Transcript Skunk cabbage

Background
• When the settlers arrived to the New World,
they learned how to use common plants in their
folk medicines from the Native Americans.
• The Indians also taught the settlers a few new
uses for the medicinal plants that they brought
with them from their native lands.
Medical Uses
• The Native Americans and Settlers used
many different types of plants to cure various
medical symptoms:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Asthma
Bronchitis
Burns
Colds
Colic
Cancer
Diabetes
Tuberculosis
Asthma
Skunk Cabbage
• Was used to stimulate the
removal of phlegm (mucus)
in asthma.
• A tea is made from the roots
and acts as a sedative for
asthma.
Bronchitis
Creosote Bush
• A tea was made from
the leaves which was
used for bronchial and
other respiratory
problems.
Burns
Yellow-Spine Thistle
• The blossoms were
boiled and the resulting
liquid was applied to
burns and skin sores.
Colds & Fevers
Boneset
• Boneset tea was one of
the most frequently used
home remedies
• The tea was used to cure
fevers and colds.
Colic
Catnip
• A tea was made
from catnip leaves
to treat colic.
Cancer
Bloodroot
• The alkaloids in the
Bloodroot have been found
to possess powerful anticancer properties.
• A paste was made and
used to cover the
malignant area.
• It was also used for war
and dance paint.
Diabetes
Wild Carrot
• The blossoms were
submerged in warm
water when they
were in full bloom
and then drank to
cure the symptoms
of diabetes.
Tuberculosis
Wild Cherry
• The inner bark of
the Wild Cherry
Tree is used to help
cure the symptoms
of tuberculosis.
Today’s Medicine Findings
• In today’s modern medicine we have found
that some of the remedies used by the Native
Americans are not so great.
– Bloodroot: was used to treat cancer and is
now known to produce chemicals toxic to
animal cells
– Skunk cabbage: was used to help calm the
symptoms of asthma and it has now been
shown to be toxic, carcinogenic, and cause liver
cancer.
Sources
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW152
http://www.powersource.com/cherokee/herbal.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/Influence-of-Native-AmericanMedicines-on-Early-Colonist-Folk-Remedies
http://youralternativehealthmedicine.com/AHMblog/16/native-american
-herbal-remedies-tap-into-rich-herbal-heritage-for-health/
http://rxpill.com/Herb/Natrem.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_/ai_84211184