Medicinal Monday - Trailing Windmills...On Our Mind!

Trailing windmills is an orchid-colored trailing vine that is easily recognized because it produces bright pink flowers on long stems that grow along the ground. It is a beautiful perennial used medicinally for centuries by Native American communities in America's southwest.

About Trailing Windmills

The scientific name of this plant is Allionia incarnata and is in the Trailing Four O' Clock family. The vine with its bright orchid pink flowers that are interspersed can grow up to ten feet wide along the ground. It prefers to grow on rocky slopes, mesas, and washes and can be found in sandy and gravelly soil. The stems, leaves, and buds are covered in soft white hair. They are unusual because their blooms consist of three separate flowers appearing to be a single plant. They are short low perennials with trailing stems over a foot in length. Their leaves are oval and oblong and the flowers have five to seven stamens. They are native to Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, and Mexico. They bloom from April to October.

Medicinal Uses

Many Native American communities in the Southwest use this plant to treat sore muscles. Specifically the Navajo, Ramah made a cold infusion of the roots and use it to treat sore muscles and swelling. It was also used to treat mouth and skin ailments. The flowers and stalks were added to baths to reduce fevers and prepared as a decoction to treat kidney ailments and gastrointestinal problems.

Did You Know...

Allionia incarnata is a flowering plant in the Nyctaginaceae family or the four o'clock family. 

The flowers of this plant stay open all day even though its name implies it opens in the late afternoon.

Other names for this plant include pink three flowers, pink windmills, trailing Allionia, trailing four o'clock, and trailing windmills.

Medicinal Monday - the Candlenut Tree of Hawaii

Kukui or the Candlenut tree is such an important tree to Hawaii that it was named the State Tree of Hawaii in 1959, due to its multitude of uses. In Maui, this tree is a symbol of peace and enlightenment. It is prized for its high oil content and its ability to burn for about 15 minutes giving it the nickname candlenut. Today it is considered highly ornamental and can grow up to 98 feet or more when mature. This tree has a long medicinal and practical history with the culture of Hawaii.

About the Candlenut Tree

The candlenut tree is in the Euphorbiaceae family whose scientific name is Aleurites moluccanus. Hawaiians called it Kukui. This tree can be found in tropical rainforests and are is noted for its wide-spreading branches. The heart-shaped leaves are pale green and covered in rusty or cream stellate hair. The flowers are small and the fruit is a drupe with one or two lobes that has a soft, white, oily kernel contained within a hard shell. The seeds contain saponin and phorbol and are mildly toxic when eaten raw. It is difficult to determine when the first candlenut trees were domesticated but it is thought that they were first harvested on the islands of Southeast Asia. There are archeological sites with remains of harvested candlenuts in Timor and Morotai in eastern Indonesia that date to 13,000 BP. 

Practical Uses

In Ancient Hawaii, kukui nuts were burned to provide light. The nuts were strung in a row on a palm leaf midrib, lit on one end, and burned one by one every 15 minutes or so. This led to their use as a measure of time. One could instruct someone to return home before the second nut burned out. Hawaiians also extracted the oil from the nut and burned it in a stone oil lamp called a kukui hele po (light, darkness goes) with a wick made of Kapa cloth.
Hawaiians made leis from the shells of the candlenut tree and would make ink from charred nuts that they would use in tattoos. They also made a varnish from the oil.  Fishermen would chew the nuts and spit them on the water to break the surface tension and remove reflections, giving them greater underwater visibility. A red-brown dye made from the inner bark was used on kapa and aho (Touchardia latifolia cordage). A coating of kukui oil helped preserve fishing nets. The trunk was sometimes used to make smaller canoes used for fishing. 

Medicinal Uses

Traditionally, healers picked green nuts, separate the stem from its husk, and gather the sap collected in a small hole resulting from this process. This sap was topically applied on the sores or mixed with water for curing sores inside the mouth as a mouthwash.  Baked nut meats, breadfruit, and milk were applied to sores and ulcers. Flowers of this tree were pounded and the resulting liquid was given to infants for stomach or bowel trouble. The nut oil was used as a very strong laxative. The bark, sap, and flowers were pounded together, and the resulting liquid was heated and then taken for asthma, sore throats, tonsillitis, toothaches, and bad breath. Young leaves were heated and placed on swellings, broken bones, and bruises. The sap from the nut was given to babies to help relieve the pain of teething. The oil was used to reduce stretch marks on a pregnant woman's stomach.

