Native American and Other Ancient Remedies

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C

Canker Sores – See Gum and Mouth Problems

Cancer:

  • Cat’s Claw – Used in teas and tonics for over 2,000 years.
  • Grapefruit – Seeds, pulp, and inner rind are used for internal conditions.
  • Green Tea – Made solely with the leaves of Camellia Sinensis, it is known for its many helpful properties.
  • Jiaogulan – Known for its many health-giving qualities and anti-aging effects.
  • Maca – Used for centuries, Maca is consumed as food and used for medicinal purposes.
  • Oat Straw – food source and medical remedy since prehistoric times.
  • Olive Oil – A traditional tree crop long used in foods and medicines.
  • Pau d’arco – Long used for various conditions.
  • Poke – Though parts of this plant are highly toxic to livestock and humans, it has long been used as food and medicine by Native Americans.
  • Rosemary – Used for culinary purposes and in medicinal remedies.
  • Red Clover – Traditionally used for several conditions.
  • Sarsaparilla – Used for centuries in a wide variety of medicinal remedies.
  • Spirulina – A type of blue-green algae rich in protein and vitamins.
  • Sumac – Viewed by some tribes as a sacred plant, Sumac was used for food and medicine.
  • Thistle –  This flowering plant of the daisy family has been used for some 2,000 years for medicinal remedies.
  • Wheat Grass – The result of centuries of cultivation, it is used for numerous medical conditions.
  • Wild Garlic – Used throughout its history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Chest Pain:

Wichita woman and child, 1899, Frank A. Rinehart

Wichita woman and child, 1899, Frank A. Rinehart

Childbirth:

  • Sage – Used for thousands of years in cooking, and like other culinary herbs, it has long been thought to be a digestive aid and appetite stimulant.
  • Star Anise – The fruit of a small tree with a licorice-like flavor long used in medical remedies.
  • Wild Yam – Traditionally used as food and medicine.
  • Wormwood – The leaves and flowering tops were gathered and dried to use in medicinal tonics.

Difficult Labor:

  • Buck Brush – Applies to several North American shrubs used in herbal medicine.
  • Feverfew – Used for various internal medical problems. It should not be used by women who are pregnant.

Induce Labor:

  • Horsemint – Leaves and flowering stems used in teas, tonics, and salves for various medical issues. Pregnant women should not use it.
  • Partridgeberry – Used for food and medical problems, primarily for women.
  • Wild Carrot – Used as both food and for health conditions.

To Speed Childbirth:

  • Blue Cohosh – Root is used in teas and tonics.
  • Fenugreek – Used internally and externally for various medicinal purposes.
  • Partridgeberry – Used for food and medical problems, primarily for women.
  • Raspberry – Leaves and fruits are used in various medical issues.

To Speed Delivery of the Placenta:

To Stop Post-Partum Hemorrhage:

To Stop Post-Partum Difficulties:

  • Ashwagandha – The whole plant is used in numerous remedies. Caution is advised in the use of this plant since it is toxic. 
  • Dong Quai – Used for over a thousand years to treat several conditions.
  • Milkweed – Though it can be toxic if not prepared properly, Milkweed was used as food and medicine, as well as in making cords, ropes, and coarse cloth. Warning: Milkweed may be toxic when taken internally without sufficient preparation.

To Relieve the Pain of Childbirth:

  • Blue Cohosh – Root is used in teas and tonics.
  • Cotton – Roots, leaves, and seeds have been used to treat many conditions.
  • Hibiscus – Various species used in traditional herbal medicines dating back to Roman times.
  • Partridgeberry – Used for food and medical problems, primarily for women.
  • Wild Black Cherry – The dried inner bark was traditionally used in tea or syrups for several health problems.

Chills:

  • Ginger Root – Utilized as both a spice and medicine throughout the world.
  • Horsemint – Leaves and flowering stems used in teas, tonics, and salves for various medical issues. Pregnant women should not use it.
  • Osha – Having a wide variety of medicinal properties, Osha was highly valued by Native Americans.
  • Spearmint – Teas, poultices, and oils used internally and externally for several remedies.
  • Willow – The leaves and bark of the willow tree have been used since the times of ancient Egypt and Greece.

Cholera:

  • Chokecherry – Used as a source of food and medicine, it was considered one of the most important herbs in Native American medicine.
  • Senna – A large genus of flowering plants found to be helpful in many remedies.
  • Sweetflag – Has a long history of medicinal use in many herbal traditions.

