Native American Herbalism

by Toni Leland

This module explores some Native American herbal remedies – and interpretations of them by Western science in historical contexts. First, it highlights the importance of plants — even possibly familiar local plants — as a source of medicine. Second, it guides practice in evaluating evidence and sources of information (through the testimony of others): when can we trust a remedy to be both safe and effective? Third, it introduces questions about how we assess reliability in science and how such assessments may be shaped by cultural perspectives.

Learning Objectives

• be able to identify, collect, preserve, and understand the significance of some of the wild plants in our own local area [Science/Botany]
• appreciate the importance of plants in our environment [Science/Botany]
• be able to discuss and evaluate scientific claims (using Native American herbalism as an example) based on experimental results, but also on the quality of the experimental design [Methods of Science]
• be able to articulate factors in reliable scientific claims, such as the nature of good evidence and credible testimony [Nature of Science]
• comment on the significance of historical perspective and cultural background and how that affects our thinking and the practice of science and medicine [Nature of Science]

The module is designed to rely on discussion, both in small groups and as a whole class, and on journaling, where students record their views, reasoning and justification in writing. The journal can be used by the students to write a final retrospective of their reasoning process: comparing their earlier conclusions to the ones they would draw at the end of the module. They may describe what they felt they did well and why, whether they would think about changing their evaluative strategies, and what factors they would recommend using for this type of decision making in the future.

The module proceeds by situating students in several short historical case studies: juniper as a remedy for scurvy (1500s), bloodroot (for various treatments in Colonial times), and patent medicines (in the 1700 and 1800s). As an optional extension, students may choose a number of wild local plants/herbs, collect and preserve them, and research the medicinal and food applications for at least one of them.

Open PDF document. Download Minnesota herbs

Images

Jacques Cartier	"First Contact between European Explorers and Iroqoises" John Frost (1853)	Seneca Chief Cornplanter, by F. Bartoli (1796)	Iroquois
juniper	James Lind	bloodroot	wild quinine
foxglove	cascara sagreda	tobacco (1570 print)