Medicinal Monday the Magic of Mistletoe Juniper

Did you know there are over 1,300 species of mistletoe worldwide? The name “mistletoe” has an unusual origin. It comes from the Anglo-Saxon words mistel (meaning dung) and tan (meaning twig), loosely translating to “dung on a twig.” This refers to how birds spread mistletoe by leaving their droppings on tree branches. In Native American communities, Juniper mistletoe had practical uses beyond tradition. It served as both a food source and a natural remedy for certain ailments. A plant with a rich history—and a little holiday magic.

About Juniper Mistletoe

Juniper mistletoe (Phoradendron juniperinum) is a parasitic plant in the sandalwood family, native to the American Southwest and northern Mexico. It is the only true mistletoe found in the Rocky Mountains, thriving in pinyon-juniper woodlands across states like Colorado, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Texas, and Sonora. With its yellow-green, upright branches, juniper mistletoe attaches to host trees to extract nutrients. As a hemiparasite, it also carries chlorophyll, allowing it to photosynthesize. The plant has male and female forms; the females produce shiny pink or red berries. Birds feed on these berries, spreading seeds through their droppings. When a seed germinates, it sends roots into the host tree’s bark to draw nutrients and establish itself.

Photo credit: John Morefield

Medicinal & Culinary  Uses

In her book Healing Herbs, Traditional Medicine of the Southwest, Leonora Curtin highlights the many uses of this plant by Native Americans. It was used in love spells to inspire affection and as a food source during scarcity by tribes like the Acoma, Keres, Havasupai, Laguna, and Navajo. The berries were eaten raw, boiled, pounded into paste, or brewed into tea.

Medicinally, it was most commonly used for gastrointestinal issues. Another common use was to eat twigs after childbirth to stop the flow of blood. The Hopi, Keres, Navajo Ramah, Tewa, and Zuni relied on it for this purpose. The Keres treated children with diarrhea using crushed parts of the plant. They also crushed parts of this plant to make a rub for rheumatism.  The Navajo used the plant to treat warts, while the Zuni prepared an infusion to relax muscles during childbirth. The Pima made a wash from the plant to treat sores and wounds.

Photo Credit: Ken Raiz

Did You Know...

Phoradendron means thief of trees in Greek and is well named because of its parasitic nature.

Because it is hemiparasitic, juniper mistletoe will not cause enough damage to a tree to kill it.

The Hopi believed that this plant was used in witchcraft medicine.

Illuminate the Night: Join the Full Moon Walk with the Institute for American Indian Studies

Experience the magic of a nighttime winter walk under the last full moon of 2024 at the Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS) on Saturday, December 14 at 6 p.m. Embrace the whispers of the winter woods, the crisp air, and the scent of evergreens as you embark on this moonlit adventure. 

The Magic of the Long Night Moon 

This full moon, just before the Winter Solstice, takes the highest and longest path along the night sky. Known as the Long Night Moon, it shines above the horizon longer than most full moons, making this walk particularly special. Participants will walk along beautifully maintained wooded trails under this glistening celestial body, learning the various names Native Americans gave the December full moon and what it symbolized for them. 

A Journey Through Time 

As you walk, you'll discover how different Native American peoples traditionally used the monthly cycles of the moon and nature’s signs to track the seasons. One of the highlights of this experience is witnessing the beauty of December's full moon firsthand, just as Native American communities have done for centuries. Participants will learn that the Mohawks, among other Native American communities refer to this moon as the Cold Moon, aptly describing the chilly days and nights of the season. 

The Perfect Ending 

The woodland walk concludes at the recreated 16th-century Algonkian village, where a warm fire, hot chocolate, and traditional stories await. This unique setting provides the perfect atmosphere to reflect on the night’s experiences and the historical significance of the December full moon. 

Remember to dress for the weather, bring a flashlight, and wear sturdy shoes. If the weather looks iffy, check in with us using the contact info below. Space is limited, so pre-register using the link https://www.iaismuseum.org/event/winter-moon-walk-4. Cost: $5 for IAIS Members, $10 for Non-Members. For more information, questions, or to pre-register events@iaismuseum.org. 

About the Institute for American Indian Studies 

Located on 15 acres of woodland, the IAIS offers educational programs, both permanent and changing exhibits, and a replicated 16th century Algonkian village. Its research department maintains and extensive archeological and ethnographic collections and conducts archeological digs and other research. Its “Wigwam Escape” escape room offers an opportunity to solve a puzzle while learning about Indigenous life before European settlement. With a focus on “two eyed seeing,” visitors can learn about the history of the American continent that incorporates the more than 12,000 -year history of human habitation. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, Connecticut.

2024 Holiday Market Features Indigenous Artists @ Institute for American Indian Studies December, 7 & 14 and 8 &15

Once again this year, the Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington is hosting a one-of a-kind holiday shopping experience that celebrates Native American culture. What makes this Holiday Market unique is that it offers both deeply traditional crafts and more contemporary artistic expressions rooted in Native American cultural experience. Vendors and artists represented here comprise a diverse and inspiring array of artists and experts in handmade crafts.