Cholesterol (to lower):

  • Boswellia – Fragrant resin utilized in various ailments. It should not be used by pregnant, breastfeeding women and children.
  • Fenugreek – Used internally and externally for various medicinal purposes.
  • Ginger Root – Utilized as both a spice and medicine throughout the world.
  • Glucomannan – A dietary fiber that has long been used in Asia.  It is not recommended for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  • Grapefruit – Seeds, pulp, and inner rind are used for internal conditions.
  • Green Tea – Made solely with the leaves of Camellia Sinensis, it is known for its many helpful properties.
  • Gymnema Sylvestre – Has been used as a natural treatment for diabetes for nearly 2,000 years.
  • Jiaogulan – Known for its many health-giving qualities and anti-aging effects.
  • Oat Straw – food source and medical remedy since prehistoric times.
  • Psyllium Seed Husk – A rich fiber supplement, long used to improve digestion.
  • Prickly Pear Cactus – Native Americans used the younger pads for food and in teas; while mature pads were used in poultices
  • Thistle –  This flowering plant of the daisy family has been used for some 2,000 years for medicinal remedies.
  • Wild Garlic – Used throughout its history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Circulatory Health & Problems:

  • Buckwheat – The fruit seed was used as both food and herbal remedies.
  • Burdock – Roots, and leaves utilized internally and externally. Avoid if pregnant or nursing.
  • Dong Quai – Used for over a thousand years to treat several conditions.
  • Ginger Root – Utilized as both a spice and medicine throughout the world.
  • Ginko Biloba – One of the most ancient trees in existence, it has been used for food and medicine.
  • Ginsing – Numerous specifies worldwide have been used for thousands of years in medicinal remedies.
  • Grapefruit – Seeds, pulp, and inner rind are used for internal conditions.
  • Lecithin – Found in several plants, it benefits various body systems.
  • Osha – Having a wide variety of medicinal properties, Osha was highly valued by Native Americans.
  • Persimmon – Long used as food and in traditional medicine.
  • Plantain – Considered to be one of the nine sacred herbs by the ancient Saxon people and has a long history of use as an alternative medicine dating back to ancient times.
  • Red Clover – Traditionally used for several conditions.
  • Rosemary – Used for culinary purposes and in medicinal remedies.
  • Sarsaparilla – Used for centuries in a wide variety of medicinal remedies.
  • Sassafras – Used extensively for food and medicine by Native Americans long before European settlers arrived.
  • Wild Rose – Hundreds of species have been used medicinally for thousands of years.
  • Wild Black Cherry – The dried inner bark was traditionally used in tea or syrups for several health problems.
  • Yarrow – Used for thousands of years, especially to stop bleeding.
  • Yellow Dock – Native Americans as traditional medicine and food.
  • Yerba Mate – A species of Holly that has a long history as a medicinal herb.
Healer Tea from Nuwati Herbals

Nuwati Healer Tea for Sinuses, Colds, Headache, Allergies, and Immune System. Available at Legends’ General Store.

Colds:

