Thread: Cherokee natural medicine

Cherokee pharmacopoeia of medicinal plants and herbal remedies


The botanical diversity in Western North Carolina is extensive; it is estimated that in times past the average ani yvwiya would have been familiar with 100-200 plants and a medicine priest (didahnewisgi) might know as many as 600 useful plants. From this tremendous quantity of available plants, many commonly used Cherokee medicines made their way into American medical practice.

We can thank the Cherokee and othe rEastern native peoples for introducing many of our most popular botanical remedies. While many useful plants became widely used by herbalists and physicians, others were underutilized or totally neglected. Today, many herbalists limit their materia medica to a small variety of herbs. This over-reliance on a few plants has contributed to the decimation of many wild plant populations. (i.e. Ginseng,Ladies Slipper, Goldenseal, Bethroot, and more recently Echinacea angustifolia, Lomatium, and Helonias).

Are we using these plants with respect? The Cherokee use a great variety of medicines not only to prevent overutilization of species, but also because they believe that every plant has its specific use in relationship to human ailments.

Contributions Towards a Cherokee Pharmacopoeia

Each plant in this obviously partial listing is an effective medicine and, equally important, is abundant throughout large areas of the U. S. or is easy to cultivate.

BALMONY (Chelone glabra)
Taste: bitter
Energy: cool, dry
Part Used: herb
Dosage: Herb tea: 1 tsp. dried herb to 8 oz. of water, steep 1 hour. Drink 4 oz. before meals.
Dosage: Extract: 30-40 drops, 3 times per day.
Western classification: aperient, anthelmintic, bitter tonic, cholagogue.

Balmony or Turtlehead is a beautiful herb with either white or pink flowers (C. lyoni). It grows in damp deciduous woods and is frequently found along side of small branches (creeks). Balmony is an effective digestive bitter: stimulating saliva, gastric, liver and gall bladder secretions. It is especially useful for people with poor fat metabolism, usually accompanied by gas, nausea, belching and a chronically sluggish bowel.

Associated skin problems ( psoriasis, eczema or acne) and non-hepatitis jaundice respond to its effects as well. Mixed with other anthelmintics (Elecampane, Garlic, Wormseed, Quassia) it is useful in treating pinworms andgiardia.

DOGWOOD (Cornus florida)
Taste: bitter
Energy: cool, dry
Part Used: bark, flower, berries
Cherokee Name: kanvsita
Western Classification: anodyne, antiperiodic, antispasmodic, astringent, bittertonic.
Dosage: Bark tea: 1/2 tsp. dried bark to 8 oz. of water. Decoct 15 minutes, steep 1/2 hour.Drink 4 oz. 3 - 4 times per day.

The Dogwood is a small shrubby tree, with lovely early spring flowers. The white flowers (they areactually sepals) have been used as a substitute for Chamomile for colds, colic and flu. The bark was once used similarly to quinine for malaria and other periodic fevers. It is still useful for many chronic fevers, especially if accompanied by diarrhea or muscle aches (Dengue fever). Lower back pain, prolapsed uterus and musclespasms (legs and feet) all respond to regular use of the tea. Mixed with Butternut Bark, Dogwood is effective for pinworms in children. Externally the bark poultice can be used as a wash for bed sores and ulcers.

DWARF GINSENG (Panax trifolium)
Taste: sweet, bitter
Energy: cool, moist
Part Used: root, leaf
Cherokee Name: yunwi usdi
Western Classification: adaptogen, carminative, nutritive.
Dosage: Leaf tea: 1 tsp. dried leaf to 8 oz. of water, steep 1 hour. Drink 2-3 cups per day.

The small, delicate Dwarf Ginseng is a common spring ground cover in Eastern deciduous woods. The small bulbs are edible (rather bland and starchy) and can be cooked in winter stews to strengthen the lungs and resistance to colds. The leaves (which contain Ginsenosides) are added to almost any traditional herb formula to increase its effectiveness and activity. The Dwarf Ginseng, like its larger relative, is used for fatigue, nervous exhaustion, allergies, anorexia and depleted conditions such as chronic fatigue, TB and mononucleosis.

RABBIT TOBACCO (Gnaphalium obtusifolium)
Taste: sweet, bitter
Energy: cool, dry
Part Used: herb
Cherokee Name: katsuta equa
Western Classification: astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant,nervine.
Dosage: Herb tea: 1-2 tsp. dried herb to 8 oz. of water, steep 40 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups per day.

