O and P
Osmorrhiza claytoni Michx. (sweet cicely)
The root was dried and chewed or mixed with water and gargled to relieve a sore throat.
Roots pounded and made into poultice and applied to boils, wounds. Also drink made for weakness.
Ostrya virginiana (Mill.) Koch. (hop hornbean)
The wood was cut and boiled and drunk for kidney problems.
Petalostemon purpureus (Vent) Rydb. (prairie clover)
A decoction was made of a handful of leaves and flowers in 1 1/2 pints water, with a dose being 1/2 cup, to relieve heart problems.
Phryma leptostachya L. (lopseed)
The root was dried and chewed or mixed with water and gargled to relieve a sore throat.
Physalis longifolia Nutt. (prairie ground cherry)
The root was burned and smoke inhaled for stomach troubles and headaches. It was also made into a poultice for wounds.
Plantago major L. (plantain)
The leaves with bears grease, was applied to inflammation on the skin, and for rheumatism. The root chopped up and spread on leaf was applied as a poultice for inflammation as well. Leaves and roots chopped together was applied for snaked bites.
Polygonum persicaria L. (smartweed)
The flowers and leaves were mixed in water and drank to relieve stomach pains. Could be used alone or with other plants.
Polygonatum commutatum (R.& S.) Dietr. (solomon’s seal)
The root was made into a decoction and spinkled on hot stones and the smoke inhaled to relieve headaches.
Populus balsamifera L. (balsam poplar)
The root mixed with aspen root was drunk to excessive period flow or prevent premature labor. The buds, before they opened were steeped and used as a poultice, or boiled in grease and applied to sprains.
Populus tremuloides Michx. (aspen)
The bark was chewed and applied as a poultice for cuts. The root steeped in water with the root of balsam poplar was drunk to stop excessive flow of period or to prevent premature birth.
Potentilla monspeliensis L. (cinquefoil)
The root and stalk were mixed with water or dried and chewed to relieve a sore throat.
Prunus americana Marsh. (wild plum)
The bark of the roots was boiled, and applied to abrasions on the skin.
Prunus serotina Ehrh. (wild cherry)
The root was mixed with wild plum and drunk for worms. Wild plum was used as a disinfection wash, while wild cherry was used for ulcers, cholera, and scrophula. The inner bark of wild cherry, wild plum, and the trunk of white pine were mashed and soaked together were applied as a poultice on cuts, even gangrenous wounds.
Prunus virginiana L. (chokecherry)
The inner bark was mixed with water and gargled for a sore throat. Said to be very astringent. This same mixture also helped with stomach cramps. Also used for a hair wash and to make the hair grow. Dried fruit in hot water was drunk for diarrhea.
Pulsatilla hirsutissima (Pursh.) Britton. (pasque flower)
The leaves were dried and crushed and then breathed in to relieve headaches. Another use was of the roots, where a doublehandful of crushed roots to 2 quarts of water were mixed and drunk to relieve lung problems.
