"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.