Many remedies appear in the literature to treat the common sore throat. As is the case with diarrhea or dysentery, the Indians employed many different plants which appear to have astringent properties. Some of these are listed below.
Barberry:
Soon after the barberry's introduction to America, this European relative of the Oregon grape was employed by several tribes for medicinal purposes. The Penobscots of Maine applied the mashed roots or bark to mouth ulcers or sore throat. The Catawabas used a stem or root infusion for stomach ulcers. Since the barberry was employed in Europe for similar purposes, it is safe to assume that the Indians borrowed the uses for this species from the earlier settlers.
Bloodroot:
To cure sore throat, the Pillager Ojibwas squeezed the root juices of bloodroot on a piece of maple sugar and held the astringent lump in their mouths.
Slippery Elm:
The Pillager Ojibwas treated sore throat with a tea made from the inner bark of slippery elm.
Goldenrod:
The Zuni chewed goldenrod blossoms and slowly swallowed the juice to cure sore throat.
White Pine:
Young, green needles of the white pine were boiled and the resulting tea drunk by various northern tribes.
Senna: (American)
Although the senna is today most frequently employed for its laxitive effects, the seeds were soaked in water and swallowed by the Meskwaki to cure sore throat.
Spruce:
The Crees ate the small cones of spruce trees to treat sore throat.
Staghorn Sumac:
A tea of staghorn sumac berries was taken by the Micmacs for sore throat. A sore-throat gargle that was prepared from a related species, smooth upland sumac, was once commonly prescribed by country doctors.
Yampa:
In the Northwest, the Blackfoot Indians chewed the root of yampa and slowly swallowed the juice to relieve sore throat.
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