Did You Know...

Aleurites comes from the Greek language meaning covered with flour and is a reference to the fine hairs of the tree that makes it look like it is dusted with flour.

Other names for this tree are Indian walnut, Kemiri, Varnish tree, Kukui, or Buah keras.

Cooked nuts are generally edible, although some strains contain high amounts of cyanide.

Usually, the nut is pressed for its oil, which is used for a variety of industrial purposes like soap making, varnishes, and fuel.

In Tonga as recently as 1993, candlenuts were chewed into a sweet-scented emollient used during a traditional funerary ritual.

Wigwam Construction @ Institute for American Indian Studies July 23

A Wigwam is a type of home made from tree bark. These structures are found throughout pre-contact New England. One of the few places where you can see a replica of 16th-century wigwams in the setting of a traditional Native American village is at the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Connecticut.

Learn about the ancient process of making a wigwam

On July 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. join Griffin Kalin, Educator at the Institute for American Indian Studies and Traditional Skills Expert for an interactive discussion and program about wigwam construction and the science and technology used to build them. This program will take place at the Institute's 16th-century replicated Algonquian village that consists of several wigwams, a longhouse, a fire circle, drying racks, and the three sisters' garden. Participants will learn what types of wood need to be harvested and the types of tools that would be used to build a wigwam. A highlight of this program is watching the actual repairs to the structures in the village to learn about this ancient process. Griffin is a wealth of knowledge and will be there to answer questions and give material demonstrations.

Pre-registration is appreciated and can be made by visiting www.iaismuseum.org to reserve a space through Eventbrite. If you have questions, call 860-868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org. This program is $5 per participant and free for members. This doesn't include admission to the museum.

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 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 at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

 

An Ecology Walk Along the Shepaug River With the Institute for American Indian Studies

 

A summer walk along the Shepaug River that runs through Washington is a rewarding experience, especially when guided by IAIS Educator and Ecologist, Susan Scherf on Saturday, July 9 at 10 a.m. The cost of this program hosted by the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for children, and $5 for members. This hike is perfect for nature lovers and will have them looking at the natural world in a new and exciting way. 

Riverside fun with the Institute for American Indian Studies

The Shepaug River whose Native American name means "rocky waters" has a long history of habitation. Native Americans have lived overlooking this river for thousands of years. Many stone tools and items such as bone needles and punches, wooden spear shafts, tool handles, and much more have been found in archeological excavations along the banks of the Shepaug. 

Rivers are considered the lifeline of ecosystems around the world. On this guided walk participants will learn that Native peoples traditionally recognized that all beings are interconnected. An important life lesson of this walk is to realize that we can learn about our environment by observing wildlife, plants, trees, and flowers. Summer is one of the best times to observe wildlife along the Shepaug from watching a great blue heron hunt to listening to frogs croaking, and feeling the exoskeleton of a crayfish. Walking along this babbling river Susan will discuss animal adaptations and explain what to look and listen for when trying to identify different species in the Eastern Woodland environment. 

Participants should wear sturdy hiking or walking shoes, and be prepared to walk about a mile along the river with frequent stops along the way. Participants are encouraged to bring water and extra shoes or sandals to change into down by the river. Space on this hike is limited and pre-registration is required. To reserve your space visit http://www.iaismuseum.org to reserve a space through Eventbrite. If you have questions, call 860-868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org.

Medicinal Monday...Wild Bergamot

Wild Bergamot is a fragrant showy plant that has many medicinal uses. This hardy plant is a perennial wildflower that is native to most of North America. Many Native American communities found this plant useful for medicinal purposes. There are also accounts of members of the Hidatsa that would crush the leaves of this fragrant plant and use it to perfume their clothes. Bachelors in the Dakota community would carry bunches of the plant in their coats to emit a pleasant fragrance. The Kutenai placed the leaves on hot rocks in a sweathouse and used this plant as incense.  The Omaha used the leaves as a perfume for their hair. The Cheyenne chewed the leaves and used them as a perfume for horses. The stems, leaves, and flowers were sometimes used as pillow stuffing because of this plant's pleasant fragrance.

