Common Burdock (Arctium minus Bernh.) "asûkitä'boe" [stickers]. The Potawatomi make a "tea" from the Burdock root which is taken as a general tonic and blood purifier. Nickell95 records the use of the root, leaves and seed as medicine among the white men. The root is alterative, diuretic, and purifies the blood. The leaves have been made into poultices and placed upon tumors, boils and ulcers to hasten ripening or maturity. The seeds have been used to make a tonic which is alterative and diuretic. The Herbalist96 states that the root has been found valuable in treating rheumatism, gout, and chronic catarrh. It has also been used in skin diseases, syphilis, scrofula and to dissolve urinary deposits. Externally the infusion of the root has been used as a wash to cure eruptions, burns, wounds, hemorrhoids and swellings. 

 

Wormwood (Artemisia frigida Willd.) "nokwe'sîkûn" [perfume reviver]. This plant was evidently not native to Forest County, but had been planted by the Indians for its medicinal properties. They use it as a fumigator to revive a patient who is in coma. The foliage and flowers are fumed upon a pan of live coals and often a cone of paper is made to direct the smoke into the nostrils of the patient. We have found no record of its use by the whites.

 

Forking Aster (Aster furcatus Burgess) "name'ksibag" [trout leaf]. The basal leaves of this aster are the ones used and they are much larger than the stem leaves and more apt to be found than the fertile part of the plant. The leaves are steeped and the solution is rubbed upon the head to cure a severe headache. We have found no record of its use by the whites. 

 

New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae L.). The Forest Pota-watomi have no name or use for this plant to our knowledge. However it was known to the Prairie Potawatomi as "pukwänä'sîkûn" [reviver], and was used as one of the fumigating agents. We have found no record of its use by the whites. 

 

Arrow-leaved Aster (Aster sagittifolius Wedemeyer) "skîbwa'-ogîcîns." Although the Potawatomi had an Indian name for this Aster, they had no medicinal use for it to our knowledge. We have found no record of its use by the whites.  

 

Short's Aster (Aster Shortii Lindl.) "weasawe'nokûk" [yellow top]. The Potawatomi use the flowering tops of this species for a medicinal tea. The National Dispensatory97 states that the flowers have been used by the whites as a mild carminative, anti-spasmodic and intestinal astringent.  

 

Umbelled Aster (Aster umbellatus Mill.) "bakwanä'sîkûn" [reviver]. The Potawatomi used the flowers of this species as a smudge to drive away the evil spirits working against patient's recovery. Nickell98 records that the root has been used as a diaphoretic, and a rheumatic, tonic and aromatic.

 

Bur Marigold (Bidens cernua L.) "asûkîtä'boe" [stickers]. This plant came into the Potawatomi country in historic times. They have not used it to our knowledge, although they give it the common name of "stickers" along with several other plants. Nickell99 records that it has been used among the whites as an expectorant and an emmenagogue. It has also been used to cure the croup. 

 

Corn Flower (Centaurea Cyanus L.). This plant is clearly an escape from cultivation and while it is well spread over the country in Forest County, the Potawatomi recognize it as a recent arrival and have no name or use for it to our knowledge. Nickell100 states that the flowers have been used among the whites as a cordial, a tonic, and a remedy for diseases of the eye.  

 

Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum L. var. pinnatifidum Lecoq & Lamotte). This plant has come into the Potawatomi country in historic times and they have no name or use for it to our knowledge. Nickell101 says it has been used among the whites for its acrid qualities. 

 

Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense [L.] Scop.) "masanes" [itching or little thistle]. The Potawatomi claim that this plant has come into their country but they do not use it to our knowledge, although they find it troublesome as a farm weed. The Meskwaki102 made use of the root as a seasoner for other medicines.

 

Bull Thistle (Cirsium lanceolatum [L.] Hill) "gîtci'masan" [big thistle]. Fresh centers of the flowers are chewed by the Potawatomi in combination with bitter and unpleasant medicaments, to mask the unpleasant portions. This is the first and only time that we have discovered a masticatory medicine. Among the whites, the root has been used as a tonic, alterative and hepatic while the leaves have been used to allay inflammation, according to Nickell.103 The National Dispensatory104 states that the entire plant has been used to make a tea, which is tonic and diuretic.  

 

Fireweed (Erechtites hieracifolia [L.] Raf.) "asûkîtä'boe" [stickers]. The Potawatomi claim that this plant has come into their territory in historic times and they have no name or use for it to our knowledge. Nickell105 says that it has been used by the whites for its emetic, tonic, astringent, and alterative qualities. It has been used in treating cases of piles. The Herbalist106 says that it is used as a tonic and astringent. It has been used in the treatment of fevers, bowel troubles and for curing night sweats. As a gargle, an infusion of the plant has been used to heal ulcerated mouth, throat troubles and spongy and bleeding gums. 

 

Horseweed (Erigeron canadensis L.) The Potawatomi have no Indian name as far as we have found, for this plant but know it as a medicine for horses. Among the whites, it has been used as an astringent, tonic, diuretic and styptic.107 The Herbalist108 records it as a tonic, diuretic and astringent remedy and says that the plant infusion has been used in the treatment of  gravel, diabetes, dropsy and kidney diseases, diarrhea and dysentery.  

