Medicinal Monday - Plants Used for Witchcraft and Magic

Like many indigenous tribes around the world, Native Americans believed in witchcraft and magic. These beliefs were passed down by oral tradition. There were many traditions such as vision quests to gain enlightenment and direction and many dances and ceremonies to honor spirits and ancestors. Historic records show that Algonquian and Iroquois accepted witchcraft as part of their world and would use it to explain disasters. 

Many plants were used to ward off witchcraft. Below find five used by different Native American Communities from around the country. 

Fool's Huckleberry

Fool's Huckleberry is a shrub that has a skunk-like order and beautiful orange flowers that droop in clusters. It is found in nutrient-rich areas of coniferous forests and along stream banks. Among the many medicinal uses,  the bark of Fool's Huckleberry was used by the Nitinaht to counteract evil spells.

The roots of Sweet Flag, an aquatic plant that resembles cat-o-nine-tails

Sweet Flag is of ancient origins and was used by many Native American communities for magical purposes. The Cheyenne, for example, would tie a piece of Sweet Flag root to a child's clothes to keep the night spirits and ghosts away and the child safe from harm.  The Algonquin considered the root a magic charm and carried it to avoid getting sick. The Dakota, Pawnee, Ponca, Winnebago, and Omaha made garlands from the leaves of Sweet Flag and used them in sacred ceremonies. They also made a paste from the roots and rubbed it on a warrior's face to prevent fear. The Iroquois used Sweet Flag to detect bewitchment.  

Limestone Bittercress

Limestone Bittercress can be found in Connecticut although it is on the endangered list. It has been found to have many health benefits as it is rich in many vitamins and minerals. This perennial was used for other purposes besides health benefits. It was a favorite of the Iroquois, who considered the root to be a valuable medicine and used it as an antidote to counteract all kinds of poison. They also used it ceremonially, to divine a perpetrator of witchcraft.

The umbrels of Cow Parsnip

Cow Parsnip cannot be missed with its bright beacon of clusters of white showy flowers. This plant is the only member of the genus Heracleum native to North America and is in the carrot family. It can grow up to ten feet and is found on riverbanks, in forest clearings, and meadows. Although it had many medicinal uses, some Native American communities used it for magic!  The Menominee and Ojibwa use this plant as a smudge to drive away evil spirits as well as to drive away bad spirits from the camp of a hunter. 

Roots of the Oyster Plant

The Oyster Plant is in the Aster family and was originally consumed as a vegetable before it was used medicinally. It is said that its roots have a taste that is similar to oysters.  The roots were mostly used to treat digestive problems. The Navajo Ramah, however, had an additional use for the Oyster Plant which they used in ceremonies as an emetic.

Veterans Day Ceremony November 5 @ Institute for American Indian Studies

 

Veterans’ Day is a National holiday that honors the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It keeps the importance of those who protect our homeland close to our hearts and reminds us of their bravery and valor. Native Americans have fought valiantly in the United States military in every conflict since the American Revolution, even before Native Americans gained U.S. citizenry in 1924.

Honoring Native warriors and veterans has always been part of indigenous culture. It keeps the importance of those who protect our homeland close to our hearts and reminds us of their bravery and valor. Each year, in honor of Veterans Day, the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington Connecticut honors the exceptional military service of Native Americans in a formal dedication. This year, the Institute is once again inviting the public to participate in the program that will honor Native and non-Native Americans whose passion and loyalty have helped to make America what it is today on Sunday, November 5 at 12:30 p.m. The Institute is located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut. 

At this year’s event, veteran Gary Tinney, Golden Hill Pagussett, will lead the ceremony. New to this year’s event is the Yootay Singers Drum Group based out of Mashantucket, CT, which will perform honor songs recognizing the rich contributions of Native and Non-Native Americans who have bravely served side by side in the U.S. Armed Forces. Allan Madahbee (Okibwe) will also join the ceremony and play Amazing Grace on his traditionally crafted flute. Attendees will be immersed in a meaningful ceremony that is a powerful experience. 

