Traditional Medicine by Regions - North America

Native American Indians have long inhabited the region of North America. The American Indians in particular, have many tribes such as the Cherokee, Mohawk, Pawnee, Menominee, Wampanoag, Postawatomi, Alabaman and Creek. These are the people whose possess the first-hand knowledge on some of America's prized medicinal plants like the American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) and Juniper (Juniperus communis).











In the book 'Native American Ethnobotany' written by Daniel E. Moerman (1988), a total of 2874 medicinal plants have been used by the natives. In addition, 18,000 medicinal uses of herbs have been described so far.

Besides for medicinal purposes, the natives incorporate herbs in their religious ceremonies and other spiritual practices. They believe that illnesses are caused by bad spirits, which had invaded the body and mind of a person. Thus, rituals like dancing, chanting and playing musical instruments, in addition to the use of medicinal plants are performed. This shamanistic rituals performed by a medicine man (shaman), who will also use herbs to aid the healing ritual.

The 'Doctrine of Signatures' is usually the main method of recognising a herb's medicinal uses based on its resemblance of shape, colour and odour. For an example, the American ginseng has a close physical resemblance to the human male sex organ, thus deemed as an aphrodisiac for men (Chichoke, 2001). Various tribes have used the roots for treating stomach ache, as a tonic and as a booster for mental strength. Additionally, it has been used by the Cherokees to treat muscle spasms.


Besides American ginseng, other popular herbs prized for their medicinal values are Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium spp.), Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium), Kav kava
(Piper methysticum)






Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) and Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa).







Used by the Cherokees for deafness and as a laxative, Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) has now been recognized to be effective against venereal warts and possess anticancer properties (Thomson, 1978).

Unlike other regions such as India and China, the American Indians' knowledge of herbal remedies has been largely communicated verbally without being recorded in texts. Thus, many great medicinal values of the herbs had disappeared, only to be recorded and studied upon the subsequent European settlers' presence.