Herbal Remedies

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Animals and Insects RemediesHerbal GardensKitchen Medicine Slave Medicine http://www.nchealthandhealing.com/topic/2/Herbal Remedies1585 - Domestic EventIn North Carolina’s past, Native Americans, Europeans and Africans shared their knowledge of medicinal plants, or botanicals. Today many of us still rely on this knowledge, handed down from generation to generation, reflecting the cultural diversity in our history. We continue to harvest and use botanicals, either to replace or to complement modern medical treatments.Why use herbal remedies? Years ago, many people lived far away from a doctor, and few could afford to pay one. Relying on local herbal knowledge was their only option. Today, costs and access to medical care can still influence the decision to use herbal remedies. Some people prefer to trust in nature for healing. They may want to avoid the harsh side effects of certain manufactured drugs. And some believe that God has provided specific plants to cure every disease, if only we can find them.Scientific research has now joined tradition and experience as a source of herbal knowledge. Recently, interest in herbal remedies has skyrocketed, especially in connection with holistic healing, which seeks balance between the body and the environment. But natural doesn’t always mean safe. Without the expertise of traditional or scientifically trained healers, experimenting with herbal drugs can be dangerous.For hundreds of years, people have turned to herbal treatments as an alternative to manufactured drugs. A Sampling of North Carolina HerbsYou might say Nature is the world’s largest drugstore. As long as people have lived in North Carolina, they’ve relied on plants as sources of healing. Please note that though the plants listed have historically been used for healing purposes, we now know that many of them are instead toxic or of little therapeutic value.All the following plants grow wild in our state.Bloodroot was used both by Native Americans and Europeans, ground to a powder and sprinkled on skin sores. It was also mixed with whiskey to treat asthma symptoms and liver problems. Potentially toxic when taken internally, it appears in some dental products today as a plaque-fighting agent, and it holds promise as a treatment for cancerous tumors.Ginseng, or “sang,” has been used for everything from soothing colicky babies to restoring energy and vigor. For the Cherokee, it was a means of restoring balance and harmony. Scientific research on the benefits of ginseng has been divided. Some studies suggest the root can boost mental and physical functioning and combat stress. Since worldwide demand has pushed ginseng’s price as high as $320 per pound, limits have been placed on harvesting in North Carolina.Goldenseal is considered by many to be a general cure-all, but it is especially good for treating colds and asthma attacks when brewed as a tea. Known to contain an antibacterial alkaloid, it is also applied to wounds and skin ailments. Like ginseng, goldenseal runs the risk of disappearing from North Carolina because of growing demand. Pregnant women should never take it.Mayapple roots contain a substance that acts as a natural laxative. Native Americans, who used it for ridding the body of worms, shared its qualities with European colonists. Modern pharmaceuticals take extracts from both the rhizome and plant to treat a variety of viruses, including herpes simplex type II and influenza A. The mayapple’s fruit is edible, but its rhizome, roots and leaves are poisonous.Poison Ivy, another potentially dangerous herb, was used in the 19th century to treat rheumatism or tuberculosis. The Cherokee included the bark from the vine to make a potion that would cancel a conjure spell cast upon some unlucky individual. Some people eat a small amount of the root each spring, believing it will protect them from contracting poison ivy skin rash during that year.Dandelions were introduced to North Carolina by immigrants. Native Americans began using the dandelion as a diuretic to treat high blood pressure and as a springtime tonic. Other uses include treatment for kidney, urinary tract and liver ailments. Scientists have even discovered a potential use for the root to combat yeast infections. Although the leaves tend to be bitter, they are often eaten in salads and are rich in vitamins and niacin.Lady’s Slipper, like the mayapple, has been used by Native Americans to rid the intestine of worms. More commonly, the yellow lady slipper was important in treating nervous disorders, heart problems and “female troubles.” As with ginseng and goldenseal, overharvesting has reduced its availability.White Oak was promoted by 19th century physicians as an astringent, a substance that dries and shrinks tissue. It was recommended for hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Like bloodroot, the boiled bark produces tannin that is antiseptic and possibly reduces tumors. In large quantities, however, tannin is toxic.Yellow Poplar bark was steeped in a tea by Europeans to treat intestinal parasites, dysentery and rheumatism. Native Americans used it for ailments including fever, kidney problems and bladder problems. The bark could also serve as a substitute for quinine in treating malaria.Sassafras was used entirely—from the flower and berry to the root bark—by Native Americans, wrote explorer John Lawson in his 1709 guidebook, A New Voyage to Carolina. Typically made into tea, sassafras is recommended as a blood cleanser and a tonic. But too much can be dangerous, since the herb’s main ingredient is potentially carcinogenic.Blackberry, whether eaten as a fruit, fermented into wine, or used to treat dysentery and other stomach disorders, was familiar to Europeans and Native Americans alike. Its tannin content relieved symptoms of an irritable bowel, and its astringent qualities made it a popular tonic.Dogwood bark was brewed into tea by Native Americans to ease fevers. In the 18th and 19th centuries, dogwood was the best available substitute for quinine. Doctors used it to treat Confederate soldiers with malaria during the Civil War. Scientific research has since confirmed that extracts from the tree’s bark do attack the parasites that cause malaria.Wild Cherry bark was considered very effective against respiratory ailments such as sore throats, colds and tuberculosis. When distilled as a tonic, it was favored as an appetite stimulant and blood purifier. Wild cherry has beneficial sedative and astringent qualities. But the active ingredient, hydrocyanic acid, is actually highly toxic.Pine—including needles, cones, rosin, kerosene, turpentine and pine tar—has been used to treat everything from colds, aches and fevers to bedwetting, chapped hands, lockjaw and worms. The Cherokee used boiled pine needles to treat sicknesses and pains thought to be caused by a conjurer’s spell. Ingesting pine can be dangerous, as it is generally considered toxic.Mullein, introduced to North Carolina by English colonists, was quickly adopted by Native Americans. While scientific research suggests mullein has no therapeutic value, it has been used to treat swelling, internal injuries, coughs, hemorrhages and problems involving the bladder, liver and blood.Jimsonweed was named for the colonial settlement of Jamestown. It can cause death if ingested, because it acts as both a narcotic and a poison. Europeans and Native Americans applied it externally to alleviate burns, swelling, sprains, hemorrhoids and headaches. Early 19th century asthma sufferers smoked it in the form of “stramonium” cigarettes to relieve breathing difficulties.Rabbit Tobacco is an herb also known as “life everlasting.” It is most commonly used to treat respiratory ailments such as asthma, whooping cough and colds. Users can boil the leaves and blooms to make a tea, stuff the leaves inside homemade “asthma pillows,” or smoke it. The medicinal effects come from the tobacco’s astringent qualities. The ginseng plant, found in North Carolina’s mountains, is still in great demand for its root. Herbs can be ground, brewed, distilled, dissolved or even smoked as health remedies.