The ceremony will be outside so attendees are advised to dress appropriately for the weather. In the event of rain, the ceremony or portions of it will be held inside the museum. This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration and donations are always appreciated. Registration is at http://iaismuseum.org. For questions please call (860) 868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org. 

About The Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS) 

Located on 15 woodland acres, the IAIS preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. We have an outdoor replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village, the 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 at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut.

Medicinal Monday... Whiskey Grass

Andropogon virginicus L is a species of grass that is native to the southeastern United States as far north as the Great Lakes and is known as whiskey grass. It is an introduced invasive species in California, Hawaii, Japan, and Australia. It is called "whiskey grass" in Australia because it escaped after being used as a packing material for bottles of American whiskey.

About Whiskey Grass

This grass is a warm-season perennial grass that grows in clumps that form a dense erect tuft of flowering hollow stems or culms above ground that bear flowers. It is characterized by having very erect stems surrounded by droopy leaves around the base. Straw-colored remnants of old plants are usually found while new leaves and stems are growing. The elongated leaves are light green in the spring and in the fall, the leaves turn a rich orange to coppery red color. Where the leaf meets the shaft there is a small membrane of silver hairs. In the late summer flowering spikes emerge on slender stems, sometimes they are concealed beneath leaf sheaths that can be rounded or folded. The flower spikes fall off when they are mature.  The seed heads consist of several pairs of tiny branches that are enclosed by brownish leafy bracts.  Whiskey Grass grows in a wide variety of habitats from grass and pasture lands to open woodlands. This plant reproduces mainly by seeds that are easily spread by wind, animals, and even cars!

Medicinal and Practical Uses

The most common use of Andropogon virginicus L has been used to treat pain and gastrointestinal issues. A decoction of the roots was used to treat headaches and stomach aches. Another traditional use was to make tea from the leaves and use it as a wash to relieve fevers, frostbite, sores, itching, and poison ivy rash. It was also used in green corn medicine. The stems of this plant were once used to make yellow dye.

Did You Know...

Other common names for whiskey grass are broomsedge bluestem, beard grass, and yellowsedge bluestem.

The name Broom Sedge refers to the fact that the culms were used to make brooms in some of the southern states of the U.S.

A culm is the above-ground stem of a grass or sedge. The word is derived from the Latin culmus 'stalk' and is specifically used to describe the woody stems of bamboo, cane, grain, or certain types of grasses.

In Australia, whisky grass has degraded the habitat occupied by Charmhaven apples and is considered a threat to downy wattle.

Studies in the U.S. have found that fire intensity and the area of land burnt is higher in areas where whiskey grass is found.

Birds eat the seeds during the winter months and it also provides shelter for the bobtail quail, greater prairie chicken, and other wildlife.

Mohegan Cultural Program Institute for American Indian Studies – October 22

On Sunday, October 22 at 1 p.m. the Institute for American Indian Studies is hosting David Eichelberg (Pataqaham Wahsoohs), the Outreach and Traditional Specialist from the Tantaquidgeon Museum. This museum, located in Uncasville, is the oldest Native American-owned and operated museum in the United States. Their mission is to share the Mohegan culture with visitors and this interactive program hosted by the Institute will give participants the unique opportunity to learn about the Mohegan people from their perspective.

 

This fascinating interactive program brings the Mohegan culture to a wider audience, which is the dual mission of both museums. It will help participants to better appreciate the lifeways of Native Americans in the Eastern Woodlands in the past and the present. As a tribal member, David, dressed in traditional garb, offers a deep understanding of the Mohegan Tribe’s history. During this fascinating program, David will share insights into the Mohegan’s oral traditions, beliefs, and music.

 The presentation will include storytelling, dance, and drum demonstrations, as well as the presentation of authentic and replicated Tribal artifacts such as traditional clothing, furs, and other visual materials that bring this tribe’s history to life. The program concludes with an informative question and answer session allowing full interaction from the participants to broaden this cultural learning experience.

 

This program costs $5 for members and $15 for non-members. Pre-registration can be made online at https://iaismuseum.charityproud.org/EventRegistration/Index/13627. For more information call 860-868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org.

