Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-05-06
INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANTS


INDIGENOUS MEDICINAL PLANTS
OF New Mexico.
1t is not the purpose of this article to
give q complete list OF the plants growing
wild in our territory aud which are said
to possess medicinal virtues; such cata-
logue is impossible as yet, for only few
OF them are really known outside OF the
people of the country, and the uses to
which they are put are frequently kept
Our list will even expose us to
criticisms on the score that we omit many,
while dwelling on others that may be OF
less Importance. Our object is, however,
to merely call attention to the great num-
Der of plants growing wild in New Mexico
to which medicinal properties are ascribed,
mentioning some of them in particular as
examples, and in the hope that some at
tention might hereafter be bestowed upon
them, ii for nothing else than in order to
prove or disprove their reputed virtues.
1t must not be forgotten that for many
centuries the Indian, and for three CEN
turtles the isolated Spanish colonist, have
depended exclusively upon such empirical
remedies for their relief; that conse-
Quently there must be some foundation
to their reported efficacy, and that
while many physicians affect to sneer at
such popular medicines" they overlook
the fact that, in ages long gone by, these
Iad the foundation, to great extent at
least, OF what is now our "materla medl-
ca" Where there is smoke there is fire
perhaps only a few modest Goals. II the
proper fuel is placed on such embers they
May still contribute to part OF the warm
ing of our homes.
We shall, as much as possible, avoid
giving botanical names, even where these
are known. In the present instance they
are very superhuous ornament. The
plants in question are best identified anC
found by their popular designations
Many, besides, have not as yet been ex'
amined by botanists.
1t is reported that OF the kind called
siempre viva in Spanish there are moi
less than forty different varieties III New
Mexico and Arizona. The plant is usec
fJr several diseases and, it is said, will
remarkably good effects. 1t is also cred
tied with being powerful stimuIant fol
the nervous system in general. The use
of the siempre viva is, in most cases, KEEP
secret, and it frequently happens that l
request to be shown the plant even i
met by evasiveness or by blunt refusal
1t enjoys the reputation OF being a stront
''love medicine"
The same is the case with the notorious
peyote. This plant has such bad repu
tatiOn that it Is not always advisable tt
INQUIRE about it. In New Mexico tn,
peyote is comparatively rare, although
we'll known to the Indian and formerl,
much used for purposes of witchcraft. l
grows on low grounds and requires
warm temperature. In regard to the rea
properties of the peyote this much il
certain, that it is a powerful narcotic
The Sumas of Ell Paso made use of
frequently, aud the result was inevitabl
a state of protracted int 'xication, some
what similar in its symptoms to that pre-
duced by opiates. While under the in
fuence OF the peyote people claim to hav
visions, and they remain, after the mai
effect is over, for some time in state c
lethargy. In 1886, when the choler
made its appearance as far north as Gu
encame, in the state OF Durango, peyot
was used as an antidote, with what resuI
has not been definitely ascertained.
Against tenacious eczematic disease
New Mexico possesses at least two (an'
perhaps three plants the efficacy 0
which is established. The yerba de Sal
Pedro grows at attitudes Of from 1900 t.
5000 feet In shaded valleys it flower
| (violet) in May and June, and its leave
dried, pulverized, and the powder apple,
to the sores dries rapidly, forms crtls
and thus causes the spot to heal. Their
are two varieties OF this handsomel,
Towering plant, but only one exists, a
far as known, in New Mexico, whereas
in the Sierra Madre both are found il
abundance. A tincture of the leaves il
said to produce the same results as tn
dried and powdered leaf. That tinctur
is also used against hemorrhoidal disease
with excellent success.
More violent, and certainly much NOR
radical in its action is the so called pluma
! jllo, mimosaca growing abundant
around Santa Fe and in fact almost every
where in New Mexico. Very obstinat
cases OF labial eczema have been RADICAL
cured by it. For that purpose the leave
of the pumajilo are charred on a sauce
or piece OF tin-foil, ETC., aud then apple
to the sores. The application produces a
first intense pain, but it soon passes of
The carbonized plant is violent caustiC
and unless the sore is afterward severel
irritated for some time, the eczema dis
appears forever.
For mild eczematic diseases the poleo
also carbonized, may be sufficient; cases @
lnnn standinu need the Yerha de San Pc