EBP/Cooperative/Asarum canadense

Asarum canadense

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  • Common names: Canadian wild ginger, Canada wild ginger, wild ginger, snakeroot, broad-leafed asarabaccais, asarabaccais
  • Names used by indigenous peoples: namepin, namepiniig (Anishinabe)
  • Wikipedia: Asarum canadense
  • Wikispecies: Asarum canadense

Medicinal uses

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Whole plant/unspecified

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  • For colds: Used by the Abenaki tribe in a decoction with another unspecified herb.[1]
  • For coughs: Used by the Abenaki tribe in an unspecified treatment.[1]
  • To cause abortion (abortifacient): Used by the Cherokee people in an infusion.[1]
  • For scant/painful menstruation, to start a period: Used by the Cherokee people in an infusion.[1]
  • To induce vomiting for stomach pain (analgesic/emetic): Used by the Cherokee in a decoction.[1]
  • For diarrhea: Infusion taken by the Cherokee.[1]
  • For swollen breasts: An infusion of the whole plant was used by the Cherokee in an external wash, as well as an internal tea.[1]
  • To reduce fevers (febrifuge): Taken in an unspecified treatment, especially for typhus fever, by the Cherokee. Infusion also used by the Iroquois in wash.[1]
  • As digestive aid: Taken in an unspecified treatment by the Cherokee.
  • As a sedative: Used by the Cherokee for "nervous hysterics"; used by the Iroquois to calm crying babies.[1]
  • For headaches: Used in an infusion by the Iroquois for "long-lasting" headaches.[1]
  • For boils: Used in an unspecified compound preparation by the Iroquois.[1]
  • To improve appetite: Decoction taken by the Iroquois.[1]
  • To treat laziness (stimulant): Part of a compound preparation used by the Iroquois.[1]
  • For sore throat: Poultice used externally on the throat by the Iroquois. Used in an unspecified treatment by the Meskwaki.[1]
  • For venereal disease: Compound decoction with other herbs used by the Iroquois.[1]
  • For lung problems: Compound preparation used by the Meskwaki.[1]
  • As panacea: Used for general medicinal purposes by the Innu.[1]

Root

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  • As anticonvulsive: Used by the Algonquian peoples in an infusion for infant convulsions.[1]
  • For colds: Used in an unspecified treatment by the Cherokee and in an infusion by the Iroquois.[1]
  • For cough: Used in an unspecified treatment by the Cherokee and in a decoction by the Iroquois.[1]
  • To reduce fevers (febrifuge): Used by the Algonquian peoples and Iroquois in an infusion.[1]
  • For fevers accompanied by headache and/or convulsions: Cold infusion used by the Iroquois for children who had a fever accompanied by a headache and/or convulsions.[1]
  • To induce sweating (diaphoretic) to break a fever: Decoction or infusion taken cold by the Iroquois.[1]
  • As stimulant: Used by the Cherokee as a "powerful" stimulant in an unspecified manner.[1]
  • For worms: Used by the Cherokee in an unspecified treatment.[1]
  • As blood tonic: Used by the Cherokee in a compound infusion with other unspecified herbs.[1]
  • As spring tonic: Used by the Iroquois as a spring tonic for the elderly.[1]
  • For heart problems: Used by the Cherokee for general heart problems; "to strengthen the heart".[1]
  • To strengthen the action of other herbs (adjuvant): Used by the Anishinabe and the Iroquois combined with unspecified other herbs.[1]
  • To reduce inflammation (anti-inflammatory): Poultice of chopped roots used by the Anishinabe.[1]
  • For bruises and scrapes: Used in unspecified treatment by the Anishinabe.[1]
  • To aid digestion: Chopped root cooked with other foods to increase their digestibility by the Anishinabe. Taken in a decoction or eaten whole "to protect a weak stomach" by the Menominee.[1][2]
  • For broken bones: Chopped root combined with other unspecified herbs in a compound poultice by the Anishinabe.[1]
  • For scarlet fever: Decoction taken by the Iroquois.[1]
  • For typhoid: Infusion used by the Iroquois.[1]
  • For measles: Decoction taken by the Iroquois.[1]
  • For asthma: Infusion drunk by the Iroquois.[1]
  • For tuberculosis: Infusion of roots with other unspecified herbs used by the Iroquois.[1]
  • For urinary troubles: Decoction of roots used for urine stoppage and other disorders by the Iroquois.[1]
  • For stomach cramps: Infusion of small roots given to children by the Maliseet. Compound preparation given to adults and children by the Meskwaki. Used in an unspecified preparation by the Mi'kmaq.[1]
  • For earaches: Root pieces cooked and placed in ear by the Meskwaki.[1]
  • To calm vomiting: Used in an unspecified treatment by the Potawatomi to ease vomiting and induce the appetite of the sick.[1]

Leaves

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  • For sores/open wounds: Fresh leaves applied directly to the wounds or made into a salve by the Cherokee.[1]
  • For head and eyes: Dried and used by the Cherokee as a snuff for general ailments.[1]

Spiritual uses

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Whole plant/unspecified

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  • To prevent bad dreams: Infusion taken by the Iroquois to prevent bad dreams, specifically those caused by the dead.[1]
  • To cleanse ghost contamination: Infusion or decoction used by the Iroquois used as a wash to cleanse those contaminated by ghosts.[1]
  • To make one fit to visit the sick: Decoction used to cleanse or purify someone to make them fit to visit the sick by the Iroquois. [1]
  • To detect and protect from witchcraft: Used in many ways to detect and protect people from witchcraft by the Iroquois.

Veterinary uses

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Whole plant/unspecified

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  • For coughs, heaves, and similar problems in horses: A compound decoction was given to horses by the Iroquois.[1]
  • To treat horses "sick from not being used: Decoction mixed with whiskey given to horses by the Iroquois.[1]

Food uses

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Root

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Other uses

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Root

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  • To attract catfish: The root was chewed and the spittle produced rubbed on bait to allow fisherman to catch catfish by the Meskwaki.[1]
  • To perfume clothing: The root was roasted and powdered, then sprinkled on clothing to perfume it by the Anishinabe.[1]

Chemical actions and constituents

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References

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  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.49 1.50 1.51 1.52 1.53 1.54 1.55 http://herb.umd.umich.edu/
  2. Plants Used by the Great Lakes Ojibwa by the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, ISBN 0-9665820-1-2