Common in fields and clearings, Rabbit Tobacco is frequently found in Cherokee homes as a remedy. The tea is used for colds, flu, coughs, diarrhea, strep throat and children's fevers. Mixed with other medicines it is also used for colitis (with Wild Yam and Catnip), asthma (with Lobelia, Wild Cherry Bark and Sweet Cicily) and vaginal candidiasis (with Yellow Root). Externally the tea is applied to cuts, sore muscles and bruises.The leaves are chewed by some people in preference to Tobacco, others mix the two to moderate Tobacco'semetic qualities.

SOURWOOD (Oxydendron arborum)
Taste: sour
Energy: cool, dry
Part Used: leaf
Cherokee Name: udoqueya
Western Classification: antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, nervine.
Dosage: Leaf tea: 2 tsp. dried leaf to 8 oz. of water, steep 40 minutes. Drink 2-3 cups per day.

Sourwood with its racemes of white bell-like flowers is a favorite pollen source for mountain bees. The honey from this source is famous for its unique taste and fragrance. In contrast to the honey's sweetness, the leaves are tart and drying. The leaf tea is an effective urinary tract antiseptic primarily due to its arbutin content. Chronic UTIs with burning urine respond well to its soothing action; it is also beneficial for BPH. The tea is also frequently used for apthous stomatata, thrush, edema, chronic prostatitis, diarrhea, nervous stomach and frazzled nerves (a nice hot cup of the tea with a generous dollop of sourwood honey works wonders!).

SPICEBUSH (Lindera benzoin)
Taste: pungent, sweet
Energy: warm, dry
Part Used: bark, leaf, fruit
Cherokee Name: nodatsi
Western Classification: antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue,expectorant.
Dosage: Bark/Herb tea: 1 tsp. dried herb to 8 oz. of water, steep 1 hour (covered).Drink 2 -3 cups per day.

Spicebush is one of the most common understory shrubs throughout second or third growth Eastern forests. Early in the spring it is covered with small yellow flowers which perfume the air. Every part of Spicebush (aka Spicewood) is medicinal; the tea of this herb is used extensively for colds, flu, coughs, nausea,indigestion, croup, flatulence and amenorrhea. The inhaled steam is used to clear clogged sinuses and the decoction of the twigs makes a soothing bath for arthritic pain (some of the tea is also taken internally). Spicebush is also commonly used as a beverage tea and the fruits can be used as a spice in baking.

SUMACH (Rhus glabra, R. copallina, R. typhina)
Taste: sour
Energy: cool, dry
Part Used: berry, bark
Cherokee Name: qualagu
Western Classification: alterative (bark), antiseptic, astringent, diuretic.
Dosage: Berry tea: 1 tsp. dried fruit to 8 oz. of water, steep 30 minutes. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day.Bark tea: 1/2 tsp. dried bark to 8 oz. of water. Decoct 15 minutes, steep 1 hour. Drink 4 oz., 3 times per day.

Sumachs are small shrubby trees that have highly visible clusters of bright red berries each autumn. Its toxic relative Poison Sumach (R. vernix) has white fruit and prefers swampy areas instead of the dry open environment where other sumachs are found. Sumach berry tea is highly effective for urinary tract infections (itacidifies the urine), thrush, apthous stomatata, ulcerated mucous membranes, gingivitis and some cases of bedwetting (irritated bladder). The fruit tea can be taken hot or chilled as a refreshing beverage similar in taste to Hibiscus or Rose Hips. The bark is a strong astringent (used for diarrhea, menorrhagia) and it has an effect onthe female hormonal system. Traditional the bark is used for alleviating menopausal discomfort (hot flashes,sweating) and as a galactogogue. Externally the berry or bark tea has been used as a wash for blisters, burns and oozing sores. In middle eastern countries, the dried fruit is ground into a powder and used much as Americans use paprika in daily cooking.

SWEET CICILY (Osmorhiza claytoni)
Taste: sweet
Energy: warm, moist
Part Used: root
Western Classification: carminative, demulcent, expectorant, immune tonic, nutritive.
Dosage: Root tea: 1 tsp. dried root to 8 oz. of water. Steep 2 hours (cooking 3-4 hours is evenbetter). Drink 2-3 cups per day.

