POWHATAN’S
HERBAL WONDERS
Presented
to
The Powhatan Chamber of
Commerce
Thursday,
June 17, 2004
Debbie
Markel
Certified
Herbalist, Certified Natural Health Professional
3430-D Anderson Hwy., Powhatan, VA
23139 (804) 598-5352
We
in Powhatan are so fortunate to live and work in a natural, rural area filled
with trees, grasses, flowers and wild weeds.
Yes, I said weeds! The things
that you probably kill with herbicides are things some of us gather, store and
use, much like our ancestors and the indigenous cultures of the world have done
for generations before ours. As a
matter of fact, according to the American Herbalist’s Guild, 75% of the
world’s populations still rely on traditional healing practices, primarily
herbs as their primary source for healing! My
friends from Europe tell me that when they have minor aches, pains and
illnesses, they go see their local apothecary and have the pharmacist give them
a natural remedy to try. They only
go to their doctors if the herbs don’t work.
Evidence
of herbal medicine goes back some 60,000 years to a burial site of a Neanderthal
man uncovered in 1960. In a cave in northern Iraq, scientists found what
appeared to be ordinary human bones. An analysis of the soil around the bones
revealed very large quantities of plant pollen that couldn’t have just
accidentally appeared at the burial site. Someone in his community had
consciously gathered eight species of plants to surround the dead man. Seven of
these are medicinal plants still used throughout the herbal world.
(Griggs)
Virginia’s
“modern” herbal history began with the Native Americans who had lived in
perfect harmony with nature for centuries. One
early settler, William Wood, wrote about the Indians in 1633, “They appeared
free of such ‘health-wasting diseases…as Feavers, Pleurises, Callentures,
Agues, Obstructions, Consumptions…Confulsions, Apoplexies, Dropsies, Gout,
Stones, Tooth-aches, Pox, Measles or the like.”
A Dutch colonist in New Amsterdam wrote in 1624, “…it is somewhat
strange that among these… people, there are few or none cross-eyed, blind,
crippled, lame, hunch-backed, or limping men; all are well fashioned people,
strong and sound of body, well fed, without blemish.”
Don’t forget that these Native Americans lived outdoors most of the
year, had plenty of strenuous exercise and ate fresh meat, plenty of raw fruits
and vegetables, whole grains and nuts. They
drank fresh unpolluted spring water and used herbs and purges as their primary
sources of healing. Indians believed
all sickness began with digestion, so purging and cleansing was always done
before healing herbs were given. After
fasting, he or she would eat a light diet of gruel made from grain and roots
until recovery occurred. Native
Americans also used a primitive form of sauna to sweat out illnesses or to
cleanse the body. It’s curious to
note that different tribes throughout the continent used some of the same herbs
for different diseases, all successfully. We
could learn much from a culture whose views, summarized by a modern Indian named
Big Thunder of the Wabnakis tribe, are as follows, “The Great Spirit is our
Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She
nourishes us: that which we put into the ground she returns to us, and healing
plants she gives us likewise.” (Griggs)
Tobacco
was discovered by the colonists in Virginia who sent it to England during the
reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It was
sold as a useful medicinal plant. The
traders were convinced that smoking tobacco was what preserved Indians from the
common diseases that plagued the Europeans, so it was marketed as a wonder drug
that could cure coughs, stomach aches and a host of other ailments. (Griggs)
Colonial
housewives brought many healing herb plants with them from England to Virginia,
many of which are found growing right here in Powhatan – mullein, plantain and
pennyroyal, to name a few. Other
healing herbs that grew wild in both America and
in England were all-heal (to stop bleeding & heal wounds), maidenhair fern
(for chest ailments), yarrow (for bleeding, astringent) and comfrey (skin &
wound healing), all of which are used by herbalists today and all of which grow
in Powhatan. Most health matters
were handled by women in their homes. It
was rare to have the money or access to doctors.
Colonial era doctors up through the late 19th century believed
that disease was caused by an imbalance in bodily fluids. To treat an illness,
you either added fluids or drained them away. A doctor's little black bag
contained items designed to purge, sweat and bleed infected fluids from the
body. They had emetics and diuretics, scalpels and leeches. Burning hot
poultices were used to intentionally create infections on scalded skin.
