POTAWATOMI MEDICINAL PLANTS  

 

 

 

ACERACEAE (MAPLE FAMILY) 

Red Maple (Acer rubrum L.) "cicigîme'-wîc" [red maple]. The inner bark of the red maple is boiled and used as an eyewash. Pammel mentions the same thing in his treatise on poisonous plants,33 so that it appears that this use by the Indians is fairly widespread. Among the whites,34 a solution of the inner bark is astringent and ophthalmic.  

 

 

 

Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.)35 "kisinamî'c" [cold tree or timber].  The inner bark of the sugar maple is used as an expectorant. This bark yields an infusion which is accounted tonic, anthelmintic, and ophthalmic, by the white man.36 

 

 

 

Mountain Maple (Acer spicatum Lam.), "caca'gobimîc" [soft wood]. The inner bark is employed with other medicinal materials to make a combination syrup for coughs. The National Dispensatory says37 the bark very closely resembles Viburnum Opulus and is entirely substituted for it. The bark extract has been used by the white man as an antispasmodic in asthma, hysteria, puerperal convulsions and dysmenorrhoea. Among the whites,38 the bark extract is considered ophthalmic and diuretic.  

 

 

 

ALISMACEAE (WATER-PLANTAIN FAMILY) 

Broad-leaved Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia Willd.)39 "wabasi'-binik" [white potato]. The starchy corms that are produced on short lateral rootlets of this plant are pounded into a pulp. The pulp is used for poulticing wounds and sores. Among the whites,40 the root is considered refrigerant, astringent and detergent, cooling the body and exerting a cleansing action upon wounds, boils and ulcers. Lyons41 says that the California Indians also used these corms under the name "wappate" or "wapatoo".  

 

 

 

ANACARDIACEAE (SUMAC FAMILY) 

Poison Ivy (Rhus Toxicodendron L.) "makaki'bag" [toad weed]. The Forest Potawatomi consider this plant to be poisonous, as do the whites. Even the eclectic practitioners who formerly used it have abandoned it because they did not get good results from it. However the Prairie Potawatomi, according to John Macintosh42 know it under the name "tatapa'kwe" [climbs trees] and-say that only the most skillful medicine men know how to use it. They pound the root to make a poultice and place it upon a swelling to cause it to open.  

 

 

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina L.)43 "bakwanimî'c" [puckering? bush]. Most of our Wisconsin Indian tribes make use of the staghorn sumac for medicine and use various parts of the shrub. The root, bark and leaves all are medicines. The root bark is used as a hemostatic. The leaves are steeped to make a tea, used in gargling for sore throat, tonsilitis and erysipelas. The berries are used to make a medicinal tea. They are also often mixed with other plant medicines to expel worms. It is quite likely that the abundant hairs upon the fruit, irritate the stomach lining and cause worms to be expelled. Among the whites,44 the bark and leaves are considered tonic, astringent, and antiseptic, while the fruit is diuretic, refrigerant and acidulous. 

 

 

 

 

APOCYNACEAE (DOGBANE FAMILY) 

Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium L.)45 "dodoca'-bowûng" [woman's breast weed]. This is the usual term used by the Forest Potawatomi, but it is also called "magosä'sîngä'sikîk" [awl-shaped], according to Mrs. Spoon. This same plant was known among the Prairie Potawatomi as "makosä'kasêkûk" which is almost the same term that Mrs. Spoon employs. The majority of the Forest Potawatomi used the root of Spreading Dogbane as a diuretic and urinary medicine, although Mrs. Spoon and the Prairie Potawatomi informant called it a heart and kidney medicine and used the green fruits, which they boiled to extract the active principle. Nickell46 says that this plant has similar properties to the official Apocynum cannabinum L., which is used as a diuretic and in cardiac and renal dropsy. The root extract has been used among white men as an emetic, cathartic, sudorific and expectorant.  

 

 

 

 

AQUIFOLIACEAE (HOLLY FAMILY) 

Mountain Holly (Nemopanthus mucronata [L.] Trel.),

"sakwa'kmînagawîc" or "bosakwa'komînaga'wîc" [plum? bush]. We find two species of the Holly Family native to Wisconsin, the Winterberry (Ilex verticillata [L.] Gray), which is a true species of Holly and the Mountain Holly, which is the species that the Forest Potawatomi use. Small branches of the Mountain Holly are cooked. The resulting liquid is again boiled until it resembles a syrup and this syrup is used as a tonic. Mrs. Spoon named this species as one of the fifty that she used to combine and boil down as a syrup which became a sort of "shot-gun prescription" for many different kinds of diseases. She did not enumerate all of the fifty kinds that went into the medicine but they must have been varied enough to cure almost any ill to which the human flesh is heir. Among the whites,47 the uses of Mountain Holly are divided into two classes; the bark of the shrub is tonic, bitter, alterative, febrifuge and astringent. The fruit is used as a cathartic and a vermifuge.  