The Holiday Market throughout the Institute’s impressive exhibition galleries takes place on Saturday, December 7 & 14 and Sunday, December 8 & 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are so many gifts to choose from including Native American jewelry, paintings, photography, apparel, and candles, to decorative gourds, pottery, rattles, flutes and more at a variety of price points. The chance to talk with the artists who have created these one-of-a-kind objects and to learn about the culture that inspired them makes your gift purchase even more meaningful.

If you are shopping for pottery and decorative items check out Primitive Technologies that showcase wood fired pottery, decorative masks, and unique jewelry, Jeanne Morningstar Kent (Nulhegan Ban, Coosuk-Abenaki) who creates tribal art on gourds, and Eva Newell, a multi talented artist who offers a range of artwork from beadwork to paintings. For music lovers, Allan Madahbee (Ojibwe) is offering handmade Native American flutes as well as paintings and crafts. Shoran Piper, the Clan Mother of the Golden Paugussett Tribal Nation, is offering a variety of items from lotions and herbs to beaded jewelry, and dream catchers. Keith Rood (Metis) will be selling a beautiful selection of leather bags as well as fans, pottery, and stone blade knives, Eddie Cuevas of Taino Trinkets will be offering an array of handmade items, and Native Visions will be have an excellent selection of contemporary and traditional original paintings, limited edition prints, kachinas, Zuni fetishes and more created by Native American artists and craftsmen from the Plains and Southwest. Some vendors may not be present on certain days, so it is best to call ahead for details 860-868-0518. Also, there may be additional vendors participating that are not listed here. 

The Museum's Gift Shop will be open and brimming with gifts large and small in many price ranges. Here, you will find a distinctive collection of Native American jewelry, including wampum jewelry crafted by regionally located Indigenous artists as well as silver and turquoise jewelry from the Southwest. For foodies, there is a wonderful selection of traditional Native American food products from Sweet Grass Trading Company from the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, and others. The gift shop also has a good selection of books and children’s items.

Although entrance to the museum and the Holiday Market is free, donations are always appreciated. A tour of the museum for a nominal fee is a fun and insightful experience that compliments this unique shopping experience. 

Although entrance to the museum and the Holiday Market are free, donations are always appreciated. A tour of the museum for a nominal fee is a fun and insightful experience that compliments this unique shopping experience. 

About The Institute for American Indian Studies 

 Located on 15 acres of woodland the Institute for American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that 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 on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Medicinal Monday - Reindeer Moss

As December is the month of holiday cheer, we thought we would write a blog about Reindeer Moss also known as Cladonia rangiferina. Technically it is not a moss at all, it is a lichen. This lichen is good for plants in general because it breaks down rocks which forms the soil in which plants grow. It also retains nitrogen that is in the soil helping surrounding plants grow. In addition to the benefits this plant offers other plants, it also has medicinal benefits that were used by Native American communities, specifically the Ojibwe.

About Reindeer Moss

This lichen is often found in boreal pine forests or in low-alpine areas. It grows on humus or on soil that covers rocks. It is a fungus and unicellular algae in symbiosis that helps each plant survive. The many curved tubes of the fungus protect the algae enabling both of them to produce the sugars that they both live on. The lichen is made up of a thallus, the main body of the plant whose development can last up to 25 years! In the summer the plant dries up under the summer sun and can be crumbled between the fingers resulting in a green/grey powder. As the main body or podetium grows it enters a stable period of 100 years. Areas grazed by wildlife can take many years to recover. 

Medicinal Uses

The most common use of Reindeer Moss was to make tea from it and use it to treat diarrhea. It was also used as a laxative, cough suppressant, and to treat inflammation in the mouth. Tea was made to treat loss of appetite. Specifically, the Ojibwe boiled the moss and used the water to wash a newborn baby, and the Dene of the Arctic used the acid found in this lichen to tan reindeer hides.

Did You Know...

This lichen is also known as reindeer cup lichen, deer moss, caribou moss, and grey reindeer lichen.

Reindeer lichen is an important source of food for caribou.

Reindeer moss is high in carbohydrates that supply wildlife that eats it with energy to keep them warm.

In the 1800s Sweden led the world in lichen alcohol production. Lichen brandy was popular. This plant is used to make Akvavit.

Medicinal Monday Virginia Waterleaf

Hydrophyllum virginianum commonly called Virginia waterleaf is a wildflower that is native to the moist woodlands of the eastern U.S. and Canada. It is a lovely plant whose leaves have white spots that look like watermarks, giving them one of their names. Found in Connecticut and throughout New England, Native American communities most often used this plant medicinally. 

H. Zell

About Virginia Waterleaf

This erect perenial plant in the borage family grows to 18 inches tall on stems that branch out and are sometimes reddish green in color with fine hair. The triangular  course toothed leaves are large and divided into three to seven lobes that are separated at the tip and base. Leaves often have white spots on them but they fade as the plant matures. The bell shaped light lavendar colored flowers have a green  hairy calyx that has five long pointed teeth and five petals with two protruding stamens with yellow tips. Blooming occurs in early spring through July. This plant spreads by rhizomes and forms large colonies in moist forests. It can also spread by seed.

