Cowboy & Native American Herbal Cures
The culture of the American Cowboy and the use of herbs have widely crossed paths with the American Indian and also with the Mexican cowboys or “Vaqueros”. Much of the knowledge of herb-use was also brought in from the “old country” of each cowboy’s own heritage.
There is also some major influence from the Chinese due to the Chinese railroad workers who brought their Chinese Medicine with them.
The different regions of the country offered different herbs that were available and growing near by. However, much of the cowboy’s herbal medicine came from the Southwest. This includes a vast amount of cattle country including Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California, Nevada, Mexico and even parts of Oklahoma and Colorado. You will be surprised to find out how these herbs became the base of our modern natural medicine of today.
Chaparral is very common in all of the Southwest. It is also known as “Greasewood” and “Creosote Bush” This herb was a favorite of the Mexican Vaqueros and was used by all the Indian tribes in the region. The American cowboy quickly adopted the use of this herb after seeing how man and beast were healed internally and externally by this amazing plant.
Its uses are legion and there are countless stories of horses (And cowboys) being gored by bulls and surviving by the use of Chaparral powder dusted into their wounds. There are also countless stories of bullets being removed with nothing but Chaparral tincture used as an antiseptic leaving perfect healing.
The cowboys also encountered many of the Cherokees who shared there medicine and gave us so much of our modern knowledge of herbal medicine today. The two so very popular herbs known as Echinacea and Golden-seal were both presented to us by the Cherokees and these herbs could always be counted on by the cowboy’s camp cooks to stop deadly infection while out on the trail.
There was also the very well known Yellow Dock and the lesser known Red Dock which, although closely related, had opposite uses:
The Yellow Dock Root was used as the perfect mild laxative (Commonly needed out on the trail) and the Red Dock Root could stop the worst cases of diarrhea (Just as common out on the trail)
http://www.herbreference.com/
Native American Herbal Remedies
(See also)
http://www.old-home-remedies-guide.com/
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/na-remedy.html
http://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-culture/herbal-remedies.htm
Asthma Skunk Cabbage.Used by the Winnebago and Dakota tribes to stimulate the removal of phlegm in asthma. 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. Backache Arnica.The Catawba Indians used a tea of arnica roots for treating back pains. The Dispensary of the United States (22nd edition) states this drug can be dangerous if taken internally and that it has caused 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 hot 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. 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. Burns Yellow-Spined Thistle.The Kiowa Indians boiled yellow-spined thistle blossoms and applied the resulting liquid to burns and skin sores. Childbirth To Speed Childbirth: Partridgeberry.The Cherokee used a tea of the boiled leaves. Frequent doses of the tea were taken in the few weeks preceding the expected date of delivery. Blue Cohosh.To promote a rapid delivery, an infusion of the root in warm water was drunk as a tea for several weeks prior to the expected delivery date. To Speed Delivery of the Placenta:
American Licorice.A tea was made from the boiled roots. Broom Snakeweed.Navajo women drank a tea of the whole plant to promote the expulsion of the placenta. To Stop Post-Partum Hemorrhage:
Buckwheat.Hopi women were given an infusion of the entire buckwheat plant to stop bleeding. Black Western Chokecherry.Arikara women were given a drink of the berry juice to stop bleeding. Smooth Upland Sumac.The Omahas boiled the smooth upland sumac fruits and applied the liquid as an external wash to stop bleeding. To relieve the Pain of Childbirth:
Wild Black Cherry.Cherokee women were given a tea of the inner bark to relieve pain in the early stages. Cotton.The Alabama and Koasati tribes made a tea of the roots of the plant to relieve the pains of labor. 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. Colic Catnip.The Mohegans made a tea of catnip leaves for infant colic. 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.The 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 Indian people 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 dark liquid as a cough remedy. 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 Blackcherry.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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Sources: Millspaugh, Charles F. American Medicinal Plants. NY: Dover Publications, 1974.
Mooney, James. Myths of the Cherokee and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees. Nashville TN: Charles and Randy Elders, Publishers, 1982.
Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine Earth Food. NY: Fawcett Columbine, 1980.
Type-2 Diabetes
Though there is no real approved alternative treatment for type-2 diabetes, there are some interesting research studies taking place that suggest that the following may be effective in helping to control it in the future.
