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Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. (balsam fir)
The gum was put on warm stones and the smoke inhaled to calm convulsions and rheumatism. The gum was also mixed with bear grease and spread on the hair.
Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow)
The leaves were dried and chewed, or boiled in water and drunk, to relieve headaches. It was also used for sores of the skin. The root was made into a decoction and spread on the sore. Yarrow was also used as a stimulant by
chewing the dried root and then spitting it on the limbs that were sore. A wad of leaves in the ear helped for earaches. Also used it to make a wash to reduce swellings.Acorus calamus L. (calamus; sweetflag)
The root was pulverized and snuffed to relieve colds, or could be mixed with water and drank for fever. The root was also dried and chewed to relieve coughs or tootheaches. The roots could also be used to relieve a sore throat be being mixed with water and gargled for children, and the roots chewed by adults. Another use of the roots was for the physic. The root was scalded and mixed with water and about a half cup drank.
Actaea rubra (Ait.) Willd. (red baneberry)
The root of the plant that has white berries was mixed with water and drunk to stop excessive flow periods.
Agastache anethiodom (Nutt.) Britton. (giant hyssop)
The root was steeped in water and then drank to relieve chest congestion from colds that were leading toward pneumonia, and also for chest pains and coughs. The flowers were dried and mixed with coneflower and goldenrod flowers and used as a poultice. When needed the flowers were moistened, applied, and covered with a bandage. The leaves alone were also used for a burn, it was said to be very strong and to help prevent blisters (Densmore 1974).
Allionia nyctaginea Michx. (umbrella plant)
The root dried or fresh was applied as a poultice for sprains.
Allium stellatum Ker. (wild onion)
The root was mixed with water and sweetened, then drank to relieve colds, mainly for children.
Alnus incana (L.) Moench. (alder)
The root was mixed with water and bumble bees, and drunk to help ease difficult labor. The root mixed with roots of dogwoods was used as a wash or compress for sore eyes.
Amelanchier canadensis (L.) Medic. (shadbush)
The root was steeped in water and drunk to prevent miscarriage. The inner bark mixed with wild cherry and plum and choke cherry was used as a disinfection wash.
Amorpha canescens Pursh. (lead plant; shoestring)
The stems were attached to the skin and burned down to it to relieve neuralgia and rheumatism.
Anaphalis margaritacea (L.) B. & H. (pearly everlasting)
The flowers steeped in water were sprinkled on hot stones and fumes breathed in for rheumatism.
Andropogon furcatus Muhl. (bluestem)
The root was mixed with water and drank to relieve indigestion. The root was mixed with water and drank to stop urine. It was also used to stop pains in the stomach and burns.
Andropogon gerardi Vitman. (big bluestem)
The lower leaf blades were chopped fine and mixed with water and drunk for general debility of unknown cause. It was also used for fevers by making cuts in the forehead and applying the mixture to it.
Anemone canadensis L. (anemone; windflower)
The root was used on wounds and as a wash for eye sores.
Anemone patens L. (pasque flower)
The leaves were crushed and applied to cause blisters as a counter irritant for rheumatism.
Apocynum androsaemifolium L. (dogbane)
The root was powdered and mixed with Lathyrus venosus Muhl. (wild pea), and taken internally to stop convulsions. Dogbane had many other uses as well, for excessive nervousness in which headaches were a symptom, where the root was dried and powdered and either snuffed, put on hot stones and the fumes inhaled, or moistened with water and put on incisions made on the temple. It was also used for heart palpitations, in which 4 pieces of dried root were mixed in a quart of water, boiled, and then drunk. Dogbane was also used for colds, where a weak decoction was made from the root and taken internally, this was mainly for infants. The root was also dried and powdered and then snuffed to relieve congestion from head colds. A decoction was also made from one arm length of root and a bit of boiling water. Some cotton was then moistened with the decoction and stuffed up the nostrils to stop nosebleeds. Dogbane was also used for earaches, where a weak decoction was poured into the ear.
Aralia racemosa L. (spikenard)
The roots were mixed with water and drunk to calm heart palpitations. The root was pounded and applied as a poultice on boils. It could also be used as a poultice for fractured bones, usually mixed with another root though like wild ginger.
Arctium minus Bernh. (burdock)
The leaves were mixed with a cup of boiling water and drunk to relieve a cough. Root mixed with water taken for pleurisy.
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (bearberry)
The leaves were dried and pulverized and made into a decoction that was sprinkled on hot stones and the smoke inhaled to relieve headaches. Or the dried leaves could be combined with tobacco or red willow and smoked to relieve headaches.
Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Torr. (jack-in-the-pulpit)
The corm was pulverized and applied to rheumatic joints. Root could also be mixed with water and applied to sore eyes.
Artemesia dracunculoides Pursh. (flowering plant; mugwort)
The leaves and flowers were dried and mixed with a handful of mugwort and steeped in 1 1/2 pints of water, cooled and then 1/2 cup was drank to relieve heart palpitations. Or the leaves could be chewed fresh.
The leaves and the tip of the stalk could be dried and then steeped in water and drunk to help with cronic dysentery. Mixed with moose wood and used to wash the hair and make it grow. The leaves and flowers, either fresh or dried were chewed and used as a poultice for hemorrhage from wounds. Another use was for the stoppage of periods. A mixture of 8 roots to one quart of water was made and drunk all in one day. They also used the leaves and stalks for the same purpose. They also bathed in water with the root mixed in it to strengthen and refresh the body. The tops of plants could also be dipped in warm water and sprinkled on head to relieve headaches.
Artemesia frigida Willd. (little wild sage)
The leaves were mixed with water and used for bathing, also drunk mixture when menstruation was irregular.
Artemesia ludoviciana Nutt. (wild sage)
The leaves were mixed with water and drunk for stomach problems. Also bathed in it when any taboo had been broken or sacred object touched to protect against evil spirits (Gilmore 1977).
Aquilegia canadensis L. (wild columbine)
The seeds were crushed and the powder mixed in hot water and drunk to relieve fever and headaches.
Asarum canadense L. (wild ginger)
The root was dried chewed, or eaten to relieve indigestion. The root was chopped up with plantain roots and applied as a poultice for skin inflammation.
Asclepias syriaca L. (common milkweed)
The root was broken up and boiled in water, then cooled and taken with liquid food to produce a flow of milk in a woman’s breasts.
Asclepias tuberosa L. (butterfly weed; pleurisy root)
The root was eaten raw for bronchial and pulmonary trouble, or chewed and put on wounds.
Asclepias viridiflora Raf. (tall milkweed)
The root was eaten raw for stomach troubles.
Aster nemoralis Ait. (aster)
Root was mixed with warm water and drops put in ears for earaches.