About Wild Bergamot

Wild Bergamont is also known as Monarda fistulosa is in the Mint family. It grows in prairies, open meadows, woods, and roadsides. It is a perennial herb also known as Bee Balm or Oswego Tea that can be found in 48 states in North America and in northern Mexico and southern Canada. It can grow up to four feet high and is characterized by lance-shaped leaves up to four inches in length and clusters of tubular-shaped pink to purple flowers up to three inches wide. This plant blooms from June through September and prefers full sun. It is considered to be drought resistant and can tolerate a wide range of soil including sand. This plant will not be found in Florida, Hawaii, or California.

Medicinal Uses

Wild Bergamot has been used by many Native American communities and is considered to be a very important plant for its useful medicinal and food uses. The Blackfoot used an infusion of the plant to treat coughs and made a poultice of the flower head and applied it to treat wounds and cuts. They also made a solution to treat sore eyes. Many communities chewed the root for swollen neck glands. The Cherokee used a poultice of leaves to treat headaches, and colds, and as a treatment for colic. They also used a hot infusion of the leaf to bring out measles and to treat stomach trouble. An infusion of the leaf or root was taken orally and wiped on the forehead to treat nosebleeds. The Chippewa chewed leaves and placed them in their nose to treat headaches. They also made a decoction of the roots and blossoms to treat worms. The Choctaw rubbed the plant on a child's chest for pain. The Crow made an infusion and took it for respiratory problems. The Dakota made an infusion of the flowers and took it to treat abdominal pain. The Flathead would hang plants on walls for colds and make an infusion to treat coughs, chills, and fever. The Koasati would bathe in a decoction of leaves to alleviate the chills. The Ojibwe used the leaves to treat headaches and would place the leaves in their nostrils to induce sneezing. They also made a decoction of the root to treat stomach pain.  Many communities would use the oil in the plant to treat bronchitis and would seep the flowers and leaves into a tea to treat the flu. The Navajo used a cold infusion of the plant as a wash for headaches and the Lakota used an infusion of the leaves for fainting. The Sioux used an infusion of blossoms for colds and fevers and chills. The Winnebago used a decoction of leaves to treat skin eruptions such as pimples.

Culinary Uses

Many communities including the Cherokee, Lakota, Hopi, Pueblo, Spanish Americans, and Tewa use this plant as food, and some dried it and stored it for the winter. The Apache and Iroquois used the leaves to make a drink out of the leaves. The Isleta and Laguna used the plant as a seasoning for meat and stews. The Blackfoot used the dried flowerheads for sucking broth or soup. The Flathead would pulverize the leaves and sprinkle them on meats as a preservative. The Acoma ground the leaves and mixed them with sausage for seasoning. The Apache would boil young leaves and stems to make a non-intoxicating drink.

Did You Know...

Wild Bergamot is attractive to bees as well as other pollinators including butterflies. It is an important source of nectar for bees.

One of the most common contemporary uses of Monarda fistulosa is as an ornamental plant.

It is also grown to help facilitate prairie restoration and to restore forage for wild bees. 

Carvacrol is a chemical derived from Wild Bergamot which has been shown to have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. 

This plant has also shown some value as a mosquito repellant. 

Medicinal Monday... Partridgeberry - an aid in childbirth and much more

Mitchella repens also known as the partridgeberry is a most attractive woodland creeping vine. The common name of this plant (partridgeberry) is a reference to the belief that it is a favorite food of foraging partridges.  It is native to North America and can be found in Connecticut. Native American communities use this plant in several interesting ways. 

Partridgeberry forms a verdant carpet on the woodland floor

About Partridgeberry

Partridgeberry is a delicate vine in the Rubiaceae (madder) family. It is only about two inches high forming a beautiful mat of trailing vines on the forest floor. It spreads when the nodes of these vines come in contact with the soil and take root.  This trailing evergreen plant with dark green rounded leaves has white fragrant tubular flowers that grow in pairs and are covered with dense white hairs giving them a fuzzy appearance. The flowers in Connecticut usually begin to bloom in early summer. The flowers are followed by a berry that is initially green but gradually ripens to a bright red by the fall. Look for two bright red eyes on the surface of the berry that is formed because of the pollination of the two flowers that fuse together to form it. If not eaten by wildlife or picked by foragers the berries remain red through the winter. Partridegberries are usually found in the rich woodland soils in eastern North America growing in shaded woods and along stream banks or on sandy slopes. 

