Native Americans use natural healing remedies to treat a variety of ailments. These remedies developed from painstaking experimentation, trial and error and the handing down of anecdotal research from healer to healer during the course of centuries. Relying mostly on herbs, many Native remedies offer medically-validated healing benefits, and are still used today in homeopathic and holistic treatments.
Respiratory Ailments
Native Americans treat many breathing problems via herbs brewed into medicinal teas. Some of these herbal remedies include: skunk cabbage (as an expectorant and to treat asthma); pleurisy root (to treat bronchitis, pneumonia and other lung ailments); wormwood (to treat bronchitis symptoms; sage (aches and pains from colds and flu); aspen, cherry, and white pine bark (cough remedy); sarsaparilla and sweet flag (cough syrup); blackberry and ginger (as expectorants); wild rose (to treat a sore throat).
Back Ailments
Applied as a poultice or drunk in a tea, two natural treatments for back problems include horsemint (a tea to alleviate back pain) and arnica (applied as a poultice or balm).
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is a serious problem that can cause dehydration. This can severely weaken an already undernourished person, and can be treated with the following remedies: black cherry root (pre-fermented, kept on hand to treat dysentery); dogwood bark (used as an enema in tea form); black raspberry root (drunk as a tea); juniper berry and wild rose (to treat diarrhea).
Digestive Problems
Herbs can be used to treat a variety of stomach problems: dandelion roots (to treat urinary tract problems and heartburn); yellow root, blackberry and sage (for stomach problems); juniper berry (to treat urinary tract infections); elder berry (as a laxative); mint, yarrow (to promote good digestion as a preventive treatment); ginger (as a tea to stimulate digestion and help relieve colic, gas or upset stomach); and wild rose (to stimulate kidneys and the bladder).
Skin Problems
Native Americans use a variety of herbs to create salves, balms, poultices and teas to treat skin problems: yarrow (to treat open wounds, chapped hands and acne); mint (in bath water, as a cold compress or as a salve to alleviate itching skin); yellow dock (used to treat itching skin, diaper rash and sores); greenbriar (soothe scalds, burns and sores).
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