Medicinal Monday...Nasty or Nice? Nettles!

There are thirty types of nettles worldwide and there are two types found in the U.S., stinging nettle and California nettle. The stinging nettle plant plays a role in traditional Native American herbal medicine as well as in ceremonies. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, men rubbed nettles on their bodies in fishing, whaling, and seal hunting rituals. Stinging nettles sometimes appear in Native American legends as comic relief, where a trickster ends up tumbling into nettles. Stinging nettle is often associated with the coyote, and they have a long history as a source for traditional medicine, food, tea, and even textiles.

About Stinging Nettles

Urtica dioica is also known as stinging nettle or common nettle. It is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant that was originally native to Europe but is now found all over the world. Stinging nettle grows to the height of three feet. Its dull green stem and leaves are covered with stinging hairs that pierce the skin and emit an acrid fluid that causes pain when touched. The stinging hairs are called trichomes that act like hypodermic needles that inject histamine, acetylcholine, serotonin, and formic acid that produce a stinging sensation on contact. The leaves are slightly heart-shaped and have a strongly serrated margin. They bear tiny greenish - yellow-colored flowers that can usually be seen June - September before forming seeds. This plant spreads by rhizomes as well as by seed. Given moist rich soil it thrives in sunny meadows, near woodland brooks and marshes, and along roadside ditches.

Medicinal Uses of Stinging Nettle

The Cherokee and Lakota make an infusion of the roots of the stinging nettle plant and take this for stomach pain. Many Native communities use stinging nettle for its analgesic properties. The Hesquiat rub nettles on their body for aches and pains and a poultice of steamed leaves and roots are used to treat arthritic legs and ankles. The Kwakiutl rub the plant on the skin for chest pain and used the fiber from the plant to treat headaches. The juice of the plant was rubbed onto the head to prevent hair loss by the Thompson and Kwakiutl. The Nitinaht whip their body with this plant to relieve arthritis, and the Okanagan-Colville beat their skin with fresh plants after emerging from a sweathouse to treat arthritis. The Shuswap make a decoction of stems and roots and use this liquid in a sweat bath to relieve aches and pains. The Woodland Cree make a decoction of this plant to keep blood from flowing after childbirth and the Kwakiutl give an infusion of this plant to women to induce labor. Many communities enjoy drinking a tonic of fresh spring leaves to purify the blood. In sweat lodges, several tribes burned stinging nettle leaves to treat the flu.

The Lakota rub the leaves on a fishing line to give the line a green color. It is also used as a medicine for good fishing. The Iroquois made a compound of this plant and snake blood and used it as a witchcraft medicine. In the Kawaiisu tribe, stinging nettles were combined with other herbs and considered to be a source of dream power. A person that wanted a medicine vision would walk through nettle plants so that the stings would prepare him or her for the dreams. Many Native Americans including the Winnebago, Omaha, Menominee, and Subarctic people wove nettle clothing. Several communities used nettle to make fishing nets.

Did You Know...

Soaking the stinging nettles in water or cooking them removes the stinging chemicals from the plant which allows them to be eaten and handled without a sting.

The Scots and Irish use young leaves for greens and the French prepare several different dishes from the tops of this plant.

Nettles have evolved stings to prevent them from being eaten by animals.

Nettle was used in folk veterinary medicine in Spain, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. It was administered to chickens and turkeys to stimulate growth.

It is used to stimulate farmed fish immunity on some intensive fish farms.

Nettles can be harvested for eating at any time except when flowering or seeding.

The most common European use of nettles is to pound the stalks of nettle to extract fibers that can be used to make textiles.

Celebrate International Archaeology with Artifact ID and More October 17 @ Institute for American Indian Studies

 

October 17 is International Archaeology Day, a celebration of all things archaeology organized by the Archaeological Institute of America, the largest and oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to archaeology founded in 1879. There will be more than 800 organizations worldwide participating in this exciting event including the Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut. 

