Medicinal Monday...Canadian Wild Ginger

Wild ginger, known as Asarum canadense is unrelated to the culinary ginger (Zingiber officinale) in your kitchen cabinet. It is named wild ginger because of the similar taste and smell of the roots. Native Americans had many medicinal uses for this plant which they also used as a seasoning.

About Wild Ginger

Wild ginger is native to North America from Manitoba, Canada to North Carolina, and can be found in Connecticut. The scientific name of wild ginger that grows in the eastern United States is Asarum canadense. This stemless perennial plant grows in the woods and on wooded slopes and does best in the shade. The plant has two heart-shaped veined dark green leaves that grow up to six inches wide. The cup-shaped pendulous purplish brown flowers appear in spring on short, ground-level stems that rise up between the two leaves. The flower is usually hidden between the two leaves. The bell-shaped flowers form pods that hold seeds. Wild ginger has a mutualistic relationship with ants. The wild ginger seeds have elaiosomes that are irresistible treats for ants. The ants take the seeds and eat the elaiosomes and discard the seeds. This helps spread wild ginger plants. This plant also spreads by creeping rhizomes and forms large colonies within a few years. The rhizomes have a ginger-like odor and flavor.

Medicinal Uses 

Wild ginger was used by many Native American communities as an anticonvulsive, cold remedy, disinfectant, and digestive aid. The Abnaki, Cherokee, and Iroquois made a decoction of the roots and took this mixture to treat colds, scarlet fever, measles, and typhoid fever. The Iroquois made a poultice to treat a sore throat and also used an infusion of the root as a spring tonic. The Algonquin used an infusion of roots to treat fevers and also gave this infusion to treat children suffering from convulsions. The Cherokee made an infusion from the root to treat worms and also made a wash from the entire shrub to treat swollen breasts. Fresh leaves were applied to wounds and sores and dried leaves were used for the head and eyes. The Cherokee used the root as a powerful stimulant and also used the leaves, roots, and blossoms to treat nervousness. The Chippewa made a compound poultice of the shrub and applied it to treat broken bones, they also used the roots to treat bruises and cuts. The Chippewa cooked the root with food as an aid for digestion. The Iroquois used an infusion of the roots as an analgesic to treat headaches and would take a cold decoction of the plant to treat fevers. The Iroquois made a decoction of this shrub and mixed it with whisky and gave it to sick horses. The Malecite and the Micmac have many gastrointestinal uses of this plant and used fresh or dried roots to treat stomaches. The Meskwaki cooked the root and put it in the ears to treat earaches, they also made a compound of the root to treat stomach pain.

Culinary Uses

In addition to its use as a spice, Native American communities found several interesting culinary uses for the roots of wild ginger. For example, the Meskwaki cooked the root with spoiled meat to prevent ptomaine poisoning. The Meskwaki chewed the root and spit it on bait to increase their chances of catching catfish. They also used the root as a seasoning for mud catfish to make them taste more palatable. The Ojibwa chewed the root to stimulate the appetite and also processed the root in lye water and used this mixture to season food. The Potawatomi used the root to flavor bland-tasting meat and fish.

Did You Know...

Early European settlers used to dry the rootstalk and grind it into a powder which they used as a spice.

Other names for Wild Ginger are Canada wild ginger, snakeroot, blacksnakeweed, Canadian Snakeroot, Colic Root, False Crowfoot, Ginger Root, Heart-Leaf, Southern Wild Ginger, and Vermont Snakeroot.

Today this plant is used as a groundcover for shaded areas and is prized because it is resistant to deer.

Wild ginger contains Aristolochi fangchi which can be toxic so eat it at your own risk. Do not seep wild ginger in alcohol or vinegar. You can enjoy wild ginger steeped in water in moderation.