Medicinal Monday - Plants Used for Witchcraft and Magic

During the year, as we are writing Medicinal Monday, we occasionally run across a plant, tree, shrub, or herb that was used by Native Americans for witchcraft and magic. These beliefs were passed down, by oral tradition in the form of stories, rituals, and ceremonies.  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 and evil spirits or to explain disasters and illness. Here are this year's additions.

Red Cardinal flowers are hard to miss because of how tall they are and their vibrant red color. In the Bluebell family, this flower can be found in the far west United States. Interestingly, it was used in both love and witchcraft. The Iroquois made an infusion of the roots and used it as a love wash to attract their beloved. They also made a special drink with roots to treat trouble caused by witchcraft.

Taken at face value, crinkleroot is an attractive wildflower that can be found in the Eastern U. S. and Canada including Connecticut. Although the root was used to treat everything from headaches to belly aches, it had other uses too. The Iroquois, for example, believed that the roots of crinkleroot had magical powers and used them in a variety of ways to counteract all types of poison. They also used smashed roots in witchcraft rituals to identify the perpetrator.

We know that smoking tobacco is bad for you. But this Indian Tobacco (Lobelia Cardinalis) as opposed to Nicotiana tabacum had an unexpected benefit. Indian Tobacco is native to New England and has extended its range west to Oklahoma. The Iroquois made a decoction of Indian Tobacco to counteract the sickness caused by witchcraft

A pretty two-toned yellow plant nicknamed Butter and Eggs was an unexpected addition to this year's witchcraft list. This plant originated in Eurasia but has naturalized over much of the country including Connecticut. Although one of the most common uses of this plant by Native Americans was to treat gastrointestinal problems, some communities found other uses for it. As for magic, a compound of smashed plants was taken as an anti-love medicine to remove bewitching.