Medicinal Monday - the Magnificent Horse Chestnut Tree

Horse Chestnut is a large tree known for its showy flowers that bloom in May. Mature trees can grow up to 100 feet high and live for 300 years. Native to Greece and Albania, this species was introduced to the United States in the 1740s because of its beautiful clusters of flowers. In the summer its dense canopy provides shade on hot days. Don't confuse the Horse Chestnut Tree with the American Chestnut Tree which has been extinct for over a century. Horse Chestnut trees can be found in the United States including Connecticut. They are listed as a tree growing in Appalachia by the Federal Government.

About Horse Chestnut Trees

Aescukus hippocastanum or the Horse Chestnut is often referred to as the messy tree because it drops its flowers in the early summer and leaves huge spiked nuts or conkers in the fall. The flowers appear in May and individual flowers have four to five fringed petals that are white with a pink flush at the base. Once pollinated, the flower develops into glossy red-brown nuts inside a spikey green husk that falls to the ground in the autumn. This large tree is a hermaphroditic flowering tree, meaning that the tall spike has both male and female reproductive organs in the same flower. The large palmate-shaped leaves comprise five to seven pointed-toothed leaflets that spread from a central stem. The bark is grayish-green or grayish brown and the elongated tree limbs are thick with wart-like eruptions on them.

Medicinal Uses

The outer covering of the horse chestnut is toxic, and the nut itself has to be boiled prior to being eaten safely. Some Native American communities made a mush from the nuts that was formed into a poultice and placed on the lower legs of horses to heal wounds. The leaf stalks leave a scar on the twig when they fall which resembles a horse shoe with nail holes. This association with horses could explain why the nuts were ground up and fed to horses to relieve them of coughs.

The Iroquois made a compound of the powered roots and used it to treat chest pains. The Mohegans and the Shinnecock carried the nut with them to relieve rheumatism and aches and pains. They also carried the nut to prevent rheumatism as did the people of Appalachia. 

Did You Know...

The flowers are a rich source of nectar and pollen for insects, particularly bees.

Deer can eat the conkers without any ill effects. However, the nuts are poisonous to cattle, horses, sheep, and chickens.

The name conkers derives from a game played with horse chestnuts in the U.K. The game originated from the Isle of Wight in 1848.

Horse Chestnut wood is seldom used for lumber because it is soft and spongy.

Medicinal Monday - Ninebark - Versatile, Useful and Beautiful

Traditionally ninebark was a green shrub with flowers and exfoliating bark. Today, ninebark comes in many new foliage colors and in many species. As a fast-growing shrub, it is a favorite among gardeners. Many find the winter bark of this shrub appealing. Native American communities on the West coast found many uses for Pacific Ninebark.

About Pacific Ninebark

Physocarpus capitatus or Pacific Ninebark is in the rose (Rosaceae) family and native to western North America, from southern Alaska east to Montana and Utah, and south to central California.  There are ten species of this plant all native to North America with the exception of one found in northeastern Asia. It is found in the Coast Ranges and the Sierras. This is a small hardy shrub that grows up to 12 feet high and can reach 18 feet in the wild. Relatively short-lived, this shrub can be found along streams, in wet meadows, in coastal marshes, and at the edges of moist woods.  Its most distinguishing characteristic is its brown shedding bark on its branches. Its three to five-inch lobed toothed leaves are similar in shape to a maple leaf. The flowers are small and white with yellow centers and pink stamens that are tightly packed in a ring-like cluster. The fruit is small, reddish, inflated dry seed capsules or pods that split open on one side to release seeds. The flowers bloom from April to June and the fruit ripens from September through October.

Medicinal Uses

One of the most common uses among indigenous people ninebark was used as a laxative. Specifically, the Bella Coola made a decoction of a three-foot branch and took it with large amounts of water as an emetic. They also made a decoction of the inner bark and used it as a wash to treat gonorrhea. The Green River Group mixed young shoots and peeled bark and used this mixture as an emetic. The Hesquiat made a decoction of the bark and used it as an antidote for poison. They also made a decoction of the bark and used it to treat rheumatic fever. A decoction of the bark was taken in small doses as a laxative. The Kwakiutl used an extract of the root as a purgative and a decoction of the bark for constipation. The Saanich made an infusion of the macerated roots that was taken as a laxative.

As a food source, the raw berries were used for food and the roots were steamed and eaten.

The stems were used to make hunting bows and arrows, as well as other small items such as needles. Children would play with the seed pods and pop them open. The bark was mixed with cedar bark to make a dark brown dye.

Did You Know...

Physo means bladder and carpus means fruit referring to the inflated fruit of this plant. Capitatus means having a head and refers to its ring of dense flowers and fruits.

Mountain Goats, elk, deer, and beer will graze on the foliage. 

Rich in nectar, the flowers are pollinated by native bees and are also visited by butterflies.

Birds eat the seeds well into the winter.