The overuse of bleeding, mercury, arsenic, opium, emetics, and purgatives
weakened patients almost as much as the diseases of the day. (Winston)
Many colonists held doctors in low esteem.
William Byrd of Virginia wrote in 1706 about doctors, “…they… know
nothing above very common Remedys (sic)…
They are not acquainted enough with Plants or the other parts of Natural
History, to do any Service to the World.”
He, incidentally, had the most extensive medical library in Virginia,
studied medicinal herbs extensively, and drank wild ginseng tea long before it
became a popular tonic. (Griggs)
Thomas Jefferson’s medical philosophy was that “every man [is] his
own doctor” and “heat is life and cold is death.”
(Winston)
Folk
medicine as a profession was practiced primarily by midwives.
Many of their remedies have been passed down through the generations to
modern times and others are used in patent medicines.
A common belief among the early settlers was that the more distasteful or
obnoxious a concoction was, the more effective it would be. The principle
ailments of the Virginia citizens included a variety of stomach troubles. Since
their diets left much to be desired (lots of fatback and sowbelly along with
many other greasy items) it’s a wonder that they could digest anything at all!
Some common folk medicines were as follows: Sassafras, catnip, horehound
and pennyroyal were all brewed into teas and used to treat coughs and colds. The
leaves and twigs of red cedar were boiled and inhaled for bronchitis. White and
black willow leaves and bark were made into a tea to break up a fever which
makes perfect sense today since we know that willow contains large amounts of
salicylic acid -- aspirin. The pitch
from the white pine healed wounds and sores. Powdered bark of the hemlock was
used to stop the flow of blood from a cut. Tannin in the bark of the hemlock was
good for burns. Cooked pine needles were used for toothache. Rhododendron oil
was used for rheumatism. Yarrow, a
very common, summertime weed in all of Virginia, was used in poultices that were
placed on wounds to draw out infection. (Fisher) The seeds of Queen Anne’s
Lace were used by Native Americans as birth control.
Most of these plants grow right
here in Powhatan.
By
the time the Civil War began, patent formulas were being sold.
Antiseptics were being widely used. Unfortunately,
when the South was cut off from most trade, Confederate doctors had to rely on
the old tried and true local herbs with a little whiskey and quinine thrown in
to help heal their patients. One
surgeon wrote, “From experiment I learned to improve on the plain old
method…by employing a decoction of red-oak bark added to the water, which
acted as a disinfectant, and its stimulating and astringent properties promoted
the healing process. …In case of great pain I employed poppy heads, nightshade
and stramonium….and as a substitute for quinine, I used…butterfly root or
pleurisy root tea, which would nearly always shorten [fevers]…. Onions and
garlic were used as poultices in nearly all glandular enlargements, as were also
poke-root, celery, pepper, parsley, sage, thyme, rue and other garden products.
Many of the latter were used for the diseases of women and children.” (Jacobs)
Civil
War wives also returned to their roots (in more ways than one!) by using the
herbal remedies their grandmothers used. Instead
of paregoric, fennel-seed tea was given to the babies for colic.
For rash they used red-oak bark and alum. Goose grease and sorghum or
honey was a standard remedy for croup, as was turpentine and brown sugar.
Sassafras tea was given in the spring and fall as a blood medicine. Adults'
colds were doctored with horsemint tea and tea from the roots of broom sedge.
Wine was made from the berries of the elder bush. For diarrhea, roots of
blackberry, blackberry cordial and a tea made from the leaves of the rose
geranium. Mutton suet and sweet gum were a standard salve for all cuts and
sores. Catnip, elecampane, comfrey root and pennyroyal were in every good
housewife's pantry, in which, also, was the indispensable string of red peppers,
a bag of sage leaves and one of lemon balm. (Jacobs)
Doctors
and patent medicines didn’t really catch on extensively in America until the
early 20th century. In
fact, well into the 20th century much of the pharmacopoeia of scientific
medicine was derived from herbal lore. Until the 1940s, textbooks of
pharmacognosy--books that explain the proven medicinal uses of plants--contained
hundreds of medically useful comments on barks, roots, berries, leaves, resins,
twigs, and flowers. As 20th-century
technology advanced and created a growing admiration for technology, simple
plant remedies were gradually thrown away. Today, many Americans have lost touch
with their herbal heritage. Few Americans realize that many over-the-counter
(OTC) and prescription drugs have their origins in medicinal herbs. Cough drops
that contain menthol, mint, horehound, or lemon are herbal preparations;
chamomile and mint teas taken for digestion or a nervous stomach are
time-honored herbal remedies; and many simple but effective OTC ache-and
pain-relieving preparations on every store’s shelves contain oils of camphor,
menthol, or eucalyptus. Millions of Americans wake up to their favorite herbal
stimulant--coffee. Despite the
importance of plant discoveries in the evolution of medicine, some regulatory
bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consider herbal
remedies to be worthless or potentially dangerous.
