

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Common Juniper - To 20' (6m)
DESCRIPTION: Evergreen shrub or small tree usually grows close to the ground Needle-like leaves grow in whorls of 3. Berries turn bluish-black when ripe.

HABITAT: Dry rocky soils

REMEDY: Strong tea of berries is a good antiseptic wash.

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PLANTS FOR BLEEDING

Oak - To 120' (36m)
DESCRIPTION: Tree produces acorn-like fruits. Alternate leaves come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

HABITAT: Woodlands

REMEDY: Boil acorns to produce an astringent wash that helps to relieve skin irritation and stop bleeding.

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Smooth Sumac - To 20' (6m)
DESCRIPTION: Long leaves have 10-30 leaflets and turn red in autumn. Small whitish lowers boom in dense clusters and are succeeded by 'hairy' red fruits. Bark is gray and smooth.

HABITAT: Open woodlands & waste areas

REMEDY: Tea of bark and leaves creates an antiseptic wash that slows bleeding. Leaf poultice soothes poison ivy rash.

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Witch Hazel - To 20' (6m)
DESCRIPTION: Shrub or small tree. Leaves turn yellow in autumn and fall off before flowers bloom. Fruits are woody capsules with 4 sharp points.

HABITAT: Moist woods and meadows, primarily found in the east.

REMEDY: Poultice stops bleeding and alleviates itching.

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Horsetail - To 5' (1.5m)
DESCRIPTION: Plant has jointed stems. Branches grow in whorls at joints. Fertile stalk has cone-like head.

HABITAT: Wet areas, roadsides, fields

REMEDY: Tea of sterile stems used to clean wounds and help stop bleeding. Poultice makes a good bandage.

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Common Plantain - To 20" (50cm)
DESCRIPTION: Common weed has broad, rounded leaves. Greenish flowers have purplish anthers and bloom in long spikes.

HABITAT: Waste areas & lawns

REMEDY: Use poultice to stop bleeding and soothe infections and cuts.

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Shepherd's Purse - To 18" (45cm)
DESCRIPTION: Weed has basal rosette of lobed leaves. Small white flowers bloom on erect spikes. Fruits are heart-shaped pods.

HABITAT: Waste areas

REMEDY: Tea is used to clean wounds and stop bleeding.

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Silverwood - To 4' (1.2m) long
DESCRIPTION: Creeping plant has serrate leaves with 7-25 leaflets. Bright yellow flowers are long-stalked.

HABITAT: Moist soils, meadows

REMEDY: Poultice stops bleeding. Tea cures diarrhea.

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Storksbill - To 12" (30cm)
DESCRIPTION: Compound leaves have oblong leaflets. Named for its 'beaked' seed pods that point upward.

HABITAT: Waste areas

REMEDY: Tea helps stop bleeding, and is also used to induce sweating.

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PLANTS FOR BANDAGES

Sphagnum Moss - To 8" (20cm)
DESCRIPTION: Tassel-like plant heads are greenish to red in color. Forms peat bogs over time.

HABITAT: Mountainous and northern areas

REMEDY: Create a pad and apply to wound. Replace as needed. Used during both World Wars as expedient field bandage.

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Balsam Fir - To 70' (50cm)
DESCRIPTION: Steeple-shaped tree. Flattened needles grow around branches in 2 rows. Greenish flowers are succeeded by purplish to green cones that grow upright on twigs.

HABITAT: Wet, cool forests

REMEDY: Apply pitch externally to help wounds, burns and sores heal.

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Hemlock - To 75' (23m)
DESCRIPTION: Flat needles grow from 2 sides of twigs, parallel to the ground. Tip of the tree usually droops.

HABITAT: Rocky areas

REMEDY: Poultice of bark is an astringent, helps stop bleeding and speeds healing.

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Prickly Pear Cactus - Pads to 12" (30cm)
DESCRIPTION: Prickly pads grow in dense clusters. Large yellow flowers bloom in May - June.

HABITAT: Dry areas

REMEDY: Make a poultice of peeled pads.

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Stay tuned for part 2. . .

**crashdive123** · 03-29-2009, 08:39 AM

Good stuff on all three threads Navtive Dude. Why not use some of your expertise and add to the Edible & Medicinal Plants & Mushroom Database?

**oly** · 03-29-2009, 10:17 AM

Great info

**Rick** · 03-29-2009, 10:25 AM

As usual, good stuff

**Gray Wolf** · 03-31-2009, 10:43 PM

Good info again, Native!

I think it would be wise to let readers know that if they have any kind of serious health condition, and taking med's, they need to check to see if it's safe for them to take or use some of these Medicinal Plants. JMHO

**earlthegoat2** · 03-31-2009, 11:18 PM

I have been using that burdock remedy for ages. I didnt know anyone else knew about it.

**Nativedude** · 04-05-2009, 07:49 PM

Earlthegoat2 wrote: "I have been using that burdock remedy for ages. I didn't know anyone else knew about it."

Burdock has been used amongst Native tribes for many generations.

I acquired most of my medicinal plant & herb knowledge from my Lakota brother whom is the tribal Medicine-man.