Delicate pink and white tubular-shaped flowers

Medicinal Uses

In general, the most common use of this plant among the Native American communities was as an aid in childbirth. Many communities made tea from the leaves which were given to women with severe menstrual cramps, to help with labor pain and ease delivery, and as a wash to treat sore nipples during breastfeeding. There were many other uses for this delicate vine. The Abnaki made a poultice of the plant and applied it to swellings while the Cherokee took a tea for monthly menstrual cramps. They also made an infusion that was given to a baby to encourage breastfeeding and also took it for hives and sore nipples. The Cherokee also made an infusion of the root of partridgeberry and mixed it with milk and took it to treat bowel complaints and piles. As a veterinary aid, they gave an infusion to a pregnant cat and her kittens. 

Look for the berries in the fall

Delaware made a hot infusion of the roots and twigs and used it as a steam treatment for stiff joints and sore muscles. They made an infusion of the entire plant to treat suppressed menses and to strengthen female reproduction. The Iroquois used the berries to treat severe labor pains and would also make a compound decoction of the roots and bark for back and urinary pain. They also made a compound infusion for children with convulsions and vomiting and to treat fevers. A decoction of roots was sometimes given to newborn babies as a physic for stomachaches or rashes, and a poultice of vines was given to babies with swollen abdomens. Pregnant mothers would take a compound infusion of the plant to prevent rickets in the baby. 

The Cherokee and Iroquois and others also ate the fruit. They would mash them into cakes, which they dried and later reconstituted with water to make a sauce and mix it into stew or cornbread. 

The Berries will stay red through the winter months

Did You Know...

The genus name, Mitchella is for a Virginia Botanist, John Mitchell, who corresponded with Linnaeus.  Repens refers to the vines creeping habit.

The fruit is consumed by Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite Quail, turkeys, skunks, and white-footed mice.

Other names for this plant include Twinberry, Running Box, Deer Berry, Pigeon Plum, and Squaw Vine which is no longer used.

The berries are fleshy but not very tasty.

Today partridgeberry is a popular ground cover in gardens and landscaped areas.

Lacrosse – More Than Just A Game New Exhibition @ Institute for American Indian Studies

Lacrosse was originally played by eastern Native Americans and Canada’s First People. The Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut has just opened a fascinating special exhibition, “More Than a Game: The Story of Lacrosse,” that will be on view at the Institute through August 2022. 

This well-researched exhibition touches on a variety of subjects, many of which are unexpected in light of the game many of us know today. Some of the most interesting aspects of the exhibition relate to the spiritual importance of lacrosse and how it connects to creation stories, the way they settle differences, and its continued social and communal significance. 

This exhibition also explores the appropriation of lacrosse by Euro-Americans and Canadians. In the 1860’s Dr. George Beers of Canada wrote the first standardized rulebook for lacrosse in an attempt to “civilize” the game. By the 1890s, Native American communities were banned from participating in national competitions. This part of the exhibition includes documentation in the form of newspaper clippings and images that depict the history of lacrosse in popular culture and how it was interpreted. 

More Than a Game also highlights how traditional lacrosse sticks evolved in North America. Several lacrosse sticks on display showcase the three major styles of Native American lacrosse and demonstrate the different regional interpretations of the game. 

This exhibit touches on the relationship between lacrosse and Native communities today. It delves into the saga of the Iroquois Nationals, the only Native American athletic team permitted to compete in international competitions. Don’t miss the exhibition’s video that shows Native Americans making wooden sticks in the traditional way and relating why it is important to the future of their culture. This exhibit can be summed up by a quote by Rex Lyons, Onondaga, “Lacrosse is part of the story of our creation, of our identity, of who we are. So when we play the game, we always say that there’s a simultaneous game going on in the Sky World and our ancestors are playing with us.” 

The Institute for American Indian Studies is open Wednesday – Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children 3-12, $10 for seniors, and members are free. 

About 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.