Today in the United States, herbal products are marketed as food
supplements. Despite FDA's
skepticism about herbal remedies, a growing number of Americans are again
becoming interested in herbal preparations (“History of Herbal Medicine”).
Used under the guidance of a trained professional (not just the clerk in
the drug store or natural foods market), herbal remedies can be used safely and
effectively.
That
leads me to Powhatan’s herbal wonders – herbs, that as mentioned, were used
by generations of Americans and have been proved to work for a variety of
ills…and they grow in our own yards. Here’s
a summary of a handful of the most common and some of the great things they can
do:
CHICKWEED
(Stellaria media) - Whole plant
(aerial parts)
Principal
Proposed Uses: Bronchial cleanser, psoriasis, eczema, circulation to the brain,
vascular cleanser, diuretic, burns, cuts, abrasions.
Other
Proposed Uses: Cuts carbs, deafness, peritonitis, intestinal polyps
Has
an anti-inflammatory action similar to very mild cortisone.
Can be used externally on rashes. Has
a cooling action, so can be used for blood toxicity, inflammation & other
“hot” conditions. Primarily used
in a salve and applied directly to the skin.
Can be steamed & applied as a poultice to boils and abscesses.
Sometimes
used in weight loss due to its diuretic and mild laxative properties.
Soothing to sore throat & lungs.
Culinary,
cosmetic or craft uses: Can be lightly steamed and eaten as a side dish or added
raw to salads. Slightly bitter, cool
flavor. Makes a wonderful salve for
itchy skin, psoriasis, eczema, rashes.
CHICORY
(Cichorium intybus) - Leaves &
roots
Principal
Proposed Uses: Liver complaints, indigestion, laxative for children, rheumatism,
gout, hemorrhoids. It has also been used extensively for malaria.
Roots are roasted and added to coffee or used as coffee substitute
Other
Proposed Uses: In Asia, Chicory has been used for headache, inflammations, sore
throat, and skin allergies. Chicory
is related to endive.
Culinary,
cosmetic or craft uses: The very young leaves can be eaten fresh in salads and
the older, bitter leaves can be boiled in several waters and eaten. The best
known use of the plant is as a coffee additive or substitute. The roots are
roasted and ground to make chicory coffee which has no caffeine.
Good cut flowers.
DANDELION
(Taraxacum
officinale) - Entire plant, including root
Principal
Proposed Uses: Liver problems, urinary tract infections, skin eruptions, stomach
pains, breast cancer
Dandelion
can clear obstructions and stimulate the liver to eliminate toxins from the
blood. It has a high mineral
content. It also clears obstructions
from the spleen, pancreas, gallbladder, bladder & kidneys.
It treats stomachaches (drink ½ cup of infusion every ½ hour until
relieved). Dandelion root tea with
the proper diet can cure hepatitis. Helps
decrease high blood pressure. Good
diuretic. Also used frequently in
spring tonics.
Culinary,
cosmetic or craft uses – Roasted dandelion root can be used as a coffee
substitute similarly to chicory root (or even combined with chicory root).
Can use leaves and flowers in salads and can lightly steam the leaves for
a side dish.
HONEYSUCKLE
(Lonicera japonica) - Flowers &
stems
Principal
Proposed Uses: Acute rheumatoid arthritis, mumps, hepatitis (stems), upper
respiratory tract infections, high fevers, conjunctivitis, throat inflammations,
measles, chicken pox, boils, nettle rash, infected wounds, gastroenteritis, food
poisoning, urinary tract infections, mastitis, breast cancer (flowers).
Externally for skin inflammations, infectious rashes & sores
(flowers). Very important Chinese
herb used in many of their formulas. CAUTION
– BERRIES ARE TOXIC.