Sweet Cicily is a small herbaceous member of the Apiaceae family. Growing in moist woodlands, it is easy to overlook until you sample its sweet anise-tasting root. Cherokee have long considered this root to bean important medicine for increasing strength, weight and resistance to disease. The tea can be used for colds, sore throats, dry coughs, flu and digestive disturbances (gastritis, nausea, gas). Sweet Cicily strengthens what the Chinese call the "wei qi", making it useful for preventing colds and other external pernicious influences.The root can be used as a substitute for licorice or astragalus with many similar applications.

TULIP TREE (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Taste: bitter
Energy: cool, dry
Part Used: bark
Cherokee Name: tsiyu
Western Classification: anodyne, astringent, bitter tonic, febrifuge.
Dosage: Bark tea: 1-2 tsp. dried bark to 8 oz. of water. Decoct 20 minutes, steep 1 hour.Drink 4 oz. 3 times per day.

Tulip Tree or Tulip Poplar is a large, straight growing member of the Magnolia family. Its yellow, green and orange flowers are large and showy and they mature into a densely packed cone of winged seeds. The smooth young bark harvested in the spring makes a wonderful basket perfect for gathering herbs or berries. This same bark is used as a medicine for periodic fevers, diarrhea, pinworms, as a digestive aid and for rheumatic pain. The decoction is used as a bath for fractures, sprains, hemorrhoids and is applied to snakebites received in dreams (if left untreated, traumatic arthritis will often develop in the area bitten).

YELLOW ROOT (Xanthorhiza simplicissima)
Taste: bitter
Energy: cool, dry
Part Used: root
Cherokee Name: dalanei
Western Classification: antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, bitter tonic,cholagogue.
Dosage: Root tea: 1-2 tsp. dried root to 8 oz. of water. Decoct 10 minutes, steep 1 hour.Drink 2 cups per day. Extract: 20-40 drops, 2-3 times per day.
Yellow root is a shrubby berberine containing plant that is found growing along branches and springs.It is abundant throughout the southeast and is regularly substituted for the increasingly scarce Golden Seal. Xanthorhiza is milder than Hydrastis but is more appropriate for long term use. It is especially effective as a digestion/liver bitter for people with sluggish bowels, a tendency towards hemorrhoids and faulty fat digestion. Mixed with fresh Black Walnut hull extract and Spilanthes, Yellow Root is an effective treatment for local thrush,(vaginal candidiasis) and systemic candidiasis. The tea makes a soothing gargle for strep throat,apthous stomatata, ulcerated mucus membranes, herpes and pyorrhea. Externally it is useful for conjunctivitis, bedsores, bleeding hemorrhoids, ringworm and athletes foot.

This page is presented for informational purposes, only. It is not intended to diagnose or treat any specific illness. We are not doctors. You should seek out qualified medical personel if you need help with a particular condition or illness.

Cherokee medicinal plant chart


Black Cohosh (Cimcifuga racemosa_ - rheumatism, andodyne, emmenagogue,backache.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) - coughs, fungal infections, antiseptic.
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) - nervine, parturient, andodyne, rheumatism.
Butternut bark (Juglans cineria) - laxative, liver tonic.
Collinsonia (Collinsonia canadensis) - swollen breasts, sore throat.
Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) - adaptogen, bitter tonic, nervous problems.
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) - stomachic, bitter tonic, antiseptic.
Lobelia (Lobelia) - inflataemetic, antispasmodic-palsy, expectorant.
Mayapple (Podophyllin peltatum) - laxative, cathartic.
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) - liver pain, earache, nervine.
Pink Root (Spigelia marilandica) - vermifuge.
Pleurisy Root (Asclepias tuberosa) -expectorant, heart trouble, bronchitis, pleurisy.
Poke Root (Phytolacca americana) - rheumatism, skin conditions, as poultice for swollen breasts.
Prickly Ash (Xanthoxyllum spp.) - arthritis, joint pain.
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) - skin problems, rheumatism, eyewash,carminative, gout.
Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva) - bulk laxative, diarrhea, sore throat, heartburn.
Tobacco (Nicotiana rustica) - antiseptic, expectorant, emetic, antispasmodic,tetanus, snake bite.
Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctora) -emetic, purgative, as poultice for inflammation and gangrene.
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) - heart pain, intestinal pain, menstrual pain.
Witch Hazel (Hammamelis virginiana) - sore throat, bath sores, bruises, rheumatism,tuberculosis.