  • Allspice – Dried unripe berries have long been used in teas.
  • American Ginseng – Used in teas and tonics and sometimes smoked by Native Americans.
  • Boneset – Dried leaves are used in tea. Caution is advised as it is toxic and has side effects.
  • Broom Snakeweed – Roots and leaves used in steam therapies, teas, and poultices.
  • Catnip – Stems and leaves make an aromatic tea useful for many conditions.
  • Cardinal Flower – Roots, leaf tea, and poultices were used internally and externally.
  • Chokecherry – Used as a source of food and medicine, it was considered one of the most important herbs in Native American medicine.
  • Cotton – Roots, leaves, and seeds have been used to treat many conditions.
  • Dogwood – Bark, berries, and twigs used in decoctions internally and externally.
  • Echinacea – Roots were chewed, dried in tea, or pulverized for external use.
  • Elder – Ripe elderberries are used as food and medicinal remedies.
  • Eleuthero – Dried roots have been used for centuries. People with medicated high blood pressure should consult their doctor, which can cause insomnia.
  • Eucalyptus – Teas and ointments used for various purposes.
  • Fennel – Seeds, leaves, and roots used in cooking and medicinal remedies.
  • Ginger Root – Utilized as both a spice and medicine throughout the world.
  • Goldenrod – Long used for various ailments.
  • Goldenseal – Used internally and externally for medicinal issues. Pregnant women should not take it.
  • Green Tea – Made solely with the leaves of Camellia Sinensis, it is known for its many helpful properties.
  • Honeysuckle – Used in traditional herbal remedies for thousands of years.
  • Horehound – Whole plant used internally and externally. People with gastritis or peptic ulcer disorders should use it cautiously.
  • Horsemint – Leaves and flowering stems used in teas, tonics, and salves for various medical issues. Pregnant women should not use it.
  • Mint – Dried leaves used in teas and food, found helpful in several remedies.
  • Native Hemlock – Used by Native Americans as a dye, for tanning hides, making baskets and wooden items, as well as medicinal remedies.
  • Osha – Having a wide variety of medicinal properties, Osha was highly valued by Native Americans.
  • Peppermint – Besides flavoring, it has long been used in traditional medicine for its calming and numbing effects. It should not be used or given to infants or small children.
  • Pinon – Used so extensively by Native Americans, some tribes referred to it as the “tree of life.”
  • Rabbit Tobacco – Was thought to have had spiritual or mystic powers by many Indians.
  • Sage – Used for thousands of years in cooking, and like other culinary herbs, it has long been thought to be a digestive aid and appetite stimulant.
  • Saltbush – Many species are used for various conditions.
  • Sarsaparilla – Used for centuries in a wide variety of medicinal remedies.
  • Sassafras – Used extensively for food and medicine by Native Americans long before European settlers arrived.
  • Savory – An aromatic herb used as a spice and in folk medicine.
  • Spearmint – Teas, poultices, and oils used internally and externally for several remedies.
  • Sumac – Viewed by some tribes as a sacred plant, Sumac was used for food and medicine.
  • Sweetflag – Has a long history of medicinal use in many herbal traditions.
  • Wheat Grass – The result of centuries of cultivation, it is used for numerous medical conditions.
  • White Pine –  The inner bark, young shoots, twigs, pitch, and leaves have long been used by Native Americans in medicinal remedies.
  • Wild Black Cherry – The dried inner bark was traditionally used in tea or syrups for several health problems.
  • Wild Ginger – Native Americans used the roots as a seasoning and medicinal herb.
  • Wild Onion – Traditionally used as food and medicine.
  • Yarrow – Used for thousands of years, especially to stop bleeding.

Cold Sores – See Gum and Mouth Problems

Colic:

  • Blue Cohosh – Root is used in teas and tonics.
  • Catnip – Stems and leaves make an aromatic tea useful for many conditions.
  • Fennel – Seeds, leaves, and roots used in cooking and medicinal remedies.
  • Ginger Root – Utilized as both a spice and medicine throughout the world.
  • Horsemint – Leaves and flowering stems used in teas, tonics, and salves for various medical issues. Pregnant women should not use it.
  • Lemon Balm – A calming herb that has been used since the Middle Ages.
  • Licorice Root – Used as a flavoring in food and for herbal remedies.
  • Rooibos – Used in teas to help with various conditions.
  • Savory – An aromatic herb used as a spice and in folk medicine.
  • Star Anise – The fruit of a small tree with a licorice-like flavor long used in medicinal remedies.
  • Sweetflag – Has a long history of medicinal use in many herbal traditions.
  • Valerian Root – Has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome.
  • Wild Black Cherry – The dried inner bark was traditionally used in tea or syrups for several health problems.
  • Wild Garlic – Used throughout its history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.
  • Wild Lettuce – Indigenous to North America, it was used for sedative purposes, especially in nervous complaints.
  • Wild Yam – Traditionally used as food and medicine.

Colon Problems:

Concentration:

  • Eleuthero – Dried roots have been used for centuries. People with medicated high blood pressure should consult their doctor, which can cause insomnia.

Congestion:

  • Horsemint – Leaves and flowering stems used in teas, tonics, and salves for various medical issues. Pregnant women should not use it.
  • Milkweed – Though it can be toxic if not prepared properly, Milkweed was used as food and medicine, as well as in making cords, ropes, and coarse cloth. Warning: Milkweed may be toxic when taken internally without sufficient preparation.
  • Mullein – A tobacco-like plant and one of the oldest herbs, it has a long history of use as a medicine
  • Saltbush – Many species are used for various conditions.
  • Savory – An aromatic herb used as a spice and in folk medicine.