Celebrate Native American Culture @ Maple Sugar Festival @ Institute for American Indian Studies March 11

 Native Americans understood that maple trees were sweet in March, and so does the Institute for American Indian Studies located in Washington, Connecticut. In honor of the sweetest time of year, they are hosting the annual Maple Sugar Festival on Saturday, March 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A traditional sugar camp

From late February through March, Mother Nature cooks up her own sweet treat with sugar maple trees as the sap begins to flow, ready to be tapped for making sugar and syrup. "The Maple Sugar Festival is an excellent opportunity for families to experience nature at its finest and have fun at the same time," said Chris Combs, Executive Director of the Institute.  

The art of maple sugaring was discovered by Native Americans, who would set up sugar camps each year in groves of sugar maple trees.  Maple sugar camps were a social as well as a working occasion. Women would tap the trees, men would cut wood for the fire needed to boil the sap, and children tended the sap as it bubbled and boiled sending a sweet fragrance into the air. At this event, IAIS Educator and Ecologist Susan Scherf will demonstrate various traditional Native American techniques of collecting sap and boiling it down into syrup for sugar. Visitors will learn the importance of maple sugar to the diet of Native Americans as well as its usefulness as an item of trade.

In keeping with the fun-filled nature of a Native American sugar camp, children are invited to listen to Native American stories and play traditional family-friendly games that will take place throughout the day, adding to this culturally enriching experience. And, if you have worked up an appetite, no worries, the Institute is serving up pancakes topped with real maple syrup from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. which is sure to satiate your taste buds. Coffee and orange juice will also be available.

The cost of participation for those that reserve in advance is $15 for adults, $10 for children, and $5 for members of the Institute; tickets at the door on the day of the event are $5 extra. For folks that want to indulge in the pancake feast, there is an additional $5 charge. To reserve your tickets click here.

Medicinal Monday - Love Medicine

The term love medicine was suggested by tribal healers to have powers beyond their medicinal attributes. Both men and women used various plants as love charms in order to get or hold the attention of that special person. Love medicine took several forms, sometimes they were digested, at other times worn as a charm, and even made into a perfume. Below are a few ways different tribal communities use plants as a love medicine.

The Potawatomi mixed the seeds of Purple Meadow Rue with tobacco and smoked it as a love medicine before visiting the lady of their choice.

Western Columbine is used by the Thompson Native Americans. Women made the flowers into a charm to gain the affection of a man. The Pawnee and the Ponca's use crushed seeds of columbine as a love charm.

Meadowrue is used by local Native American communities in Central Oregon as a love medicine. They mix the seeds of meadowrue with tobacco and smoke this mixture before courting their favorite lady.

The Ojibwa smuggled the ground up roots of the Longract Frog Orchid into their beloved's food because they believe it acts as an aphrodisiac.

The women of the Potawantomi community use the delicate flowers of the Softstem bulrush as a love medicine.

"Sweet leaf", that could include wild bergamot, bee balm, or mint is recognized by the Plains Indian tribes as a favored herb to inspire love. When used as a tonic or tea, "sweet leaf" is thought to possess seductive powers, and when the leaves of these plants are mixed with buffalo fat, it becomes a pleasant smelling ointment that was spread on the skin in order to attract love.

Learn How to Make Maple Syrup @ Institute for American Indian Studies, February 11, 2023

 

Sugar Maple trees are indigenous in much of North America including Connecticut. Native Americans were the first people to use the gifts of the maple tree to produce maple syrup and sugar that so many of us enjoy today. 

As the days get warmer but the nights stay cold, it's the right season for maple sugaring. If you have always wanted to produce your own maple syrup but didn’t know where to begin taking to the Maple Sugar Workshop @ the Institute for American Indian Studies on Saturday, February 11 beginning at 11 a.m. is a good way to learn about this age-old process. This workshop is perfect for people wanting to learn how to harvest their own maple sap. As a pre-cursor to the Maple Sugar Festival being held at the Institute for American Indian Studies on Saturday, March 11, this workshop is sure to inspire you during the sweetest time of year! 

If you want to get a jump on the sugaring season along with helpful tips on how to tap trees and boil the sap down yourself don’t miss this workshop that is perfect for beginners, novices, and veterans alike. Conducted by Museum Educator and Ecologist, Susan Scherf, this workshop gives participants an overview of the history of maple sugar production and how it has evolved over the centuries. Traditional Native American techniques used to collect and boil sap into maple syrup and modern methods will be explained giving participants a perspective on the variety of techniques that can be used. During the course of this workshop participants will watch how traditional sumac spiles are made. 

Learn the proper way to tap a maple tree

Highlights of this workshop also include learning the basics of collecting and boiling the sap down. Among the many topics discussed will be proper tree identification and how to prepare the tree for the tapping season. Participants will learn about tree health and why and when sap flows. The workshop will also focus on what to look for, and what to avoid in regard to the tapping process as well as examples of the different methods of collecting and boiling sap. The workshop concludes with a talk about the impact of climate change on maple syrup production. 

A fun hands-on workshop

It is important to dress for the season because the majority of this event will be held outside. Pre-registration for this workshop is required. To register for this informative and fun workshop click here, call 860-868-0518, or email events@iaismuseum.org. The price of participation is $5 for members and $15 for non-members. 

About the Institute for American Indian Studies 

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.