 

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 16^th 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 at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

 

 

Medicinal Monday...Common Spiderwort

A native plant to the Eastern United States, Tradescantia virginiana attracts many pollinators including bumblebees and honeybees, and can be seen today in many woodland gardens. Native Americans found several interesting medicinal uses for this showy violet-colored flowering plant. The beauty of Common Spiderwort, in addition to its medicinal uses, is that for a time, it is rarely out of bloom.

About Tradescantia virginiana

There are 70 species of the genus Tradescantia found in the temperate and tropical areas of the Americas with 17 being native, including Tradescantia virginiana to North America. It is in the Dayflower family. This species can be found in New England including Connecticut, and south to Georgia and west to Missouri. It prefers a dappled shade and moist soil.  It can be found in woodlands,  along streams, or ponds, and in moist prairies, open woods, and meadows. Common Spiderwort is characterized by its crouching spider-like leaf arrangement and web-like flower filaments. The stems, which can be either solitary or clumped rise from roots that survived the winter. Stems are smooth, and the leaves are bright green and elongated ending in a tapered tip. At the apex of the central stem, there are small side stems with small clusters of buds and one violet flower. The flowers have three violet rounded petals, six showy yellow stamens, and spidery violet hairs. They often droop from their small hairy stems which are known as pedicels. The flower rises above a cluster of buds opens in the morning and closes in the sunny afternoon; they may stay open longer if it is cloudy or if they are in the shade. Common Spiderwort blooms from late spring through mid-summer and produces oval brown seeds from September through October. The root system often produces offshoots. 

Medicinal Uses

All Tradescantia species bear clusters of needle-like crystals in their inner tissue that can cause skin irritation. The most common use of this plant by Native American communities was to make an infusion of it to treat stomaches from overeating, a compound was used for kidney trouble, and a compound infusion was taken for female cramps. Many communities also mashed the plant and rubbed it on insect bites to relieve itching. It has been documented that the Cherokee made a poultice of the root and used it to treat cancer. The Cherokee also picked the young leaves and fried or boiled them with other greens.

Did You Know...

The name Tradescantia honors the naturalist John Tradescant, gardener to Charles the First of England.

The species name, Virginiana, indicates that this is where common spiderwort was first collected.

In 2008, the Virginia Native Plant Society named Spiderwort as the Wildflower of the Year.

Deer, rabbits, and turtles nibble the foliage.

Finding Your Bearings October 15 @ Institute For American Indian Studies

 

If you want to learn about the various ways to find directions, including traditional indigenous techniques as well as how to read a map and a compass, don’t miss the “Find Your Bearings Orienteering Workshop" on Sunday, October 15 at 1 p.m. at the Institute for American Indian Studies at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut. 

Participants will join IAIS educator and ecologist, Susan Scherf for an interactive in-person workshop to learn how to get their bearings should their GPS lose its signal! A highlight of the workshop is to practice these newly acquired skills by completing an orienteering scavenger hunt on the Museum’s colorful autumn trails, which add to the fun. 

Most of this program is being held outside, and some of the woodland terrain may be uneven, so wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Space is limited and pre-registration is requested at http://www.iaismusueum.org or by calling 860-868-0518 or via email at events@iaismuseum.org. This program costs $10 for non-members and $5 for 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 at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Medicinal Monday... Tall Goldenrod - Don't Confuse It with Ragweed!

In general, Goldenrods get a bad rap. They are not allergens, that's ragweed! Best of all, they add to the colors of fall foliage and, better yet, attract important pollinators including migrating Monarchs. Several species of goldenrod grow in the United States and Solidago altissima L. or Tall Goldenrod is one of them. This plant is in the Aster or Sunflower family and can be found throughout New England. It is similar to Giant Goldenrod and Canada Goldenrod and, in fact, so similar that all of them often share common names. 

