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Read Ebook: The Botanical Lore of the California Indians with Side Lights on Historical Incidents in California by Romero John Bruno
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Ebook has 531 lines and 38215 words, and 11 pages
American Field Camomile. A very common plant growing everywhere in California. It was used extensively for babies suffering from colic, and also to regulate unsettled stomachs.
Painful congestion of the stomach.
MALVA ROTUNDIFOLIA
American Common Mallow, compounded with blossoms of California Wild Rose, or the seed.
ROSA CALIFORNICA
American California Wild Rose. This beautiful wild rose-bush inhabits the coastal ranges, and may be found far inland along open spaces in heavy woodland abounding in rather rich and mulchy soil.
Used in cases of stomach fevers, the ripe seed is given in the form of tea to relieve the stomach clogged with food as well as in so-called cases of painful congestion.
MONARDELLA VILLOSA
Skirting for its habitat the high mountain lands, it is very seldom found anywhere else. It is a native of California, and is used chiefly for the relief of ordinary stomach-ache. When in bloom it is very fragrant and blossoms from late May till June.
Fevers and constipation of the stomach.
ERYTHAEA MUEHLENBERGII
Its habitat is confined to a few localities in San Diego County, the coastal regions in Santa Barbara, Orange County, and in San Bernardino along the southern border of the Mojave Desert.
It was used in the form of an infusion in cases of constipation caused by fever of the stomach.
Fevers.
JUNIPERUS CALIFORNICA
American Juniper Berry. Its habitat extends from our high mountain ranges in northern San Diego County to Monterey County. The berries have a short season, ripening in these regions from late in July until early in September. They were used for making tea or simply chewed in cases of La Grippe fevers. They may be gathered, dried, and stored for future use.
Lung fevers.
PAEONIA BROWNII
American Wild Peony. It inhabits shady canyons growing only on deep, rich, decomposed mulch. The blossoms are of deep red color, and the blooming season lasts from May until June. Its roots bear a strong resemblance to young sweet potatoes and were gathered to be used in the form of tea for complicated lung fevers. The tea has a decidedly bitter taste.
Stomach fevers.
VERBENA HASTATA
American Wild Vervain. Inhabits the lower coastal ranges and pasture lands. Its blooming period is from late in May until July. This plant is remarkable for bearing three different colored blossoms--in some localities white, in others, pink, and then again, blue--all this owing to the mineral soil formation. The root is used for complicated stomach fevers.
Fevers.
MORAJAUM
Grows along rivers and lake borders. This plant, being of a semiaquatic nature, resembles some of our wild orchids and blooms but a short season. The entire plant is used in cases of fevers complicated with headaches.
Eruptive Fevers.
SAMBUCUS PUBENS
American Elderberry. Indigenous to the coastal regions. The yellow blossoms were extensively used by all Indian tribes only in cases of measles.
MIRABILIS CALIFORNICA
American Four O'clock. The root of this plant served the same purpose as American Elderberry. Its habitat is Santa Barbara County, Calif., and it is not found anywhere else in a wild state.
There are no records that it was used for other eruptive fevers such as smallpox, scarlet fever, etc. These were introduced into this country later on by white European adventurers and settlers, the first cases being recorded in 1825. These diseases were greatly dreaded by the Indians, and whenever any of them contracted this malady, they would invariably vacate the locality they were in, and move many miles away to virgin country.
And, as a warning of danger to fellow tribesmen and to keep them away from the abandoned camp, all the rock mortars and clay pots were turned upside down and partly buried in the ground.
Plant poisoning.
GRINDELIA CUNEIFOLIA
Grows in alkaline soils and its blooming season is from August to September. The plant was used a great deal in cases of itching skin eruption caused by poison oak, and is a cure for such disorders.
RHUS DIVERSILOBA
Botanical Serum. This is the poison oak itself, of which the roots, during the dormant period, are cut and properly dried. When taken in the form of tea in a quantity of not more than four ounces, it will render a person immune against any further poisoning. This is a bona fide Indian formula. Blooming season from May to June.
I ask my readers not to try this serum pending further laboratory experiments. I plan to subject myself to exhaustive tests under scientific observation and to publish the results.
Ulcers and diseases of the skin and feet.
ANTENNARIA MARGARITACEA
American Cotton Weed. Its habitat is all along the Southern California hill slopes, and the beautiful pearly flowers are used for ulcers and sores of the feet which fail to respond to treatment by other medicaments. The blossoms must be boiled. The liquid obtained is used to bathe the feet, and all parts of the skin affected. A very effective cure. The blossoms are also ground into a powder and applied to the part affected.
Burns.
SOLIDAGO NEMORALIS
American Western Goldenrod. Its habitat is the river and creek bottom lands. Quite common in California, this plant has great healing power, especially in cases of old raw burns that have failed to heal properly, as well as major rotten ulcers. The leaves of the plant may be boiled and the liquid used to bathe the affected parts; while the pulp, as a poultice, is to be placed upon the burns and ulcers to promote disinfection and to hasten a rapid growth of new healthy flesh.
Fistulas and running sores.
PENTSTEMON CORDIFOLIUS
American Wild Fuchsia. A native of the coastal ranges, northward from San Diego County to Monterey, Calif., this dark-green shrub is very attractive to the eye. It bears an array of deep-red blossoms, well-formed in clusters, at the very tip of long slender branches. It was used as a poultice and a wash for fistulas and deep, pus-running ulcers.
Eruptive scalp diseases.
EUPHORBIA
A native of California, it is quite common on our inland fields. It is used for minor skin eruptions and scalp diseases. Used as a wash only. It blooms from early May to July.
AMBROSIA ARTEMISIFOLIA
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