 

Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium purpureum L. var. maculatum [L.] Darl.)109 "caca'bagsît" [piercing leaf stem]. Fresh leaves of Joe-Pye weed are used by the Potawatomi to make poultices for healing burns. Mrs. Spoon used the root under the name "maskwano'kûk" [red top] as a medicine to clear up after-birth. Among the whites, the root and the herb have both been used for medicines. The root is said to have diuretic, stimulant, astringent and tonic properties, while the plant itself is diuretic and tonic.110 The Herbalist111 says that the root has diuretic, astringent and tonic properties and has been used by eclectic practitioners in the treatment of chronic urinary disorders, hematuria, gout and rheumatism. 

 

Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) The Potawatomi did not know this plant and had no Indian name for it to our knowledge, but the bulb is well known to the whites for its edibility and food value. It has also been used as a diuretic according to Nickell.112   

 

Rough Hawkweed (Hieracium scabrum Michx.). This plant is considered adventive by the Potawatomi and they have no Indian name or use for it to our knowledge. It is not known to our knowledge to be used by the whites.  

 

Tall Blue Lettuce (Lactuca spicata [Lam.] Hitchc.) "nona'-gonawûck" [teat weed]. The Potawatomi say that this is used for a medicine but my informant could not tell me in what manner. The fact that this plant has milky juice suggests that they might use it as a lacteal stimulant. There is no record to our knowledge of its use by the whites.   

 

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta L.) "memakate'nîngweûk" [black eyeballs]. The Potawatomi used the root of the Black-eyed Susan to make a tea for curing colds. The National Dispensatory113 records the use of the leaves among the whites as a stimulant and diuretic. A decoction of the leaves is freely administered for these purposes. 

 

Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L. var. gilvocanescens Rydb.) "owesa'wenokûk" [yellow top]. Several of the Goldenrods are used by the Forest Potawatomi for medicine. They usually take the flowering tops to make a "tea" and treat special kinds of fevers with it. The dried flowers have been used as a substitute for tea as a beverage by the whites. The National Dispensatory114 says that eclectic practitioners have used it as a mild carminative and anti-spasmodic in medicines. It has been used in the form of a tea for an intestinal astringent.  

 

Fragrant Goldenrod (Solidago graminifolia [L.] Salisb.) "wesawa'nakûk" [yellow top]. The flowering tops of this species have been used by the Forest Potawatomi in infusions to cure some kinds of fevers. Nickell115 says that the leaves and oil of the Fragrant Goldenrod have been used for their carminative, stimulant, diuretic, diaphoretic, and astringent properties. 

 

Broad-leaved Goldenrod (Solidago latifolia L.) "wesawûnû'kitos" [little yellow top]. The Potawatomi use the whole herb of the Broad-leaved Goldenrod to brew a kind of medicine for certain fevers. There is no record to our knowledge of its use by the whites. 

 

Late Goldenrod (Solidago serotina Ait.) "wesawa'bakwoni'k" [yellow top]. This was known to Mrs. Spoon as "wesawakwe'ak". A medical tea is brewed from the inflorescence and used for various kinds of fevers. The National Dispensatory116 says that this species has been  considered a mild carminative, anti-spasmodic and intestinal astringent by the whites.  According to the Dispensatory, the flowers of this species are one of the principal ingredients of  the proprietary medicine known as Blue Mountain Tea.  

 

Bog Goldenrod (Solidago uliginosa Nutt.) "wesawano'kûk" [yellow plant]. The Potawatomi call attention to the fact that this plant has a root like a turnip, but very much harder and say that they use it to make a poultice to bring a boil to a head. The National Dispensatory117 says that it has been used among eclectic practitioners as a mild carminative and a spasmodic and intestinal astringent. 

 

Field Sow Thistle (Sonchus arvensis L.) "a'wesawano'kûk" [yellow plant]. The fresh leaves of this are gathered by the Potawatomi to make a tea for the treatment of caked breasts. The writer noticed the tendency to use plants with milky juice to treat lacteal troubles, which suggests an affinity with the old idea of the doctrine of signatures. Nickell118 states that the juice of this plant has been used by the whites as a bitter and a diuretic. 

 

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber)119 "asawa'bagwûnik" [yellow flower]. The Prairie Potawatomi call this "wasakûtcä'pûk" [strong root]. The Forest Potawatomi use the roots as a bitter tonic. According to Nickell120 the root has been used by the whites as a stomachic, tonic, diuretic, aperient, blood purifier, and liver remedy. The Herbalist121 states that the fresh root has been used as a stomachic, tonic, slight diuretic and aperient while the dried root has been used in treating diseases of the liver and spleen. It has been used in the treatment of dropsy, but is much over-rated as a medicine.

 

 

 

CORNACEAE (DOGWOOD FAMILY) 

Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia L. f.)122 "mowo'-samic" [moose wood]. The Forest Potawatomi use the bark of the Alternate leaved Dogwood to make an infusion which is used as an eye-wash. This is supposed to cure granulation of the eyelids. Nickell123 says that the bark has been used among the whites as a diaphoretic, astringent, and febrifuge. 

 

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis L.) "kakawi'sak" [popcorn weed]. The Bunchberry was not considered medicine by the Forest Potawatomi, but the bark of the plant was used by the whites as an astringent, a tonic, diaphoretic, and febrifuge according to Nickell.124

 

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera Michx.) "mêmskwa'kwûk" [red stemmed bush]. The Potawatomi say that the root bark is the most efficacious remedy they have for treating diarrhea and flux. The National Dispensatory125 says that the bark of the Red Osier Dogwood has been used by the white man as a mild astringent, an aromatic bitter and stomachic. Large doses have proved emetic