This practice would be considered rather dangerous by the physician of today because it might set up too much irritation in the intestines. 

 

 

 

Hop Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana [Mill.] K. Koch) "mîanoo's" [hornbeam]. The Potawatomi consider this as one of their so-called cramp barks and infusions of it are used to cure the flux. Nickell76 says that the bark is a simple bitter, tonic, antiperiodic, and alterative. The Dispensatory77 says that the heartwood and the bark possess a bitter substance that has been used at times as a substitute for quassia and has been used as an astringent. The Herbalist78 says that eclectic practitioners have used it as an antiperiodic, tonic, and alterative. It is supposed to be of value in the treatment of intermittent fevers, neuralgia, nervous debility, scrofula, and dyspepsia. It has also been used in the treatment of fever and ague. 

 

 

 

BORAGINACEAE (BORAGE FAMILY) 

Common Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum officinale L.), " boe" [stickers]. This is one of the plants that the Forest Potawatomi assert came into their country from the south and so they do not know it as a medicinal plant and it is not used. However, Nickell79 reports that it has the following medicinal properties: it is astringent, aromatic, anodyne, mucilaginous, and narcotic. 

 

 

 

CAMPANULACEAE (BELLFLOWER FAMILY) 

Marsh Bellflower (Campanula aparinoides Pursh.) "basi'bagûk" 

[small vine]. This species is not used by the Forest Potawatomi although the white man has made use of it as an emetic, a pectoral, and for ornamental purposes, according to Nickell.80 

 

 

 

CAPRIFOLIACEAE (HONEYSUCKLE FAMILY) 

Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla Lonicera Mill.) "osawoskwoni'is" [yellow liquid]. The Bush Honeysuckle is used by many of our Indian tribes of the north and is especially valuable, according to them, in urinary troubles. The Prairie Potawatomi make a tea from the root of the Bush Honeysuckle to be used as a diuretic and for the treatment of cases of gonorrhoea. Mrs. Spoon makes a medicine for vertigo in which this, the Bush Honeysuckle, is used. Her recipe for the medicine is Red Baneberry root (Actaea rubra), the twigs of (Diervilla Lonicera), the leaves and root of Liverleaf Hepatica (Hepatica triloba), and the roots of Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza longistylis). The writer saw her mix this material in her wooden mixing bowl about four inches in diameter with a wooden spoon and afterward he tasted the infusion which had a sweetish taste. Nickell81 states that the root, leaves and twigs have been found to be medicinal and used by eclectic practitioners as a diuretic, astringent and alterative. The National Dispensatory82 says that the whole plant is considered diuretic and has been applied to relieve itching.  

 

 

Twinflower (Linnaea borealis L. var. americana [Forbes] Rehder) "bîne'obûkûns" [partridge weed]. Mrs. Spoon used the entire plant of this as a squaw medicine, although just what type of female trouble it was supposed to cure was not plainly explained. Among the white men, the plant has been used as a bitter, a sub-astringent and an antirheumatic, according to Nickell.83  

 

 

American Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis Marsh.)  "îaî'ankûtci'mînaga'wîc" [berries of two sexes,�?bush]. The Forest Potawatomi combine the bark of this species with Juniper foliage and berries and with the twigs of the Bush Honeysuckle ( Diervilla Lonicera) to make a "tea" which is used as a diuretic. The National Dispensatory84 states that only the fruits are medicinal and that they are nonofficial as drugs. They have been reported as being emetic and cathartic. 

 

 

Red-berried Elder (Sambucus racemosa L.) "babackisi'ganatîk" [popgun wood]. Mrs. Spoon calls this "tcabosî'kûn" [physic]. The Prairie Potawatomi call it "papasikana'tîk" [popgun wood]. The inner bark of the Red-berried Elder is accounted the most powerful physic which the Forest Potawatomi have and it is used in the same manner as the Menomini Indians use it. There is no questioning its drastic action, but the method of its use shows considerable superstition connected with it.  Four joints of the stem are chosen, of half an inch diameter or greater.  The proper length is measured from the point of the ulna to the point of the humerus. If these joints are peeled downward and the bark steeped in warm water, the resulting cup of fluid becomes a very quick-acting purgative. However, should the same sticks have been peeled upward and the resulting "tea" drunk, then it would have been a strong emetic. The white man is apt to discover that this powerful remedy works both ways at once. The National Dispensatory85 says that the bark is a poison and has been know to cause death. Nickell86 says that medicines have been made from the inner bark of the Red-berried Elder that cause watery evacuations and are believed capable of expelling serum. It has been used to increase evacuation from the bowels and also has been used to produce vomiting. 