 The study of archeology and Native American culture is a core function of the Institute’s mission of stewardship and preservation. Over the years the Institute has surveyed or excavated over 500 archaeological sites. “International Archaeology Day is the chance for the Institute for American Indian Studies to advance awareness of the elements of archeological research such as fieldwork, preservation, publication, and education of archeological sites; and the cultural heritage of Native Americans,” said Chris Combs, Executive Director. 

 To join the celebration, head to the Institute on Saturday, October 17 for a series of games, and activities that will help participants understand how archaeology helps to inform our study of Native lifeways. Discover the importance of excavation techniques, field notes, and more. Archaeology is more than just objects. It is a link to the people and culture of the past that can help to inform us in the present. 

 A highlight of the day is Artifact Identification that will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. People with artifacts are encouraged to sign up for a time slot with the Institute’s Research Department for a private Artifact I.D. session. Although staff cannot appraise or speculate about the value of an object, they can talk about the what, who, when, where, and how of your mystery items. The Artifact I.D. sessions are limited to 12 stone artifacts or Northeastern Native American cultural items. To register for a private Artifact ID session, call 860-868-0518 or email general@iaismuseum.org. 

 Activities will take place throughout the day. Masks must be worn in the museum and outside when you are within six feet of other visitors or staff. The cost of this event and all activities is free with the price of admission that is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children. 

 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 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...Honey Mushrooms

 Early accounts of Native American communities note that they enjoyed eating mushrooms. There are numerous examples of dried mushrooms that have been threaded on sticks in the Institute's collections. One mushroom that appears in the fall, usually when yellow leaves fall from the trees is the honey mushroom. Don't miss our video on Foraging in the Forest for Honey Mushrooms. https://www.facebook.com/IAISMuseum/videos/449700365968823. This mushroom has several lookalikes that can make you very sick, and one is deadly so don't eat them if you have not properly identified them.

About Honey Mushrooms

This small gold and white mushroom is a genus composed of several types of parasitic fungi that grow on wood. Armillaria, the honey mushrooms scientific name is made up of ten different species of mushroom. This genus of mushroom can be found in temperate regions in Asia, Europe, and North America, including Connecticut. Most often they are found growing next to hardwood trees because they feed on dead plant material. 

Honeys can cause white fungus rot in trees. Honey fungus spreads from living trees, dead and live roots, and stumps by means of reddish-brown roots. Thin sheets of mycelium (the bacterial colony) beneath the bark, at the base of the trunk, or stem indicate that honey fungus is the pathogen. Honey mushrooms can be identified by stems that grow together in tight clusters and range in color from bright white to yellowish tan. Some have a ring under the steam, others are ringless, they have no bulb around the base of the stem. All ringless honeys should have a small textured area of darker coloration in the middle of each cap. Underneath the mushroom, the gills run down the stem, if the gills are separate from the stem they are not ringless honeys. Gills are white or light beige. They typically grow in clusters of up to 20-50 mushrooms. Honey mushrooms must be thoroughly cooked because they are mildly poisonous raw. They have a mild sweet taste along with a chewy texture.

Medicinal Benefits

Honey Mushrooms are good for you because they are rich in polysaccharides from natural sources. They help to keep the immune system working at its optimal level and stimulates the immune system by boosting the activity of natural "killer" cells that protect the body from bacteria and viruses. A British study found that the polysaccharides found in Honey Mushrooms also enhance brain function against neurodegenerative disorders and that they decreased the build-up of specific proteins linked to Alzheimer's.

The honey mushroom can be found on the Institute's property and throughout New England and can be harvested in great quantities in the fall. It is doubtful that this wonderful food resource was overlooked by earlier Native people that were so keyed into the available natural resources around them.

Did You Know...

Honey Mushrooms have a long life span and form some of the largest colonies in the world.

One of the largest colonies of honey mushrooms is found in the Blue Mountains of Oregon where they span more than 3.4 miles across this landscape.

The deadly Galerina mushroom can be mistaken for the honey mushroom. This mushroom is smaller and usually dark brown with tan gills and a convex cap that flattens with maturity. There is no cure for Galerina poisoning and just one-quarter of one cap can kill a grown adult.

