Planting the Future by Rosemary Gladstar

Author:Rosemary Gladstar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inner Traditions / Bear & Company
Published: 2012-01-19T16:00:00+00:00

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

As medicine and food, this genus plays an important role in the lives of western Native North Americans. The spring greens or the roots are prepared for food in many ways and are commonly called biscuit root (including L. canbyi, L. cous, L. nudicaule, and L. piperii). Northwest anthropological records indicate at least six species were used for medicine: L. dissectum, L. grayi (root for colds), L. macrocarpum (root as poultice or taken internally for pneumonia; eaten for infertility and magical powers), L. nudicaule (seeds for aches, cough, sore throat; whole plant for colds; important Salish medicine and food; fumigant for house against bad spirits), L. triternatum or L. geyeri or L. ambiguum (food and plant tea for colds and sore throats; root as emetic), and L. utriculatum (roots chewed for stomach problems and headaches). In addition, the Oregon Trail settlers learned from the Native Americans to rub the leaf and root resin on irritated or chapped skin.

Many people died during the influenza epidemic of 1920–1922. More people survived who used Lomatium dissectum than those who did not have access to it. Mr. and Mrs. Percy Train searched for drug sources at the time of World War II and collected extensive information about the use of plants as medicine by the Native Americans in Nevada. Their team demonstrated that L. dissectum can inhibit bacterial growth and has a high vitamin C content.

As a horse medicine, charred Lomatium root chunks were placed in a nosebag so that the horse would breathe in the fumes. This helped cure lung infections and break up coughing. Externally, the ground-up root was put on saddle sores.

Native Americans would use various plants to stun fish to make them easier to catch. Lomatium dissectum roots were mashed in burlap bags; the bags were then put into quiet pools, causing fish to rise to the surface.

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