# Iroquois ethnobotany

The Iroquois use a wide variety of medicinal plants, including quinine, chamomile, ipecac, and a form of penicillin.

## Amaryllidaceae

* Allium tricoccum, decoction is used to treat worms in children, and they also use the decoction as a spring tonic to "clean you out". Also eaten as a part of traditional cuisine.

## Asteraceae (Aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family)

* Cichorium intybus, decoction of the roots is used as a wash and applied as a poultice to chancres and fever sores.
* Solidago rugosa, whole plant used for biliousness and as liver medicine, and decoction of its flowers and leaves for dizziness, weakness or sunstroke.
* Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, is used in a decoction for weak skin, use a decoction of the roots and leaves for fevers, use the plant as a "love medicine", and use an infusion of whole plant and rhizomes from another plant to treat mothers with intestinal fevers.$^{:p.65}$

## Brassicaceae (Mustards, Crucifers, or Cabbage family)

* Cardamine diphylla, infusion of the whole plant taken to strengthen the breasts. The Iroquois also chew the raw root for stomach gas, apply a poultice of roots to swellings, take a cold infusion of the plant for fever and for "summer complaint, drink a cold infusion of the roots for "when love is too strong", and use an infusion of the roots when "heart jumps and the head goes wrong." They also use a compound for chest pains. They also take an infusion of the plant at the beginning of tuberculosis. They also eat the roots raw with salt or boiled.

## Cyperaceae (Sedge family)

* Carex oligosperma, a compound decoction of the plant as an emetic before running or playing lacrosse.

## Ericaceae (Heath or Heather family)

* Epigaea repens, a compound is used for labor pains in parturition, compound decoction used for rheumatism, decoction of the leaves taken for indigestion, and a decoction of the whole plant or roots, stalks and leaves taken for the kidneys.

## Fabaceae (Legume, pea, or bean family)

* Apios americana, consumed as food.
* Senna hebecarpa, plant used as a worm remedy and take a compound decoction as a laxative.

## Grossulariaceae

* Ribes triste, fruit mashed, made them into small cakes, and stored them for future use. They later soak the fruit cakes in warm water and cook them a sauce or mix them with corn bread. They also sun dry or fire dry the raw or cooked fruit for future use and take the dried fruit with them as a hunting food.

## Lamiaceae (Mint, deadnettle, or sage family)

* Agastache nepetoides, compound infusion of plants used as a wash for poison ivy and itch.

## Onoclea (Sensitive Fern)

* Onoclea sensibilis, used in both oral and topical forms, a decoction extensively applied for women's issues (to initiate menses, fertility, pain and strength after childbirth and stimulating milk flow), for early tuberculosis, treating baldness, as a gastrointestinal aid for swelling and cramps, for arthritis and infection. A poultice of the top leaves was used for deep cuts and infection. A cold compound infusion of the entire fern plant was washed on sores and taken for venereal disease, e.g. gonorrhea.

## Osmundaceae (Royal fern family)

* Osmunda claytoniana, used for blood and venereal diseases.

## Papaveraceae (Poppy family)

* Chelidonium majus, infusion mixed with another plant and milk given to pigs that drool and have sudden movements.$^{:p.45}$

## Pinaceae

* Abies balsamea, steam from a decoction of branches used as a bath for rheumatism and parturition, and ingest a decoction of the plant for rheumatism. They take a compound decoction for colds and coughs, sometimes mixing it with alcohol. They apply a compound decoction of the plant for cuts, sprains, bruises and sores, and use steam. They apply a poultice of the gum and dried beaver kidneys for cancer. They also take a compound decoction in the early stages of tuberculosis, and they use the plant for bedwetting and gonorrhea.
* Pinus rigida, pitch used to treat rheumatism, burns, cuts, and boils. Pitch also used as a laxative. A pitch pine poultice used to open boils and to treat abscesses.

## Ranunculaceae (Buttercup or crowfoot family)

* Ranunculus acris, poultice of the smashed plant to the chest for pains and for colds, infusion taken of the roots for diarrhea, and apply a poultice of plant fragments with another plant to the skin for excess water in the blood.

## Rosaceae (Rose family)

* Agrimonia gryposepala, drink made from the roots used to treat diarrhea,
* Potentilla canadensis, pounded infusion of the roots given as an antidiarrheal.
* Waldsteinia fragarioides, a compound decoction of the plants used as a blood remedy, and poultice of the smashed plants applied to snakebites.