The Cherokee is a Native American tribe that is indigenous to the Southeastern United States. They believe that the Creator has given them a gift of understanding and preserving medicinal herbs. The Cherokee trust the healing and preventative properties of nature’s pharmacy. Because many plants become scarce throughout history, the Cherokee promote proper gathering techniques. The old ones have taught them that if you are gathering, you should only pick every third plant you find. This ensures that enough specimens still remain and will continue to propagate. Here are some of the medicinal plants that were commonly used and foraged for by the Cherokee tribe.
However, the following plants were used by this tribe in the treatment of almost every single illness and health condition. However, before we explain their properties, we must warn you that they can be quite strong and dangerous if not used properly.
Keep in mind that the Cherokee healers were experienced as they had centuries of practice. Furthermore, it is of high importance to understand their value as powerful natural medications, so you should be gentle when scavenging them.
These are the natural plants that provide amazing health benefits:
Blackberry.
Cherokee used blackberry for treating almost everything, including an upset stomach, strengthening the immune system, cancer prevention, improving digestion, and better heart functioning. By making a tea of its root, this tribe healed swelling of joints and tissues. And if you make a decoction from its roots, thus sweetened with maple syrup or honey, you will get great syrup for treating cough. Chewing the blackberry leaves can soothe bleeding gums.
Blackberries an amazingly nutritious because they are rich in vitamins A, C, B6, E, K, riboflavin, thiamine, folate, and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorous.
To the Cherokee, the blackberry is the longest known remedy to an upset stomach, however this herb can be used for just about anything. Using a strong tea from the root of blackberry helps to reduce swelling of tissue and joints. A decoction from the roots, sweetened with honey or maple syrup, makes a great cough syrup. Even chewing on the leaves of blackberry can sooth bleeding gums.
Some other health benefits of blackberry fruit include
•better digestion
•strengthened immune system
•healthy functioning of the heart
•prevention of cancer
•relief from endothelial dysfunction
Herbs and other natural remedies can be as effective as traditional treatments, often without the same negative side effects,” says Roberta Lee, MD, medical director of the Continuum Center for Health and Healing at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Here are 10 super healers you’ll want to add to the all-natural section of your medicine cabinet—and even to your favorite recipes. Folding one or two of them into your cooking every day can yield big benefits.
These tasty berries are also incredibly nutritious. Vitamins provided by blackberries include vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and folate. Blackberries also have an incredible mineral wealth of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and zinc. They are also a good source of dietary fiber and essential amino acids.
Hummingbird Blossom (Buck Brush)
Cherokee used this plant for the healing of fibroid tumors, cysts, mouth/throat problems, and inflammation. In addition, they mainly used hummingbird blossom in order to stimulate kidney function, but it was also used in the treatment of enlarged lymph nodes, hemorrhoids, inflamed tonsils, enlarged spleens, and menstrual bleeding. In order to get all healing benefits of this plant, they put the flowers and the leaves in boiling water for 5 minutes, and then drink the tea while it’s still hot.
Hummingbird blossom has been used by the Cherokee for treatment of cysts, fibroid tumors, inflammation, and mouth/throat problems. Present day research has concluded that this herb is also great for treating high blood pressure and lymphatic blockages.
The Cherokee mainly use hummingbird blossom as a diuretic to stimulate kidney function, h
•inflamed tonsils
•enlarged lymph nodes
•enlarged spleens
•hemorrhoids
•menstrual bleeding.
To get all of the benefits from hummingbird blossom, the Cherokee would steep the leave and flowers in a boiling water for about five minutes then drink the tea while it is still warm.
Qua lo ga (Sumac)
Every single part of this herb can be used for medicinal purposes! Sumac bark can be made into a mild decoction that can be taken to soothe diarrhea. The decoction from the bark can also be gargled to help with a sore throat. Ripe berries can make a pleasant beverage that is rich in vitamin C. The tea from the leaves of sumac can reduce fevers. You can even crush the leaves into an ointment to help relieve a poison ivy rash. A study published in Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research reported that sumac, if added to daily diet, can help lower cholesterol levels.
Each part of this plant might be used for medicinal purposes in the treatment of diarrhea, sore throat, and fevers (by making a decoction from the bark). In addition, if you want to get rid of poison ivy rash, you need to crush the leaves into an ointment.
Cattail.
The Cherokee tribe considered this plant as a preventative medicine and they used it as a digestible food for recovery from each illness. Almost each part of the plant (except its seed heads) can be used for medicinal purposes. Its root can be prepared like potatoes, mashed or boiled for treating sores and burns. The seed down from its flowers is used for diaper rash in babies in the treatment of skin irritation.
Greenbriar (Pull Out a Sticker).The leaves and stems of this plant are rich in numerous minerals and vitamins while its roots are high in starch and they can be used like potatoes. Although its root has a strange and harsh taste, it’s rich in calories. Cherokee used this plant as mild diuretic and a blood purifier in the treatment of urinary infections. Its leaves might be put in a tea to heal arthritis! Its berries might be eaten as jam or raw.
Mint.
Being a very popular herb, mint is commonly used in tea because of its numerous antioxidant properties. It possesses phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, vitamins C,A, calcium, and fiber! The Cherokee used the leaves of this plant crushed as cold compresses, or made into ointments, or even added in the bath to calm down and itchy skin. Moreover, they used a mixture of leaves and stems in order to reduce high blood pressure.
Mullein.
This herb soothes chest congestion and asthma. If you inhale the smoke from burning mullein leaves and roots, it will calm your lungs. This plant is exceptionally useful in soothing the mucous membranes. Due to its anti-inflammatory features, it calms the irritated and painful tissue and joint. Mullein flowers are used to prepare tea that contains a lot of mild sedative effects.