Ginseng for immune enhancement and diabetes
Ginseng revs up the immune system. A University of Alberta study found that subjects taking daily doses of ginseng got fewer colds and less severe symptoms than a placebo group. Ginseng also reduces blood-sugar levels. A study in Toronto, Canada, found that Korean red ginseng improved glucose and insulin regulation in well-controlled type II diabetes.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is actually one of the most powerful healing spices, and has become most famous for its ability to improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes. As little as 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon a day could cut triglycerides and total cholesterol levels by 12 to 30 percent. Cinnamon can even help prevent blood clots, making it especially heart smart.
MAGNESIUM
Has been shown to improve sensitivity to insulin and thereby lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
Doc's word: "My patients with type 2 diabetes often have low magnesium levels," says Guarneri. She's found that supplementing it helps lower high blood sugar, reducing their reliance on meds. Dose: 200 to 250 mg twice daily, but those with advanced kidney disease should avoid it.
Psyllium for digestive problems
Psyllium is a tiny seed that contains mucilage, a soluble fiber that swells on exposure to water. For diarrhea, psyllium can absorb excess fluid in the gut. For constipation, it adds bulk to stool, which presses on the colon wall and triggers the nerves that produce the urge to go. When using psyllium, drink plenty of water.
Red pepper for pain relief
Capsaicin, the compound that gives red pepper (cayenne) its fiery flavor, is a potent topical pain reliever, found in a German study to reduce pain by 50 percent versus placebo’s 23 percent. When rubbed on the skin, it causes mild burning but that sensation desensitizes nearby pain nerves and soothes pain in deeper tissues.
Tea tree oil for athlete’s foot
Tea tree is an Australian plant with an antifungal, antiseptic oil. In a double-blind trial, 158 people with athlete’s foot were treated with placebo, a 25 percent tea tree oil solution or a 50 percent tea tree oil solution for four weeks. Results showed that the tea tree oil solutions were more effective than placebo.
Turmeric for arthritis and joint injuries
Curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric, is an anti-inflammatory. In combination with boswellia, ashwagandha and ginger, it may treat osteoarthritis, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology. And a study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research in March found curcumin to be comparable in efficacy to a prescription anti-inflammatory for treating rheumatoid arthritis.
Valerian for insomnia
Studies have shown that valerian aids sleep, often as well as pharmaceutical sedatives but without risk of addiction. In a study in the European Journal of Medical Research, investigators gave 202 insomniacs valerian or a Valium-like tranquilizer. After six weeks, the treatments were equally effective.
Garlic for Cholesterol
When chewed or chopped, garlic is a potent natural antibiotic; it also has anti-viral properties. It reduces cholesterol and helps prevent the formation of internal blood clots that trigger heart attacks. how to: In food, season to taste. For tea, steep 6 cloves in a cup of cool water for 6 hours.
Cloves for toothache
Put a couple of whole cloves in your mouth. Let them soften a bit, then bite on them gently with good molars to release their oil. Then move them next to the painful tooth and keep them there for up to half an hour.
Honey Heals Canker Sores
Researchers at Saudi Arabia’s Salman bin AbdulAziz University gathered a group of 94 people suffering from canker sores and randomly separated them into three groups. The first treated their sores with plain old commercial honey, the second used an oral corticosteroid cream, and the third got an over-the-counter product that forms a protective paste to cover sores while they heal. Participants applied their respective treatments three times daily while researchers observed the effects. In just 4 days, all sores in the honey group had disappeared completely—but the number of sores in groups 2 and 3 hadn’t budged. Honey even helped to soothe pain. After day 1, honey users reported a 95.5% decrease in pain, with total pain elimination by day 2. Groups 2 and 3 were not so lucky: It took them 8 days to reach the same pain-free state.
HONEY Reduces Coughing Fits
In several studies, honey was as effective as over-the-counter medicine for reducing the frequency of coughing fits. Bonus: It's antimicrobial.
Doc's word: Romm suggests adding bacteria-killing thyme to speed recovery. Dose: Mix ½ cup honey and ½ oz thyme tincture. Adults can take 1 to 2 tsp of the mixture as needed; ½ to 1 tsp for children over 2.
Baking Soda For itch relief
Make a paste with water and apply directly to mosquito bites to relieve swelling and itching.
Basic First Aid Tips
http://www.simplesurvival.net/articles/basic_first_aid_concepts.htm