# EBP/Cooperative/Asarum canadense
## Asarum canadense

* Common names: Canadian wild ginger, Canada wild ginger, wild ginger, snakeroot, broad-leafed asarabaccais, asarabaccais
* Names used by indigenous peoples: namepin, namepiniig (Anishinabe)
* Wikipedia: Asarum canadense
* Wikispecies: Asarum canadense

### Medicinal uses
#### Whole plant/unspecified

* For colds: Used by the Abenaki tribe in a decoction with another unspecified herb.
* For coughs: Used by the Abenaki tribe in an unspecified treatment.
* To cause abortion (abortifacient): Used by the Cherokee people in an infusion.
* For scant/painful menstruation, to start a period: Used by the Cherokee people in an infusion.
* To induce vomiting for stomach pain (analgesic/emetic): Used by the Cherokee in a decoction.
* For diarrhea: Infusion taken by the Cherokee.
* For swollen breasts: An infusion of the whole plant was used by the Cherokee in an external wash, as well as an internal tea.
* To reduce fevers (febrifuge): Taken in an unspecified treatment, especially for typhus fever, by the Cherokee. Infusion also used by the Iroquois in wash.
* As digestive aid: Taken in an unspecified treatment by the Cherokee.
* As a sedative: Used by the Cherokee for "nervous hysterics"; used by the Iroquois to calm crying babies.
* For headaches: Used in an infusion by the Iroquois for "long-lasting" headaches.
* For boils: Used in an unspecified compound preparation by the Iroquois.
* To improve appetite: Decoction taken by the Iroquois.
* To treat laziness (stimulant): Part of a compound preparation used by the Iroquois.
* For sore throat: Poultice used externally on the throat by the Iroquois. Used in an unspecified treatment by the Meskwaki.
* For venereal disease: Compound decoction with other herbs used by the Iroquois.
* For lung problems: Compound preparation used by the Meskwaki.
* As panacea: Used for general medicinal purposes by the Innu.

#### Root

* As anticonvulsive: Used by the Algonquian peoples in an infusion for infant convulsions.
* For colds: Used in an unspecified treatment by the Cherokee and in an infusion by the Iroquois.
* For cough: Used in an unspecified treatment by the Cherokee and in a decoction by the Iroquois.
* To reduce fevers (febrifuge): Used by the Algonquian peoples and Iroquois in an infusion.
* For fevers accompanied by headache and/or convulsions: Cold infusion used by the Iroquois for children who had a fever accompanied by a headache and/or convulsions.
* To induce sweating (diaphoretic) to break a fever: Decoction or infusion taken cold by the Iroquois.
* As stimulant: Used by the Cherokee as a "powerful" stimulant in an unspecified manner.
* For worms: Used by the Cherokee in an unspecified treatment.
* As blood tonic: Used by the Cherokee in a compound infusion with other unspecified herbs.
* As spring tonic: Used by the Iroquois as a spring tonic for the elderly.
* For heart problems: Used by the Cherokee for general heart problems; "to strengthen the heart".
* To strengthen the action of other herbs (adjuvant): Used by the Anishinabe and the Iroquois combined with unspecified other herbs.
* To reduce inflammation (anti-inflammatory): Poultice of chopped roots used by the Anishinabe.
* For bruises and scrapes: Used in unspecified treatment by the Anishinabe.
* To aid digestion: Chopped root cooked with other foods to increase their digestibility by the Anishinabe. Taken in a decoction or eaten whole "to protect a weak stomach" by the Menominee.
* For broken bones: Chopped root combined with other unspecified herbs in a compound poultice by the Anishinabe.
* For scarlet fever: Decoction taken by the Iroquois.
* For typhoid: Infusion used by the Iroquois.
* For measles: Decoction taken by the Iroquois.
* For asthma: Infusion drunk by the Iroquois.
* For tuberculosis: Infusion of roots with other unspecified herbs used by the Iroquois.
* For urinary troubles: Decoction of roots used for urine stoppage and other disorders by the Iroquois.
* For stomach cramps: Infusion of small roots given to children by the Maliseet. Compound preparation given to adults and children by the Meskwaki. Used in an unspecified preparation by the Mi'kmaq.
* For earaches: Root pieces cooked and placed in ear by the Meskwaki.
* To calm vomiting: Used in an unspecified treatment by the Potawatomi to ease vomiting and induce the appetite of the sick.

#### Leaves

* For sores/open wounds: Fresh leaves applied directly to the wounds or made into a salve by the Cherokee.
* For head and eyes: Dried and used by the Cherokee as a snuff for general ailments.

### Spiritual uses
#### Whole plant/unspecified

* To prevent bad dreams: Infusion taken by the Iroquois to prevent bad dreams, specifically those caused by the dead.
* To cleanse ghost contamination: Infusion or decoction used by the Iroquois used as a wash to cleanse those contaminated by ghosts.
* To make one fit to visit the sick: Decoction used to cleanse or purify someone to make them fit to visit the sick by the Iroquois.
* To detect and protect from witchcraft: Used in many ways to detect and protect people from witchcraft by the Iroquois.

### Veterinary uses
#### Whole plant/unspecified

* For coughs, heaves, and similar problems in horses: A compound decoction was given to horses by the Iroquois.
* To treat horses "sick from not being used: Decoction mixed with whiskey given to horses by the Iroquois.

### Food uses
#### Root

* As general seasoning: Used dried by the Meskwaki and the Anishinabe.
* To remove muddy taste from fish: Used by the Meskwaki dried and by the Anishinabe after being processed in lye water.
* To prevent food poisoning: Cooked with meat to avoid ptomaine poisoning by the Meskwaki.
* As an appetizer: Used as an appetizer to cooked foods by the Anishinabe.
* To render meat digestible: Used by the Anishinabe.

### Other uses
#### Root

* To attract catfish: The root was chewed and the spittle produced rubbed on bait to allow fisherman to catch catfish by the Meskwaki.
* To perfume clothing: The root was roasted and powdered, then sprinkled on clothing to perfume it by the Anishinabe.

### Chemical actions and constituents

* List of chemical constituents: from Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
* List of chemical actions: from Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases