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Module 7: MICMAC MEDICINE MANUAL



"Human knowledge about foods and about medicines constitute two of the great epistemological treasures of our species." (Moerman, 1996)

In his brilliant analysis of the food and drug plants of native North America, Moerman (1996) updates his previously puslished totals. noting Native Amerrican medicinal uses for 2,564 species from a total flora of 21,615 spp indicating that Native Americans used more than 10% of their flora as medicine. It is of interest to us, in discussing the Micmac Medicines to note the top ten medicinal families, from Moerman's selective point of view (highest percentage of plants used medicinally).

Asteraceae 14.8% (397 of 2688) Pinaceae 50.0% (37 of 74)

Apiaceae 21.4% (85 of 397) Salicaceae 33.9% (38 of 112)

Ericaceae 29.6% (63 of 213) Caprifoliaceae 37.5% (30 of 80

Rosaceae 15.9% (133 of 836) . Lamiaceae 15.4% (72 of 469)

Ranunculaceae 23.2% (74 of 319) Fagaceae 30.0% (28 of 94)

In the following table, I have gone thru one Micmac Book, accepting the scientific nomenclature as correct, although I am highly suspicious of those scientific names indicated by a ???. These data, after nomenclatorial scrutiny, will be entered into the ethnobotany portion of the USDA database I created, with the able assistance of Stephen Beckstrom-Sternberg. Its WWW address:

URL=http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/

Finally we will merge this with Micmac data from Duke and Wain (1981) and those data provided by Dr. Moerman from his superb database to make a skeletal Micmac database, preparatory to field work in Maine and adjacent Canada.

Abies balsamea "Balsam Fir" "Fir" Asthma, Cold, Colic, Cough, Congestion, Cuts, Flu, Sores, Sore Throat, Tuberculosis, Ulcer

Acer sp. "White Maple" "Striped Maple" Cold, Congestion, Conjunctivitis, Swelling

Achillea millefolium "Yarrow" Bruises, Cold, Fever, Sprain, Swelling

Acorus calamus "Sweet Flag" "Flagroot" "Muskrat Root" Colic, Cholera, Cough, Belching, Cramps, Preventive, Stomach Cramps, Gastrosis, Preventive

Alnus crispa "Alder" Cathartic, Cramps, Depurative, Diptheria, Fever, Gastrosis, Lameness, Nephrosis, Neuralgia, Pain, Rheumatism, Wounds

Anaphalis interecedens "Everlasting" Fumitory

Antennaria neodioica "Everlasting" Fumitory

Apocynum cannabinum "Indian Hemp" "Worm Root" Vermifuge, Worms

Aralia nudicaulis "Sarsaparilla" Cold, Cough, Flu, Wounds

Arctium minus "Burdock" Depurative, Dermatosis, Tonic

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi "Kinnikinnick" "Bearberry" Fumitory, Urinary Antiseptic

Arisaema trifolia "Segabun" "Indian Turnip" Cold, Gastrosis, Tuberculosis

Armoracia rusticiana "Eptekeway" "Horse Radish" "Hot Root" Digestive, Inappetance, Stomach

Asclepias syriaca "Milkweed" Poison Ivy

Betula alleghenensis "Yellow Birch" Cramps, Diarrhea, Dyspepsia, Gastrosis, Cramps, Cramps, Rheumatism

Chimaphila umbellata "Prince's Pine" Tuberculosis

Chrysanthemum sp.?? "Field Daisy" Conjunctivitis

Comptonia peregrina "Sweet Fern" Boils, Dermatosis, Poison Ivy, Rheumatism, Sore, Tonic

Coptis trifolia "Goldthread" Chafing, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Inappetence, Stomatosis, Stomach Cancer, Tonic

Cornus canadensis "Bunchberry" Enuresis, Gastrosis, Hemorrhage, Nephrosis, Wound

Cornus sp. "Dogwood" Fumitory

Cypripedium acaule "Ladyslipper" "Moccasin Flower" Nervine, Tubersulosis

Eupatorium perfoliatum "Boneset"Arthritis, Cold, Insomnia, Gastric ulcers, Pain, Tonic

Fagus grandifolia "Beech" Antiseptic, Appetite, Enteritis, Hepatosis, Nephrosis, Rheumatism, Tonic, Tuberculosis

Fragaria virginiana "Strawberry" Cramps, Depurative, Dysentery, Gastrosis, Gingivitis, Tonic, Urinantiseptic

Gaultheria procumbens "Teaberry" Cardiopathy (Heart attack), Preventitive (Heart attack), Stroke

Hamamelis virginiana "Witch Hazel" Aphrodisiac, Dermatosis, Headache, Rash, Swelling, Tea

Heracleum lanatum "Cow Parsnip" "Wabegpagosi" "Pagosi" Cold, Flu, Tuberculosis

Iris versicolor "Beaver Root" "Blue Flag" Antidote, Emetic

Juniperus communis "Juniper" Burns, Colds, Cuts, Flu, Gastrosis, Nephrosis, Rheumatism, Sore, Sprain, Tonic, Dysuria

Kalmia angustifolia "Lambkill" Poison, Rheumatism, Sore limbs, Swelling

Larix laricina "Hackmatack" Cold, Flu, Infections, Tuberculosis, Wounds

Ledum groenlandicum "Labrador Tea" Nephrosis, Tea, Tonic

Lobelia inflata "Indian tobacco" Asthma, Earache, Fumitory

Mitchella repens "Partridgeberry" "Squaw Vine" Parturition, Pregnancy

Myrica pensylvanica "Bayberry" Arthritis, Mouthwash, Pain, Rheumatism, Stomatitis

Nicotiana tabacum "Tobacco" Drowning, Earach

Nuphar variegatum "Big One Side" "Cow Lily" Swelling

Nymphaea odorata "Water Lily" Preventive, Swelling

Panicum capillare "Witch Grass" Tonic

Picea spp. "Cat Spruce" "White Spruce" "Black Spruce" "Spruce" Tuberculosis, Infections, Cold, Tonic, Laryngitis, Scurvy, Warts

Pinus strobus "White Pine" Cold, Hemorrhage, Nephrosis

Plantago major "Plantain" Gastrosis, Sore, Infection, Sore, Ulcer, Wound, Infection, Sore, Wound

Populus spp. "Bitterwood" Cold, Flu, Worms

Prunus cerasus, "Red Cherry" Cold, Cough, Hypertension

Prunus serotina "Black Cherry" Cold, Cough, Depurative, Flu, Tonic

Prunus virginiana "Bitterberry" "Chokecherry" Cough, Diarrhea

Quercus sp. "Oak" Hemorrhage, Piles

Ranunculus acris "Buttercup" Cancer, Headache, Phobia

Rhexia virginica "Meadow Beauty" Throat

Rhinanthus crista-galli "Yellow Rattle" Epilepsy, Fits

Rhus typhina "Staghorn Sumach" Cough, Earache, Sorethroat

Rubus alleghenensis "Blackberry" Canker, Diarrhea, Sorethroat, Stomach, Stomatosis

Rubus idaeus "Raspberry" Canker, Diarrhea, Sorethroat, Stomach, Stomatosis

Salix discolor "Pussy Willow" Bruises, Cancer, Cold, Nephrosis

Salix sp. "Red Willow" Fumitory

Sambucus canadensis "Elderberry" Cathartic, Emetic

Sambucus pubens "Elderberry" Emetic

Sanguinaria canadensis "Bloodroot" Hemorrhage, Rheumatism, Tuberculosis

Sarracenia purpurea "Indian Cut Root" "Pitcher Plant" Dyspepsia, Nephrosis, Tuberculosis

Sorbus americana "Mountain Ash" Stomachache, Witchcraft

Symphoricarpus albus "Waxberry" Headache, Tonic

Symplocarpus foetidus "Skunk Cabbage" Diabetes, Toothache, Tuberculosis

Thuja occidentalis "Cedar" Swelling

Tilia sp. "Basswood" Infection, Sore, Wound

Trifolium sp. "Clover" Fever, Stings

Trifolium pratense "Red Clover" Tonic

Tsuga canadensis "Hemlock" Cold

Vaccinium macrocarpon "Cranberry" Tonic

Vaccinium myrtilloides??? "Blueberry" Rheumatism, Tonic

Verbasum thapsus "Mullein" Asthma

Viburnum trilobum "Highbush Cranberry" Adenopathy, Swellings

Viola arvensis??? "Pansy" Conjunctivitis

Duke J.A. 1986. Handbook of Northeastern Indian Medicinal Plants. Quarterman Publications, 212 pp., Lincoln Mass. (Available from ABC, Box 201660, Austin, TX 78720)

Foster, S. and Duke, J.A. Peterson Field Guide to Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 366 pp. 1990 (Available from ABC, Box 201660, Austin, TX 78720)

Lacey, L. 1993. Micmac medicines - remedies and recollections. Nimbus Publishing Ltd, P.O. Box 9301, Station A, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 5N5. 125 pp.

Moerman, D.E. 1982. Geraniums for the Iroquois - A Field Guide to American Indian Medicinal Plants. Refernce Publications, Algonac, Mich. 242 pp.

Moerman, D.E. 1986. Medicinal Plants of Native America. U. Mich. Mus. Anthop. Tech. Rept. # 19. 2 vols. Ann Arbor.

Moerman, D.E. 1996. An analysis of the food plants and drug plants of native North America. J. Ethnorharmacology 52: 1-22.



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