Big Stretch (Wild Ginger).
A tea made of the root of this plant was used by Cherokee in order to improve digestion, intestinal gas, colic, and upset stomach. A stronger tea from its root can even remove lungs secretion. You might use rootstocks from this plant instead of regular ginger and its flowers for flavoring your favorite recipe.
Jiddu Unigisdi (Wild Rose).
The fruit of this plant is high in vitamin C and is a great healing remedy for flu and cold. The Cherokee made a tea out of wild rose hips in order to stimulate kidney and bladder function. You can even try to make a decoction from its root to treat diarrhea.
Squirrel Tail (Yarrow).
Being known best for its blood-clotting features, the leaves of this plant (fresh or crushed) might be put to open wounds in order to prevent excess bleeding. The juice of this plant, when mixed with spring water, might stop intestinal illnesses and internal stomach bleeding. Its leaves can be used for tea in order to help in proper digestion and stimulate abdominal functions.
Kawi Iyusdi (Yellow Dock).
The Cherokee used this herb in their cuisines because it’s quite similar to spinach. But, it possesses a lot more minerals and vitamins because of its long roots gathers nutrients from deep underground.
Dandelion
Even though considered a weed, dandelion root has a long history of therapeutic use. In fact, this extremely beneficial plant has the ability to treat allergies, lower cholesterol levels, stimulate the production of bile, and detoxify the liver. It also has diuretic properties and it is especially beneficial for pregnant and menopausal women.
The best time to harvest dandelion root is in the spring, especially in the beginning of April. Make sure you pick it from places which are less polluted, such as areas away from the town and the road.
The best part about dandelion is that all parts of it have medicinal properties. For instance, the leaves are abundant in vitamins and can be used in a salad, along with potatoes and eggs. The stem relieves stomach issues, stimulates the gallbladder function, regulates the metabolism, and purifies the blood. Moreover, the stem can be used to treat diabetes while the milk from the stem can be used to remove warts.
Ultimately, people use dandelion flowers to prepare homemade dandelion syrup which purifies the blood, relieves a cough, and improves digestion.
DANDELION SYRUP RECIPE
Get 400 yellow dandelion flowers and pour 3 liters of water over them. Then, cut 4 oranges and 4 lemons into slices and add them to the mixture. Leave the mixture for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, strain the mixture and pour the liquid into a pot. Add 2 cups of sugar into the pot and cook for about half an hour.
Once the mixture boils and gets thick enough, remove from heat and transfer the syrup into sterilized jars. Use the dandelion syrup to treat cold, cough, or bronchitis.
HEALTH BENEFITS AND CANCER-FIGHTING PROPERTIES OF DANDELION ROOT
Dandelion has been long used and appreciated for its medicinal properties. Today, the modern medicine confirms its health benefits and suggests that it is even capable of curing cancer. Keep watching to learn more about preparing and storing roots for future use.
You need to peel, cut, and dry the dandelion roots on a fresh air. Let them dry for about two weeks or until they become brittle under the fingers. Once dried, put them into a jar and store in a dark and cool place.
Dandelion root has the ability to clean the kidneys, liver, lymph and gallbladder, which makes it effective at treating gallstones, constipation, hepatitis, acne, edema, and rheumatism. Moreover, it is very beneficial for women, especially for prevention and treatment of issues related to breastfeeding as well as cysts, tumors, and cancer.
HOW TO PREPARE DANDELION TEA?
Pick some leaves, dry, chop and mince them well. Store the mixture in a jar and keep for future use. To prepare the tea, you need to add half a teaspoon of the mixture into a glass of water. As simple as that!
Another option is to mix 60 grams of a fresh mixture and 30 grams of dried dandelion root. Put this mixture into a pan along with 2.5 ounces of water with a pinch of salt. Bring the boil, cover the pan, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain the liquid afterward and consume three cups daily.
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my uncle was a doctor who started practicing in 1954. Back then the Merck Manual was only as thick as a small town phone book, not the giant that it is today. He said that 75% of the medications were all derived from plant and natural sources. He said that the new medicines introduced since then were supposed to work faster, better, with fewer side effects. I think the doctors should start prescribing the older meds again.
Monsanto, wants us all to think of weeds, as something we need to kill, by using their poison….( roundup) ………….When these are not “weeds”, as in let’s get rid of them……These weeds all have certain health properties………….Hmmm, Monsanto must be linked to big pharma, right?
Glad to see you mention yarrow and that it is used on open wounds. However, you missed some very awesome info about the plant! Not only does it clot blood (its coagulating properties also make it good for cheese-making, i’ve read) but it is also an antibiotic. I am very accident-prone and occasionally smash the tip off a digit or slice myself to the bone when a knife slips. When such things happen, i don’t go for stitches (well, boss made me go to ER when i decapitated my thumb, but there wasn’t much left for the doc to stitch, lol!) I simply go out to my yard, pick some yarrow, roll the leaves in my hands to crush them and then bind the gushing wound with it. The last time i surely should have gotten an infection: a 1″ long slice, at least 1/4″ if not 3/8″ deep, gained while skinning a chicken! No stitches, no antibiotics – just yarrow, and it healed up beautifully, no sign of pus or infection at all during the healing process! My book says it used to be carried by civil war surgeons as wound packing material. It’s great stuff, don’t be without it!
Yep, Native Americans figured it all out with miracle plants. That’s why all Native Americans lived to be 100. Right?
Many people talk about how ancient people used this plant or that plant for certain maladies. That doesn’t mean the remedies actually worked.
I am not saying that some plants don’t have beneficial properties. Clearly, they do. In this day and age when natural supplements are pervasive in the market, I am simply suspicious when no company seems to exploit that knowledge in the effort to earn profits with many of them.