Native American REMEDIES
Indian remedies shown below are but a few examples of the thousands used by indigenous peoples for ailments of every description. Thousands of years spent gaining intimate knowledge of plants, minerals and their varied uses has given the world a vast pharmacopoeia of medicinal remedies and cures for many common ailments. Indian contributions to pharmacological medicine is unmatched anywhere in the world.
The list below intended for example purposes only and should not be used to medically treat ailments. In most instances, plants must be prepared using exacting methods. If used otherwise, the results may ineffectual if not dangerous or life threatening.
Asthma
Skunk Cabbage Used by the Winnebago and Dakota tribes to stimulate the removal of phlegm. 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. Smoke and steam from the leaves of the mint were also used by many tribes.
Backache
Arnica The Catawba Indians used a tea of arnica roots for treating back pains. Arnica can be dangerous if taken internally and may cause 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 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.
Blood Remedy
Sassafras A tonic was prepared using the leaves and bark. Often other plants such as onion and willow bark was added.
Boils
Grape and Peach Leaves Southern nations applied a poultice of the ground leaves to the area and changed the bandage several times a day.
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.
Broken Bones
Bone Set Pulverized into a wet mash poultice next to the skin prior to affected area being wrapped in clay over the poultice and changed daily. Saplings were used to reduce mobility.
Burns
Yellow-Spined Thistle The Kiowa Indians boiled yellow-spined thistle blossoms and applied the resulting liquid to burns and skin sores.
Oak Bark The inner bark was boiled and as the water cooled, the top layer was skimmed off and applied directly to the burn without a bandage.
Chills
Snake Root The root was pealed, boiled and the ground for use as a tea.
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. Wild ginger was also used by the Iroquois and other nations.
Colic
Catnip The Mohegans made a tea of catnip leaves for infant colic.
Constipation
Seed Bladder Nuts The nuts were ground into a flour and mixed with fruit.
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 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 Indians 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 liquid as a cough remedy.
Chestnut The inner bark was used like white pine and wild cherry.
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
Black Cherry 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.
Willow Bark Many tribes knew the inner bark of the willow ground into powder and mixed with water relieved headaches. It was also used for potential heart attacks.
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.
Hiccups
Wild Cherry Tea Used in case of chronic hiccups, the liquid was gulped down repeatedly for several hours.
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.
Mullein A poultice of the wet puffy mullein seed pods was used by many nations.
Clay The purple, yellow and blue clay surrounding crystals was sifted to remove tiny crystals and ground into a powder, made wet into a paste and applied as a poultice.
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.
Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy Leaves The moist leaves were heated by steam for several hours and rubbed into the skin, especially to areas surrounding the afflicted spots. While this method did not provide much relief from itching, it did build an immediate immunity to the surrounding skin and future contact.
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.
Sedatives
Wild Black Cherry The Meskwaki tribe made a sedative tea of the root bark.
Hops The Mohegans prepared a sedative medicine from the conelike strobiles and sometimes heated the blossoms and applied them for toothache. The Dakota tribe used a tea of the steeped strobiles to relieve pains of the digestive organs, and the Menominee tribe regarded a related species of hops as a panacea.
Wild Lettuce. Indigenous to North American, it was used for sedative purposes, especially in nervous complaints.
Snake Bite
Red Elm After removing as much venom as possible, Indians used the ground inner bark and young early spring leaves as a poultice applied directly to the bite.
Sore Throat
Elm Bark Tea Widely used to reduce inflammation.
Stomach Ache
Golden Seal Many tribes drank a tea made from the leaves of this plant.
Thrush
Geranium The Cherokee boiled geranium root together with wild grape, and with the liquid, rinsed the mouths of children affected with thrush.
Persimmon The Catawba stripped the bark from the tree and boiled it in water, using the resulting dark liquid as a mouth rinse.
Wild Iris This plant was used as a tea and mash for sore mouths.
Toothache
Prickly Ash The root and leaves were pounded into a wet mash and applied on the gums to deaden nerves and reduce inflammation.
Vomiting
Beech Bark Tea Used wherever this tree grew, a tea was a sure tonic for vomiting.
Warts
Milk Weed Used by many nations, the white milk sap was used as a poultice.