About Tall Goldenrod

This plant is among the tallest of the goldenrod plants as its name implies. It loves the sun and can be found in open fields, meadows, prairies, grasslands, old fields, along roadsides, railroad tracks, and at the edge of open forests. The flowers grow in a pyramidal cluster at the top of the plant in yellow clusters or individually. Each plume-like head has five ray flowers and numerous disc flowers; both are yellow.  Tall Goldenrod flowers from August through November depending on the part of the country it is growing in. The stalks are sturdy and very hairy.  The minutely toothed hairy leaves alternate and are broadest in the middle tapering to a sharp point at their tip. The fruit is a dry seed or achene with a tuft of white hair or pappus attached to the tip of the seed which helps it be carried off by the wind. The root system is fibrous and it spreads by creeping rhizomes that cause Tall Goldenrod to grow in clusters that most often form dense colonies.

Medicinal Uses

The most common use for Tall Goldenrod was to make a compound of the flowers and apply them to burns, this was a documented use of the Chippewa. Another use was to make a poultice of moistened dry flowers or roots and apply them to ulcers, skin problems, and boils.

Did You Know...

Sometimes, due to stem boring insects, this plant forms galls (abnormal growths) mid-stem.

Tall Goldenrod was once designated to the Compositae Family because its flowers are a composite of many flowers.

Tall Goldenrod has been introduced to Europe and Asia where it is considered a dangerous weed.

Bees, wasps, butterflies, and beetles, especially soldier beetles, are attracted to the flowers.

Solidago altissima L. is the state wildflower flower of  South Carolina.

Tall Goldenrod is deer resistant. 

 

Medicinal Monday... Majestic Purple Meadow Rue

Purple Meadow Rue is a tall, stout, plant that can grow up to six feet. There are six different species of this plant that can be found in the wetlands, meadows, and open woodlands of most states on the eastern seaboard of the United States including Connecticut. Many Native American communities living in this area found several medicinal and cultural uses for this beautiful plant that gets its name from its purple stem.

 About  Purple Meadow Rue 

The scientific name of this particular plant is Thalictrum dasycarpum and it is a member of the Buttercup family. This plant grows from rhizomes and has a stout purple stem that usually branches out at the top. The smooth leaves grow in pairs and have three shallow lobes. In the spring they are olive green and turn an attractive shade of pink or yellow in the fall.  The starry white flowers grow in clusters and have no petals. This plant is dioecious, that is male and female, and flowers bloom on separate plants. The white color of the flowers is from the filaments of the stamens which give them a misty quality. The flowers are followed by an ovoid-shaped achene (seed) that grows in clusters. The mature seed is veined and dark brown.

Medicinal Uses

The most common use of Purple Meadow Rue is to make an infusion of the plant to treat nosebleeds. An infusion of the root was also commonly used as a gall medicine. To treat dry skin and to scent it, the Lakota chewed the seeds and rubbed them on their hands. The Lakota also fed their horses the seeds in order to give them energy. The Pawnee mixed the entire plant with clay and rubbed the mixture on the muzzle of their horses to stimulate them. The Ojibwa made an infusion of the roots and used this mixture to treat fevers. The Potawatomi made a compound of the leaves and seeds and applied this mixture to treat cramps.

Among other uses, the Montagnais use the leaves of Purple Meadow Rue to flavor salmon. The Dakota stored the mature seeds in bags or rubbed or scattered them on clothing for their pleasant scent. Children, including those of the Omaha, Pawnee, Ponca, and Lakota communities, used the hollow stems of this sturdy plant as a toy flute. The Potawatomi smoked the dried seeds while hunting to bring good luck, they also mixed the seeds with tobacco and smoked it as a love medicine before visiting the lady of their choice. Bachelors in the Ponca community rubbed their hands on the tops of this plant as a love charm.

Did You Know...

Non-scientific names for this species include King of the Meadow, Tall Meadow-rue, Late Meadow-rue, Meadow-weed, Muskrat-weed, Silver-weed, and Quicksilver-weed.

The flowers of Purple Meadow Rue are important to bees and butterflies in addition to a number of beetles.

The Greek name Thalictrum refers to plants that have divided leaves.

The species name, dasycarpum, is from two Greek words, dasy, meaning 'hairy or thick' and carpus, meaning 'fruited'

The genus Thalictrum is quite large with 200 species worldwide.