The honey fungus has the ability to glow in the dark. The light-producing part is the mycelium, the threadlike roots that branch out underground that allow this mushroom to feed and grow. They are some of the mushrooms responsible for "firefox" the bioluminescence in forests at night due to fungi on rotting wood.

Falling Leaves Full Moon Walk Institute for American Indian Studies October 2

 Respect for the natural world is embedded in their culture and traditions. The moon and stars have a special significance for Native Americans. On Friday, October 2, at the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington, visitors will find out why the moon is so important to the rhythm of Native American life when they participate in the Full Moon Falling Leaves Walk that begins at 7 p.m. 

Susan Scherf, IAIS Museum Educator, and Ecologist will lead an invigorating and easy walk on the trails of the museum that makes social distancing easy. It is a short but moderate walk along the museum's trails that lets participants experience the woods at night, under a bright harvest moon just like the Eastern Woodland Indians have done for millennia. This experience will give participants an understanding of what the moon meant to Native Americans and how it guided and influenced their daily lives. Early Native Americans had no access to paper calendars but they did keep track of the seasons using the lunar cycle. Learn how the moon alerted Native Americans to the change of the seasons and how they adapted to survive the coming winter. A highlight of this walk is to learn how animals including owls adapted to the change of seasons and why it is important. 

The walk concludes with hot apple cider being served around a campfire at the Institute's 16th century replicated Algonkian Village that consists of a massive longhouse, several wigwams, and a three sisters garden. The cost of this event for Non-members of the Institute is $10 per person. Members are free. To register call 860-868-0518 or email general@iaismuseum.org. This event is weather permitting, to confirm please call 860-868-0518 or visit the Institute's Facebook Page on the day of the event. Masks are required in the museum, and outdoors when you are within six feet of other visitors or staff. For an optimal experience, it is suggested that participants bring a flashlight along.

About the Falling Leaves Moon

Traditionally, the full moon, called the Harvest Moon or the Falling Leaves Moon occurs closest to the September equinox, the astronomical start of the fall season in the Northern Hemisphere, when the sun rises later and night falls earlier. What makes this October moon special is that the moon rises above the horizon around sunset. This extra early light in the evening is what makes the October full moon so special; traditionally it gave Native Americans and farmers extra light for harvesting beyond the sunset. 

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 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,

Medicinal Monday...Lucky & Useful - Red Clover

Red Clover, is part of the legume or bean family and is widely found throughout eastern North America. It was introduced to the Americas from Europe and was widely used by Native Americans. Through the centuries, this herbaceous flowering plant has had many uses from medicinal and culinary, to feed for cattle, sheep, and horses.

About Red Cover
Red clover is a short-lived perennial plant that grows eight to 31 inches tall with hollow hairy stems. Each leaf consists of a slender stalk with three broad green leaves with a pale crescent on the outer half of the leaf. They grow from crowns and have a deep taproot that consists of many branches that make this plant drought-resistant. The flowers are dark pink with a paler base. The seed pods are short and contain kidney-shaped seeds that vary in color from yellow to deep violet. Red clover is tolerant of a wide range of soil.

Medicinal and Culinary Uses
One of the most common uses of red clover is to make a tea from the leaves and flowers to treat whooping cough. This tea also became a general remedy for cancer and has a history of use as an ointment for venomous bites. The Algonquin made an infusion of this plant to treat whooping cough, and, the Cherokee made an infusion from the entire plant to treat fever. The Iroquois make a decoction of the flowers to purify the blood. They also make a cold infusion of the flowers to treat menopause. The Rappahannock make an infusion of the stems and leaves and use this as an ingredient in blood medicine. The Tompson make an infusion of the flower heads and drink it as a treatment for stomach cancer. In California and Arizona, red clover became a food crop and the plant was cooked. Many Native American communities grind this plant into flour and use it in baking.

Did You Know...
Today, the most common use for Red clover is as forage for grazing and for feed. The protein content of red clover is almost as high as alfalfa and its long taproot can produce three to five tons of forage per acre.

In the 1800s, the drug company, Parke-Davis used red clover for the treatment of niacin deficiency, for whooping cough, and as a wash for ulcers.