Medicinal Uses

One of the most common traditional uses was to make tea from the roots to treat dysentery and diarrhea. The tea was also used like an astringent to stop bleeding.  The roots were pounded into a paste and applied to cracked lips and sore mouths.  The Menominee made a compound decoction of the root to treat chest pain and the Ojibwa made a decoction of the roots to give to children with flux. They also chopped the root up and fed it to their horses to fatten them up!

Did You Know...

Other names for this plant include Eastern waterleaf, John's cabbage, and Shawnee salad.

Young shoots were eaten in salads in the early spring.

The plant's name comes from Greek hydro (water) and phyllon (leaf).

The species name, virginianum refers to the state of Virginia where it was first collected.

Learn the Cultural Tradition of Corn Husk Weaving @ Institute for American Indian Studies

 During this month of gratitude, the Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is hosting a Corn Husk Weaving Workshop on Saturday, November 23^rd at 1 p.m. Participants will learn the traditional art of weaving beauty from simple cornhusks into a seasonal craft perfect for gift giving.

Originating in South America, corn didn’t reach New England until about 1000 years ago. Corn was a useful crop that wasn’t grown just as a source of food. Many Native American traditions, including the Three Sisters Garden, various traditional stories, and annual ceremonies like the Green Corn Festival, encompass the cultural importance of corn including weaving art and everyday items from cornhusks.

 A cornhusk is the outer leaf of the corn plant that protects the cob as it grows. Most of the time, this green outer shell is thrown out after corn is harvested. Readily available during the fall harvest season, skilled Native American artists and other artisans collect the husks and dry them until they turn an attractive shade of golden brown signaling that they are ready to be woven.

 

At this workshop participants will join an IAIS educator for a hands-on class where they will create crafts made from cornhusks to take home. Weaving with cornhusks has been around for thousands of years in Native American culture and this workshop presents a rare opportunity to experience a bit of Native American culture while creating something beautiful and meaningful.

 

Pre-registration for this workshop is required and can be made online at iaismuseum.org. The price to participate including all materials, is $20 for non-members and $10 for members of the Institute. If you have questions, please call 860-868-00518 or email events@iaismuseum.org

 

About the Institute for American Indian Studies

Its “Wigwam Escape” escape room offers an opportunity to solve a puzzle while learning about Indigenous life before European settlement. With a focus on “two-eyed seeing”, visitors can learn about the history of the American continent that incorporates more than 12,000-year history of human habitation. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, Connecticut.

 

Medicinal Monday Buffalo Gourd

Cucurbita foetidissima is a gourd that is native to North America and can be found in the central and southwestern areas of the United States. Native American communities in this area have used this gourd for food as well as for traditional medicinal purposes. 

About Buffalo Gourd

This plant is in the Cucurbitaceae or cucumber family. It has large gray-green triangular leaves that can grow up to 12 inches long and are covered with rough hair. The leaves grow alongside stems that lie on the ground. The plant sprawls up to 30 feet across. The flowers are yellow with stamens that have large antlers deep inside the bell-shaped throat of the flowers. The fruit of this plant is green-striped when young. They turn yellow as they mature and grow to the size of a tennis ball.

Medicinal Uses

One of the most common traditional uses was to make tea to ease childbirth. Another was to make tea from the boiled roots to induce vomiting. The seeds were ground into a powder to relieve swellings and the dried root was mixed with water and used as a laxative. Many used the root as a soap and the gourds for washing. Many communities pulverized the seeds or made a decoction of the roots to treat venereal sores. Specifically, the Apache and the Coahuilla made a poultice of the leaves, stems, and roots and applied the mixture to sores on horses.  The Shoshoni made an infusion of the entire plant and gave it to their horses to get rid of worms. The Cahuilia found three interesting traditional uses for this plant. They ground the shell of the fruit and used it as a shampoo, they applied the pulp of the fruit mixed with chopped-up roots on open sores and made physic from dried roots. The Keres and Zuni made a poultice of crushed roots and applied the mixture to boils and sores, the Kiowa took a decoction of peeled roots as an emetic, the Omaha pulverized the root and took it for pain, and the Paiute made a decoction of the root to kill maggots in wounds.  The roots are boiled and used for chest pain by Isleta-Pueblo Indians.

In addition to medicinal uses, the seeds were roasted and eaten as food or ground and made into flour. The dried gourds were made into rattles and ladles. The yellow flowers were used as a dye.

Did You Know...

Other names for Buffalo Gourd are Stinking Gourd, Missouri Gourd, Stink Gourd, and Wild Gourd.

This plant gets its nickname Stink Gourd because of its foul odor when bruised.

The mature fruit is poisonous to humans depending on weight and susceptibility to the poison.

Cucurbita is Latin for the word gourd and the species name, foetidissima comes from Latin meaning very bad smelling.

A mature gourd can clean wooden floors.

A soap-like foam forms when the fruit of the gourd is crushed in water because of the saponin glycosides and is used on laundry stains.