Constipation:

  • American Ginseng – Used in teas and tonics, it can be an effective laxative.
  • Boneset – Dried leaves are used in tea. Caution is advised as it is toxic and has side effects.
  • Buffaloberry – Used as food and in herbal remedies. Overindulgence can cause severe problems, including death.
  • Cascara Sagrada – Dried bark used in teas. The bark must be aged and dried thoroughly before use.
  • Damiana – Used internally for various medical issues.
  • Dong Quai – Used for over a thousand years to treat several conditions.
  • Devil’s Claw – Used in teas and tonics internally and in poultices externally. It should not be used by women who are or may be pregnant.
  • Elder – Ripe elderberries are used as both food and medicinal remedies.
  • Fennel – Seeds, leaves, and roots used in cooking and medicinal remedies.
  • Fenugreek – Used internally and externally for various medicinal purposes.
  • Garcinia Cambogia – Fruit rind is used in various remedies. Not recommended for those with diabetes, people suffering any dementia syndrome or pregnant and lactating women.
  • Glucomannan – A dietary fiber that has long been used in Asia.  It is not recommended for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  • Gymnema Sylvestre – Has been used as a natural treatment for diabetes for nearly 2,000 years.
  • Hibiscus – Various species used in traditional herbal medicines dating back to Roman times.
  • Horehound – Whole plant used internally and externally. People with gastritis or peptic ulcer disorders should use it cautiously.
  • Mayapple – Having been long surrounded by folklore, this plant was used for various medical purposes. Because of its toxicity, this herb should only be used by professional Herbalists.
  • Milkweed – Though it can be toxic if not prepared properly, Milkweed was used as food and medicine, as well as in making cords, ropes, and coarse cloth. Warning: Milkweed may be toxic when taken internally without sufficient preparation.
  • Olive Oil – A traditional tree crop long used in foods and medicines.
  • Persimmon – Long used as food and in traditional medicine.
  • Psyllium Seed Husk – A rich fiber supplement, long used to improve digestion.
  • Senna – A large genus of flowering plants found to be helpful in many remedies.
  • Sumac – Viewed by some tribes as a sacred plant, Sumac was used for food and medicine.
  • Wheat Grass – The result of centuries of cultivation, it is used for numerous medical conditions.
  • Yellow Dock – Native Americans as traditional medicine and food.

Consumption – See Tuberculosis

Convalescence after acute illness or injury:

  • American Ginseng – Used in teas and tonics and sometimes smoked by Native Americans.
  • Ashwagandha – The whole plant is used in numerous remedies. Caution is advised in the use of this plant since it is toxic.
  • Schisandra – A genus of shrub that has many medicinal uses.

Contraceptives:

  • American Mistletoe
  • Antelope Sage
  • Blue Cohosh – Root is used in teas and tonics.
  • Cat’s Claw – Used in teas and tonics for over 2,000 years.
  • Dogbane
  • Indian Hemp – A type of marijuana used to make clothes, rope, and paper, as well as boiling the roots into teas for medicinal problems.
  • Indian Paintbrush
  • Milkweed – Though it can be toxic if not prepared properly, Milkweed was used as food and medicine, as well as in making cords, ropes, and coarse cloth. Warning: Milkweed may be toxic when taken internally without sufficient preparation.
  • Ragleaf Bahia – Used by several Native American tribes as a contraceptive.
  • Stoneseed – Seeds used for several medical ailments.
  • Wild Carrot – Used as both food and for health conditions.
  • Yellow Spined Thistle – Long been used by Native Americans in medicinal remedies.

Convulsions:

  • Tobacco – Long been important in Native American culture for social, religious, and ceremonial purposes and medicinal remedies.
  • Wild Ginger – Native Americans used the roots as a seasoning and medicinal herb.
Native Inspired Products

Native inspired healing products from Legends’ General Store

Cough:

