My grandmother grew up in Americus, GA, a rural town over 100 miles south of Atlanta. Her parents were of Cherokee descent, so I asked her about any herbal remedies passed down to her. She told me of several, but the one that she remembered with the most clarity was rabbit tobacco.
Rabbit tobacco is also known as lasting, everlasting, sweet balsam, white balsam, feather-weed, and sweet cudweed. Its scientific name is Gaphalium obtusifolium. These annual herbs reach a height of 1 to 3 feet and have erect stems with brown, shriveled leaves persisting into winter and stems covered with felt-like hairs in summer. The leaves are 1 to 3 inches long, and alternate. The flowers, minute in whitish heads, appear in late summer to fall. Fields, pastures, and disturbed areas are the sites of this common native plant of the eastern United States. The Cherokee named it rabbit tobacco because they believe it was the rabbit who took attended the plant.
In Cherokee medicine, it is believed that councils of animals created diseases in order to avenge the loss of their families and living spaces. The plants, being sympathetic to humans, decided to each furnish a cure for these diseases. It is believed that the spirit of the plant will tell a sick person which one to use to cure his illness.
Rabbit tobacco can be used medicinally in several ways. Smoking the leaves is good for sinusitis, head colds, and congestion. In hot teas, it is used to treat sore throats, fevers, diarrhea, colds, flu, pneumonia, asthma, and coughs, as well as a mild nerve sedative, a diuretic, and an antispasmodic. My grandmother said it was most often used in her home as a salve made of lard and ground up leaves. It was applied to the chest and back and caused profuse sweating. The effect is similar to Vicks in that it helped open up breathing passages. It is also believed by the Cherokee, as well as other Native American tribes, to help cleanse a house after a person’s absence or to cleanse the body after accidental contact with “bad medicine".
The Navajo creation story explains that medicine was brought to the people by an ancient owl. This owl sent down a magic bundle containing the powers of healing to the new world. For thousands of years Navajo people have used this knowledge to heal and live in harmony with each other. As a product of two worlds, Dr. Lori Alvord was one of the first people to combine modern medicine with Navajo beliefs by overcoming cultural differences.
Tobacco is connected with a number of negative effects in humans and a few other organisms. For example, the long list of negative effects range from birth defects and lessened lung capacity, to sexual impotence. All of the previously mentioned result from extended tobacco exposure in varying mediums and although they are negative effects associated with tobacco, it has also been proven that tobacco to acts as a stimulant to some animals (Nice 135). In studying how tobacco effects the body of any living being and its uses, over time new developments may progress that would allow us to use tobacco only for its positive effects while bypassing its negative ones.
Plants were believed to have magic powers and were used symbolically in healing practices. Seeds, twigs, and leaves coloured black, white and red were believed to possess healing properties. Traditional healers act as an intermediate between the physical and spiritual world to enable healing and restore balance. Drumming, dancing, and chanting are used to arouse spirits in healing
...ong, and shorter stalks are 20-100mm long. The flower length from the axils are one to three centimeters long. The optimum flowering time is from May through August. The fruit are pod shaped with seedlings coiled into two to three spirals with a strong net vein three to four millimeters long (montanaplant-life.org).
Monarda fisctulosa had various uses for the Native Americans. This multipurpose plant may also be known as Bee Balm, horsemint, wild oregano, or many more. The most common name is bee balm due to the multitude of bees that are drawn in; some rest on the back side of flower petals, while others spread pollen between the plants. In total, there is approximately fifteen known species currently growing. The parts of the plant can be consumed in a variety of ways. The plant was, and still is, used to treat many issues and illnesses. This paper will describe the characteristics of Monarda, and the many uses for the leaves and flowers.
A member of the phylum Gnetophyta, the Ephedra genus is a perennial, dioecious shrub that reaches 1 1/2 to 4 feet tall (7). There are multiple species of this genus that inhabit the desert regions in certain parts of the world. The three species E. sinica, E. intermedia, and E. equisetina are found in Asia, particularly China and Mongolia. Ephedra distacha is from Europe. India and Pakistan are home to E. gerardiana. North American species consist of E. nevadensis (Mormon tea), E. viridis (desert tea), E. americana, and E. trifurca (7). It takes an average of four years for the shrub to achieve maturation (10) and is harvested in the fall (11). Ephedra has been used medicinally for hundreds, even thousands of years in the regions where it grows.
Throughout time, mankind has persistently been seeking ways to maintain their health and to cure those that had not been so fortunate in that task. Just about everything has been experimented with as a cure for some type of illness whether physical, spiritual or mental. There has always been evidence of spiritual healing and it will continue to be an important part of any healing process, large or small. In particular, the roots of Native American Medicine men (often a woman in some cultures) may be traced back to ancient times referred to as Shaman. A special type of healer used by the Indians is referred to as a medicine man (comes from the French word medecin, meaning doctor).