 

 

 

CARYOPHYLLACEAE (PINK FAMILY) 

White Campion (Lychnis alba Mill.). The White Campion is commonly found in Forest County, but the Potawatomi have no name for it nor do they have a use for it as far as the writer discovered. We find no record of its use in eclectic practice by the white man. 

 

 

 

CHENOPODIACEAE (GOOSEFOOT FAMILY) 

Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album L.)  "koko'cîbag" [pig leaf]. The Forest Potawatomi consider this a medicinal food which is used to cure or prevent scurvy. It has been used in exactly the same way by the white man according to Nickell.87 

 

 

Strawberry Elite (Chenopodium capitatum [L.] Asch.) "'mêna'-kwoskûk" [stinking or scent weed]. The ripened heads of seed of the Strawberry Elite are deep pink in color and furnish the Indian maiden an ever-ready rouge. It is used to paint the cheeks when they are getting ready for a dream dance. This same juice is rubbed on the breast to cure congestion of the lungs while the whole plant is made into a medicinal "tea" to ease any congestion in the lungs. We find no record of its use by the whites.  

 

 

Maple-leaved Goosefoot (Chenopodium hybridum L.). The Potawatomi have no name for this species nor any use as far as we have discovered and we find no record of its use by the whites. 

 

 

 

COMPOSITAE (COMPOSITE FAMILY)

The Composite Family has the largest number of species of any plant family, and is well represented in Forest County. There are about four times as many medicines found among this family as in any other family represented in the Potawatomi territory.  

 

 

 

Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium L.) "nokwe'sikûn" [perfume reviver]. The Prairie Potawatomi call it "kîshkatoa'soanûk" [flying squirrel tail]. The Forest Potawatomi place the flowers upon a plate of live coals to create a smudge which is used for two purposes. First, it is to keep any evil spirits away from the patient and second it is to give the proper sort of a scent to revive the patient who may be in a state of coma. The medicine man will sing while he fumigates the patient in a way to suggest that the patient will recover, making use of the power of suggestion as the whites were wont to do during the days of Dr. Coue. Yarrow has always been a home remedy among the whites, and especially among the German inhabitants, who call it "Schaf-esgarbetee", to break up a fever. Nickell88 records that the plant has astringent, alterative, diuretic, tonic, and vulnerary qualities. The Herbalist89 assigns to it the same qualities as Nickell and says that it has been used in decoctions to heal bleeding lungs or other hemorrhages, incontinence of urine, piles and dysentery. It has been used to promote regularity of menses, and made into an ointment to cure wounds, ulcers and fistulas. A decoction of the flowers has been used to stop the falling of hair. The leaves have been chewed to alleviate toothache. 

 

 

Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.). According to the Forest Potawatomi this plant came into their country in historic times and they never knew what it was nor had any name nor use for it as far as we could discover.  Among the whites, it has been used by eclectic practitioners in a decoction to cleanse wounds and as a poultice to allay inflammation, according to Nickell.90  

 

 

Great Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.). The Great Ragweed is an adventiveplant according to the Forest Potawatomi and they have no use nor name for it as far as we could discover. Among the Meskwaki, it was chewed to drive away fear at night.91 Eclectic practitioners use the plant to extract a tea which was stimulant, astringent, and ophthalmic, according to Nickell.92  

 

 

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea [L.] B. & H.) "wewa'bîckûnakûk" [white top], "bäkwänä'sîkûn" [fumigator]. The Forest Potawatomi dry the flowers of this species and smoke it in a pipe or smudge it on coals to drive or keep evil spirits out of the  room, which might prevent a patient from recovering. They also call attention to the fact that it smells like acorns, but there is no suggestion of this in the Potawatomi name, which it bears, as there has been in the language of other tribes. The Herbalists93 states that the plant is valuable for its astringent qualities. It has been used for fevers, quinsy, pulmonary and bronchial complaints. The patient has been recommended to chew the leaves in blossom to cure ulcers of the mouth and throat. An infusion of the flowers has been given through the rectum for the curing of bowel trouble. The poultice of the leaves has been used to heal bruises, indolent tumors, and local affections. 

 

 

Dog Fennel (Anthemis Cotula L.) "waboskû'nakûk" [white top]. While the Potawatomi assign an Indian name to this plant, they claim that it is introduced and that they do not know any use for it as far as we have been able to discover. The National Dispensatory94 says that the plant has been called "chamomile" and has been used by eclectic practitioners for its stimulant and antispasmodic properties. It has been employed to check the summer diarrhea of children. In hot fomentation in water and vinegar, it has been used with success upon sluggish ulcers, earache and rheumatism.