Today it is still considered useful in the treatment of eczema. It is also used in combination with other herbs for coughs.

Ancient Greeks and Romans associated the plant with the triad goddess trinity, Celtic priests associated it with their three-lobbed symbol of the sun, and Druids believed the blossoms could ward off evil spirits.

The Irish embraced this plant and often looked for a four-leaf clover. A rhyme dating to medieval times says, "a four-leaf clover has one leaf for fame, one for wealth, one for faithful love, and one for glorious health."

A modern study indicated that isoflavones found in red clover may reduce menopausal hot flashes and may also decrease bone loss.

The bumblebee is one of the most important pollinators of red clover.

Educational Exploration - Private Classes Now Offered @ Institute for American Indian Studies

 This September, the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington Connecticut is offering three-hour private educational programs in the new Educational Exploration program that will spark your child's curiosity with a learning experience outside the classroom. The Institute's private lessons will teach important life skills that can be tailored for students from kindergarten to Grade 12. 

 

The new Educational Exploration Private Lessons were developed in response to the social isolation encountered by children this past spring and summer. The private lesson courses have been fine-tuned using the Institution's 45 years of experience educating countless school groups that have visited. The Museum educational staff has designed private lessons to provide students with engaging and meaningful experiences that leverage the Institute's collections and grounds. Components of these private classes will include the study of earth sciences, social sciences, social studies, survival techniques, traditional skills, and archeology. A special add on bonus is an experience in the award-winning Wigwam Escape room that will take students back to the year of 1518.

 

Age-appropriate private lessons are a good educational balance for children that are either learning remotely from home or going to school just two or three days a week. The Institute's private lessons offer one-on-one education and mentorship for those interested in further developing skills, working on special projects, or fulfilling a special interest. They will feature hands-on, interdisciplinary, inquiry-based programs led by experienced museum educators on a variety of interesting topics that will have connections to core social studies, science, reading, and writing curricula.

 

Educational Exploration programs are three hours long and are offered in the morning or in the afternoon and range from the minimum cost of $85 for members to $105 for non-members per lesson for one to three children. To book private lessons, call the Institute’s Education Department at 860-868-0518, Ext. 103 or email education@iaismuseum.org. Siblings, cousins, neighbors, and friends are welcome. There is an additional per child charge of $20 for more than three children. Wigwam Escape, an award-winning escape room can be included in any program for an additional fee.

 

Educational Exploration programs can be customized based on age, the number of participants, and topics for an additional fee. Students and staff are required to wear masks inside the museum. First aid and CPR certified staff members will be present at all times

 

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 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,

 

Medicinal Monday... Bright and Beautiful - the Barren Strawberry

Waldsteinia fragarioides is an evergreen wildflower with bright yellow blossoms that is native to North America. It was a medicinal favorite of the Iroquois and other Native American communities.

About Waldsteinia fragarioides
Also known as the Barron strawberry or Appalachian barren strawberry this lovely wildflower forms an evergreen mat and spreads by underground rhizomes. The colonies of this wildflower can become quite large. The leaves are distinctive because they have three glossy green toothed, fan-shaped leaflets. Although considered an evergreen, the leaves can turn a bronze color in the winter. In the spring, the plants have bright yellow blossoms. This wildflower can be found from New Brunswick to northern Georgia and west from Ontario to Minnesota, Indiana.  The species is indigenous to moist or dry upland conifer forests, mixed hardwood, and pine woodlands, as well as thickets, clearings, and fields.

Medicinal Uses
The Iroquois take a compound decoction of this plant as a blood remedy and apply a poultice of the smashed plants to treat snakebite.

Did You Know...

The Barren strawberry is not palatable to deer and rabbits.

It is called a barren strawberry because it resembles the strawberry plant, minus the berries! It can be distinguished from the strawberry plant because it has broader leaves, yellow flowers, and inedible fruit.

The Barren strawberry is a member of the Rose family (Rosaceae).

Barren strawberry is a good plant for supplying pollen to native bees.

It is listed as endangered in Connecticut, Illinois, and Maine.