Culinary,
cosmetic or craft uses – Flowers are edible.
Remove stamens & pistols first, wash well & add to salads or
other dishes.
PLANTAIN
(Plantago major and minor) – Leaves & seeds
Principal
Proposed Uses: Toothache, poison ivy, bleeding ulcers, toning intestines,
hemorrhoids, heavy menstrual bleeding, soothing to urinary system, hay fever,
dry cough, earache. Leaves promote
clotting, increase iron, strengthen digestion.
Other
Proposed Uses: Externally for wounds, insect bites, ulcers, eye inflammations,
shingles, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, cysts.
Works quickly. Seeds can be
used internally to fight thrush.
Culinary,
cosmetic or craft uses – Put a few raw leaves in salads, make a poultice &
apply to sore teeth, make a fresh leaf vinegar.
QUEEN
ANNE’S LACE (Daucus carota) – Flower,
roots
Principal
Proposed Uses: Kidney stones, cystitis, gout, edema, flatulence, menstrual
problems (seeds)
Other
Proposed Uses: History shows that the seeds of this herb were chewed for female
contraception. Some studies have had
promising results, but no conclusive studies have been published.
Queen
Anne’s Lace was brought as carrots to America & they escaped into the
wild.
Culinary,
cosmetic or craft uses –Oil can be used in anti-wrinkle creams.
Young roots can be prepared like domestic carrots and the dried seeds
used like caraway seeds. Stunning in
flower arrangements. Flowers are
also edible. Batter & fry or put
in salads raw.
RED
CLOVER (Trifolium
pratense)– Flowering tops
Principal
Proposed Uses: Blood purifier, eczema, psoriasis, cancers of the breast, ovaries
& lymphatic system, protects liver & lungs, relieves constipation, eases
anxiety, relieves menopausal symptoms, increases fertility.
Commonly found in women’s menopause formulas due to their
phytoestrogenic properties. CAUTION
– DO NOT USE WITH BLOOD-THINNERS (like Coumadin or Warfarin)
Other
Proposed Uses: Externally, softens & reduces breast lumps.
Anti-fungal.
Culinary,
cosmetic or craft uses – Can add fresh to salads, make teas.
Not very aromatic, but looks nice in potpourris.
YARROW
(Achillea
millefolium) – Whole plant
Principal
Proposed Uses: Diarrhea, fever, stops bleeding, soothing & healing to mucous
membranes, regulate heavy menstrual bleeding, rheumatism, arthritis,
hypertension.
Other
Proposed Uses: Externally for wounds, nosebleed, inflamed eyes, ulcers,
hemorrhoids
Culinary,
cosmetic or craft uses – Makes great cut fresh and dried flowers.
Use as an astringent face rinse. Tea
restores lost appetite.
References
Bremness,
Lesley (Contributing Editor), Herbs,
Pleasantville, NY: Readers Digest Association, 1990.
Brown,
Deni, Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their
Uses, New York, NY: DK Publishing, 1995.
Fisher,
Peggy, “Folk Medicine,” www.wvculture.org/history/wvhs1041.html, accessed
May 8, 2004.
Griggs,
Barbara, Green Pharmacy: The History
and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine, Healing Arts Press: Rochester,
VT, 1997.
“History
of Herbal Medicine,” www.naturalhealthvillage.com/reports/rpt2oam/herb.htm,
accessed May 8, 2004.
Hutchison,
Michael, “Liberty – The American Revolution,” www.pbs.org, accessed May 8,
2004.
Jacobs,
Joseph, Pharmacist, “Some of The Drug Conditions During The War Between The
States, 1861-5, A Paper read before a meeting of the American Pharmaceutical
Association held in Baltimore, Maryland, in August, 1898,” Southern Historical
Society Papers, Vol. XXXIII. Richmond, Va., January-December. 1905, www.civilwarhome.com/drugsshsp.htm,
accessed June 10, 2004.
“The
History of Medicine in America,” Wellness
Directory of Minnesota, www.mnwelldir.org/docs/history/history01.htm,
accessed May 8, 2004.
Tierra,
Michael, Planetary Herbology,
Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press, 1988.
Winston,
David, AHG, “The American System of Medicine,” www.planetherbs.com, accessed
May 8, 2004.