Folk medicine is an important aspect of the Appalachian region. According to Mathews, folk medicine is known in involving diseases or illnesses “which are the products of indigenous cultural development and are not explicitly derived from the conceptual framework of modern medicine” (Mathews 1). Folk or traditional medicine is found in all societies, throughout in history, and predates innovation of modern medicine. Folk medicine also explains roles for “indigenous practitioners”(1) who treat and restore health for the individual and community. Folk medicine beliefs and practices serve for the treatment and prevention of aliments and are resistant to change even when the cultural tradition may have gone extinct.
When early Europeans arrived in the United States more than 500 years ago, they were surprised to see Native Americans recovering from illnesses and injuries that they considered fatal. In many ways, the Indians' herbal remedies were far superior to those known to the new immigrants. But, for the Native Americans, they had no remedies for the "diseases of civilization," or white man's diseases, such as measles and small pox, which would wipe out thousands of them over the next few centuries. Not
The Jamestown settlers cultivated hemp produced by the marijuana plant. They used these fibers to make clothing, rope, and canvas because of its quality and durability. Physicians in the 19th century were prescribing cannabis as a pain reliever, an anticonvulsant, and for migraine headaches (Doweiko, 2002). Following his work in India in the 1840's William
A pinch of Bearberry was added for a mild sedative effect during tribal council meetings. Bearberry was also used as a potent diuretic and antiseptic, to treat kidney stones as well as urinary tract infections. Teas made from bearberry are used to treat enlargement of the prostate gland. Women used the herb during heavy menstrual periods or vaginal infections. Some forms of diabetes are treated with this herb because it increases the body’s output of insulin. Bearberry can also be used as a douche, mouthwash, and antiseptic. The herb Black Cohosh is so effective in relieving women’s menopausal problems that some doctors find it as an acceptable alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy. Black Cohosh has been shown to reduce hot flashes, sweating, headaches, vertigo, heart palpitations, and tinnitus. The Native Americans used it in difficult childbirth to relax the muscles of the uterine walls. Other uses for this herb were to relieve arthritis pain, scarlet fever, smallpox, and whooping cough. One of the best features of Black Cohosh is to repel insects. A plant called Black Haw was uses to relieve menstrual cramps and has been proven to work as a uterine antispasmodic or relaxant. Dr. John Brickwell, an 18th-century medical authority used the plant to heal wounds. Dr. James A Duke, PH.D found that the plant contains four substances that help to relax the uterus. Native Americans chewed the plant and used the leaves as a paste to reduce the swelling of sprains. Black Haw grows as a bushy shrub 10 to 25 feet tall. The plant produces dark blue berries that are very sweet to eat. One of the greatest contributions Native Americans made to the modern world was the introduction of corn. Corn has also been used for its healing powers. Native Americans would drink a beverage made from corn to treat problems with the Kidneys and Bladder. A corn beverage was also used to
Tobacco is an american crop that is in the same family as the potato. It is said that tobacco began growing in the Americas around 6,000 B.C.E. and was used by native Americans as early as 1 B.C.E.! Tobacco was not commonly chewed, and not even smoked. For religious reasons it was burned and was danced around. The Native Americans believed it to be a gift from their creator. They also believed that tobacco had healing attributes, capable of healing anything, in addition to being a pain killer. It was very popular in remedying various ailments. The Native Americans were a people who praised tobacco not only of religious but also medical reasons. They also passed this on to the England pioneers looking for the journey into their lands. The Native Americans gladly gave them presents of this kind.
The Huntington Garden is home to thousands of beautiful flowers, herbs, and art works. In this garden there are plant that have some medical benefits that can help with digestion, headaches, and even cancer. Some of these herbs have some interesting myth and folklore behind them. Lemon Balm, which has been use since the Middle Ages, does have medical benefits and folklore story behind them. Another plant that I found in the Huntington garden with many medical uses is Peppermint, which also has many folklore and myth about them. Peppermint and Lemon Balm are two very useful medical herbs to have and have very interesting myth about them.
So many people are putting their health in danger by this nasty life taking produce. Smoking it's like a deadly disease that you can either choose to have it or not. Choosing not to is the best way to go for you will have better health. Life is so short why make it even shorter. If we could teach people about how smoking can harm your body then we could save many people from being addicted. Not only is smoking bad for you it's also unattractive.
Frequently a person believes that herbal medicine is more naturally safe and soothing than drugs. Nevertheless, there’s no reasonable defense about this. Though many consumers trusted herbal medicine much more than the synthetic medicine because it’s safe and effective, but like anything else, it has its own limitations too. There are several hostile issues related to herbal medicine that has been quite alarming. Notwithstanding, majority of the most popular herbs are at least nearly safe.