 

 

 

 

ARACEAE (ARUM FAMILY) 

Sweet Flag (Acorus Calamus L.) "wike" [flag]. This plant was known to the Prairie Potawatomi as "sinipisi'-wun". Sweet Flag is not common at all in Forest County and it required several trips to discover a supply of it. It is a valued medicine and used for various ailments. The dried root is powdered and snuffed up the nose to cure catarrh. It is also one of the ingredients of a remedy to stop a hemorrhage. The formula for this remedy is—chips of the heartwood from a four-inch Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana [Mill.] K. Koch); the heartwood chips of a four-inch Arbor Vitae (Thuja occidentalis L.); root of the Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus L.) ; and a handful of the root bark of the common Shining Willow (Salix lucida Muhl.). These materials are placed in a vessel covered with two quarts of water, which is boiled down to a pint. One tablespoonful of this mixture is taken every hour until the hemorrhage stops. This is one of the very bitterest medicines that the Forest Potawatomi have and is described as being as bitter as gall. Many of the Indians in speaking of this remedy are inclined to be cautious in the amount used and say that only a very small piece of the root is necessary. Among the whites it has always been considered that any amount of the dried root might be used to relieve dyspepsia. It was formerly used by the whites48 as a mild stimulant and tonic, used in the treatment of flatulent colic and atonic dyspepsia and said to be beneficial in typhoid fever as a stimulant. Nickell49 cites its properties as  aromatic, carminative, tonic and vulnerary. The Herbalist50 claims that it improves the gastric juice and removes gases and sourness. The fact is cited that it has been used in chlorosis, dropsy, scurvy, gout, lameness and fevers.  

 

 

Water Arum (Calla palustris L.) "wabasi'pîni'bag" [white potato leaf or swan potato root]. The Forest Potawatomi find that the root of the Water Arum when pounded and applied as a poultice to swellings, is very efficacious in reducing them. Nickell51 says that it has been used by the whites as a stimulant, caustic and for its mucilaginous qualities.  

 

 

 

 

ARALIACEAE (GINSENG FAMILY) 

Bristly Sarsaparilla (Aralia hispida Vent.) "babîkwe'wûnûskûns" [little flute stem]. This medicine seems to be known only to Mrs. Spoon and she said that the root is used as an alterative and tonic, that it is nowhere common in Forest County and most of the other Indians consulted had never noticed the difference between this species and Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis L.). Among the white men52 the leaves have been used as a sudorific while the root possesses properties that are emetic, hydrogogue and alterative.  

 

 

 

The National Dispensatory53 speaks of the value of Bristly Sarsaparilla for the aromatic properties resident in its root. Lyons54 records that the bark of this species has been used as a diuretic and alterative.

 

Wild Sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis L.) "okadag" [leg]. This is a valued root among the Forest Potawatomi and they pound it into a mass to be used as a poultice to reduce swelling and cure infections. It is also said to have the same properties and use as Spikenard (Aralia racemosa L.),55 namely, stimulant, diaphoretic and alterative. Pammel56 records that it has been used for its aromatic and stimulating properties.  

 

 

Indian Spikenard (Aralia racemosa L.)57 "okadag" [leg]. The Forest Potawatomi pound the root into a pulp to be used as a hot poultice on inflammations. It is interesting to note the use of this root among the different tribes. The Menomini use it in cases of blood poisoning while the Meskwaki use the root as a seasoner for other medicines. 

 

 

Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) "gisêns". This pronunciation is undoubtedly the attempt of the Forest Potawatomi to give the plant the English common name since other tribes have a regular Indian word for Ginseng. The Prairie Potawatomi call Ginseng "wenane" [calf of the leg]. However, the Forest Potawatomi make extensive use of the Ginseng root for medicine, whereas some of the other tribes do not use it at all, but only gather it to sell. Ginseng has very little medicinal virtue, according to the white man and the fact that it is so high priced is due to the Chinese demand for this root. They are particularly interested in Ginseng root that has the appearance of the human torso and use it as a fetish.  It is interesting to note that the Chinese also use Ginseng as a medicine, supposing it to have a certain virtue that renders their other medicines powerful. We have even discovered its use as a season in some of their pills given to a Chinese patient in the Milwaukee Hospital who was recovering from a premature stillbirth. Chinese people have also told us that the Ginseng is regarded as a cure-all and a necessity in many medicines of their making. The Forest Potawatomi pound the root to make a poultice to cure earache and soak the pounded root to obtain a wash for curing sore eyes. They also used it in many of their powdered medicines as a season to mask the had flavor of some other ingredients. 

