15 Medicinal Plants And Herbs From The Cherokee People

Photo credit: bigstock.com

Photo credit: bigstock.com

12. Mullein

This is one of the oldest herbs known to man, and the Cherokee used it extensively. Cherokee healers burned the dried leaves and roots to ease chest congestion or asthma attacks. The roots were also boiled and mashed to make a decoction for soaking swollen limbs or swollen joints. Mullein tea made from the flowers makes a very mild sedative.

 

13. Common Sumac

This is another plant that has super medicinal qualities and can be found almost everywhere. Boiling the bark and then straining the liquid makes a terrific concoction to stop store throats. You can also drink this liquid as a remedy for diarrhea. A tea made from the berries was used to stop fevers. Tea made from ripe berries is a good source of vitamin C, and it tastes better than you might think.

 

14. Greenbriar

Greenbriar is a very popular plant that is a terrific blood purifier. Some Cherokee healers made a salve from the bark and leaves, and then mixed it with animal lard as a means of healing burns or wounds. The root is also used to make a tea for arthritis.

 

READ ALSO: 10 of the World’s Most Underrated Medicinal Herbs

 

15. Mint

This common plant is used as to improve overall digestion. The Cherokee also used the crushed leaves as a compress to help stop skin problems or itchy skin. For lowering blood pressure and stopping nervous tension, mint was made into a tea, much the same way it is used today.

Of course, these 15 plants are just the top of the iceberg. The Cherokee had hundreds of plants they used as medicine and still use today. These timeless ways of using plants should never be forgotten.

References:

www.ajcn.nutrition.org

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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