  • Aspen – Tea was made from the inner bark of the Quaking Aspen tree.
  • American Licorice – Chewed or used in teas for internal issues, in a poultice externally.
  • Black Cohosh – Roots of the plant were used in teas for various ailments.
  • Black Raspberry – Roots and leaves are boiled into tea or chewed, and washes are used externally.
  • Bloodroot – Primarily used as a medicine for respiratory and digestive problems, it is also used externally. Today, we know it is toxic, and the FDA has classified it as unsafe.
  • Boneset – Dried leaves are used in tea. Caution is advised as it is toxic and has side effects.
  • Broom Snakeweed – Roots and leaves used in steam therapies, teas, and poultices.
  • Chokecherry – Used as a source of food and medicine, it was considered one of the most important herbs in Native American medicine.
  • Echinacea – Roots were chewed, dried in tea, or pulverized for external use.
  • Eucalyptus – Teas and ointments used for various purposes.
  • Evening Primrose – Used for food and medicinal remedies, decoctions were used for internal and external ailments.
  • Fennel – Seeds, leaves, and roots used in cooking and medicinal remedies.
  • Gymnema Sylvestre – Has been used as a natural treatment for diabetes for nearly 2,000 years.
  • Hibiscus – Various species used in traditional herbal medicines dating back to Roman times.
  • Horehound – Whole plant used internally and externally. People with gastritis or peptic ulcer disorders should use it cautiously.
  • Horsemint – Leaves and flowering stems used in teas, tonics, and salves for various medical issues. Pregnant women should not use it.
  • Lemongrass – Having anti-fungal properties, it has not only been used as herbal medicine but also as a pesticide and preservative.
  • Marshmallow Root – Dating back thousands of years, this root has been used as food and medicine.
  • Mullein A tobacco-like plant and one of the oldest herbs, it has a long history of use as a medicine.
  • Osha – Having a wide variety of medicinal properties, Osha was highly valued by Native Americans.
  • Plantain – Considered to be one of the nine sacred herbs by the ancient Saxon people and has a long history of use as an alternative medicine dating back to ancient times.
  • Pleurisy Root – Long been found to be effective for many respiratory disorders.
  • Rabbit Tobacco – Was thought to have had spiritual or mystic powers by many Indians.
  • Rose Hip – The fruit of the rose plant has long been used in teas to soothe various problems.
  • Sage – Used for thousands of years in cooking, and like other culinary herbs, it has long been thought to be a digestive aid and appetite stimulant.
  • Saltbush – Many species are used for various conditions.
  • Sarsaparilla – Used for centuries in a wide variety of medicinal remedies.
  • Saw Palmetto – Long prized as a food product, it was also used by Native Americans to make baskets and fans, as well as in medicinal remedies.
  • Schisandra – A genus of shrub that has many medicinal uses.
  • Senna – A large genus of flowering plants found to be helpful in many remedies.
  • Slippery Elm – The tree had many traditional uses by Native Americans.
  • Star Anise – The fruit of a small tree with a licorice-like flavor long used in medicinal remedies.
  • Sweetflag – Has a long history of medicinal use in many herbal traditions.
  • Wheat Grass – The result of centuries of cultivation, it is used for numerous medical conditions.
  • White Pine –  The inner bark, young shoots, twigs, pitch, and leaves have long been used by Native Americans in medicinal remedies.
  • Wild Black Cherry – The dried inner bark was traditionally used in tea or syrups for several health problems.
  • Wild Ginger – Native Americans used the roots as a seasoning and medicinal herb.
  • Wild Lettuce – Indigenous to North America, it was used for sedative purposes, especially in nervous complaints.
  • Wild Onion – Traditionally used as food and medicine.

Cramps:

  • Blue Cohosh – Root is used in teas and tonics.
  • Cardinal Flower – Roots, leaf tea, and poultices were used internally and externally.
  • Chamomile – Commonly used in teas, it is best known to help with sleep.
  • Ginko Biloba – One of the most ancient trees in existence, it has been used for food and medicine.
  • Poke – Though parts of this plant are highly toxic to livestock and humans, it has long been used as food and medicine by Native Americans.
  • St John’s Wort – Most commonly known as an anti-depressant, it also has other medical uses.
  • Valerian Root – Has been used as a medicinal herb since at least the time of ancient Greece and Rome.
  • Wild Ginger – Native Americans used the roots as a seasoning and medicinal herb.

Croup:

  • Cardinal Flower – Roots, leaf tea, and poultices were used internally and externally.
  • White Pine –  The inner bark, young shoots, twigs, pitch, and leaves have long been used by Native Americans in medical remedies.

Cuts:

  • Marshmallow Root – Dating back thousands of years, this root has been used as food and medicine.
  • Pinon – Used so extensively by Native Americans, it was referred to by some tribes as the “tree of life.”
  • Sage – Used for thousands of years in cooking, and like other culinary herbs, it has long been thought to be a digestive aid and appetite stimulant.
  • Goldenrod – Long used for various ailments.
  • Uva Ursi – Used medicinally since the second century. Pregnant women should not use it.
  • White Pine –  The inner bark, young shoots, twigs, pitch, and leaves have long been used by Native Americans in medical remedies.
  • Witch Hazel – Widely used for medicinal purposes by American Indians.
  • Yarrow – Used for thousands of years, especially to stop bleeding.

Cysts – Cystitis:

  • Buck Brush – Applies to several North American shrubs used in herbal medicine.
  • Burdock – Roots and leaves utilized internally and externally. Avoid if pregnant or nursing.
  • Cattail – Utilized as food, as well as in external and internal medical remedies.
  • Uva Ursi – Used medicinally since the second century. Pregnant women should not use it.
  • Wheat Grass – The result of centuries of cultivation, it is used for numerous medical conditions.

Disclaimer:  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and we make no medical claims nor intend to diagnose, treat, or heal medical conditions. Women who are pregnant or nursing or persons with known medical conditions should consult their physician before taking any herbal products.

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