 

 

 

ARISTOLOCHIACEAE (BIRTHWORT FAMILY) 

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense L.)58 "ba'boan" [its name], "nîme'bîn" is another Forest Potawatomi term for it. The Prairie Potawatomi calls it "kupua" [ginger]. The Forest Potawatomi use Wild Ginger as a mild stomachic principally to flavor meat or fish and render them more edible. In the National Dispensatory59 it is also called the Canada Snakeroot and is a feeble remedy accounted tonic, aromatic and slightly diuretic. It has been used by eclectic practitioners in convalescence from acute febrile infections. Nickell60 states that it has aromatic, stimulant, diaphoretic, carminative and expectorant qualities, while the Herbalist61 states that it has been used in the treatment of colds, colic, amenorrhoea and pains in the stomach.  

 

 

 

ASCLEPIADACEAE (MILKWEED FAMILY) 

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca L.)62 "anˆrni'wîc" [man weed]. The root of the Common Milkweed is used by the Forest Potawatomi as a medicine, but we were unable to find out for what ailments. Among the whites we have several references to its use. Nickell63 records it as having tonic, diuretic, alterative, purgative and emetic qualities. The National Dispensatory64 says that it has been used as a vulnerary, while the milky juice has been used to cure warts. Lyons65 records that the roots have a diuretic, diaphoretic and sedative quality. 

  

 

 

BALSAMINACEAE (TOUCH-ME-NOT FAMILY) 

Spotted Touch-me-not (Impatiens biflora, Walt.)66 "twatubîgo'-nîak  [touch-me-not]. The Prairie Potawatomi call this "wasawa'shiak" [yellow  slippery]. This is accounted a valuable medicine among the Forest Potawatomi who use the fresh juice of the plant to wash nettle stings or poison ivy infections. The writer knows that it instantly alleviates the sting of the Stinging Nettle and has it from the Indians that it will cure and alleviate the itching of Poison Ivy. An infusion of the whole plant is drunk to cure colds in the chest or cramps in the stomach. The Potawatomi also boil the infusion of the plant down to a thicker mass which they use as a liniment for treating sprains, bruises and soreness. Nickell67 records the properties of the plant as diuretic, emetic and alterative.

 

 

 

BERBERIDACEAE (BARBERRY FAMILY)

Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides [L.] Michx.)68 "otci'-komînaga'wîc" [fisher plant]. Another Forest Potawatomi term for this is "ano'mînûm" [?berry]. This is known to the Forest Potawatomi as the Squaw Root and it seems to be of rather universal use among all of our Indian tribes to furnish a tea which suppresses profuse menstruation and aids in childbirth. Among the eclectic practitioners of the whites, it has been used in cases of hysteria and uterine diseases. The eclectics claim that it prevents abortions by causing uterine contraction when uterine inertia is present.69 The Herbalist70 ascribed to it the properties of an emmenagogue, parturient, anti-spasmodic, diuretic, diaphoretic, and anthelminthic. They say that it is used in chronic uterine diseases.

  

 

 

BETULACEAE (BIRCH FAMILY) 

Speckled Alder (Alnus incana [L.] Moench) "atob" [bitter]. The Potawatomi scrape the inner bark of the Speckled Alder and use the juice obtained to rub on the body to cure the itch. A bark tea is made for flushing the vagina and to make a rectal application with their home-made form of syringe as described previously, to shrivel the anal muscles and thus cure cases of piles. Potions of the bark tea are also drunk to cure the flux. The powdered inner bark of the Speckled Alder is used to sprinkle upon galled spots of their ponies to cure them.  Nickell71 says that the bark has alterative, emetic and astringent properties. The Herbalist72 says that the bark has been used in the treatment of scrofula and has been considered as alterative and emetic.  

 

 

Paper Birch (Betula alba L. var. papyrifera [Marsh.] Spach) "wîgwa'samîc" [wigwam tree]. The wintergreen or Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) is not found in Wisconsin, but the twigs of the Paper Birch  are sweet and aromatic, somewhat the same as the Sweet Birch. The Forest Potawatomi gather the twigs and put them to soak to extract the fragrant oil which is used to season other medicines, or to mask disagreeable flavors. The National Dispensatory73 says that the leaves are diuretic. Nickell74 says that the twigs have astringent and bitter principles while the oil is fragrant. 

 

 

Yellow Birch (Betula lutea Michx. f.) "wînîsi'k" or "wînîsa'tîk" [wood smells]. The twigs of the Yellow Birch are also aromatic as are the twigs of the white and the Sweet Birch and these twigs are also gathered by the Forest Potawatomi to extract the fragrant oil which is used as a seasoner for other less pleasant medicines. We have found no record of its use by white men. 

 

 

Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus rostrata Ait.) "cîkane'samîc" according to Indian George and ‘Snabe Jim. "cîkana'- sîmînaga'wîc" according to Mrs. Spoon. This is the only species of Hazelnut found in Forest County and the Potawatomi use the inner bark in medicinal combinations very much the same as they use the inner bark of the willow. It is used as an astringent. The National Dispensatory75 records the fact that eclectic practitioners use the spicula or sharp points of the involucre as an anthelmintic, to expel worms from the intestines.