dye Archives - The Cargo Cult Café

Tall Ironweed: Edible, Medicinal & Other Uses

March 21, 2016 by Mike 6 Comments

Tall Ironweed, Vernonia altissima, a plant of late summer with interesting little purple flowers in a dense head. This particular species has not been identified or used for any specific purpose but it has been noted that many of the Vernonias have been used for similar medicinal purposes by the Cherokee Indians. It was used for monthly periods, afterbirth pains, loose teeth, stomach ulcers and hemorrhage and it was used for dandruff.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry.

Tall Ironweed Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Foster, Steven and James A. Duke. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America. 2nd. ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000. Print. pg. 222

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 41

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 593

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 210-211

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Bloodroot: Poison, Medicinal & Other Uses

November 18, 2015 by Mike Leave a Comment

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, a plant that bleeds when you cut it’s root. It is a toxic plant that when ingested can cause tunnel vision, nausea and death. I forgot to mention above that the Abnaki Indians used this plant as an abortifacient. But when used sparingly it does have many medicinal benefits such as: relieving stomach cramps, reducing fever, helps sore throats, colds and rheumatism. Externally it has been used for cuts, infections, eczema, warts, ringworm, burns and more.

Bloodroot Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software. Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 1708-1714

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 26

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 127-129

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 515-517

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 364-365

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Yellow Wood Sorrel: Edible, Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

September 8, 2015 by Mike 1 Comment

Yellow Wood Sorrel, Oxalis stricta, is one of my favorite wild edible snacks. The plant is both edible and medicinal. The Kiowa Indians called it “salt weed” and used it for long walks, much in the same way we drink/eat electrolytes when we are out on a hike.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!

Yellow Wood Sorrel Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Brill, Steve. Wild Edibles Plus. Computer Software. WinterRoot LLC. Version 1.5. 2012. Web. Feb. 15, 2014.

Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 1423-1424

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 190

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 374

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 246-247

Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 72-73, 104-105

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Birdsfoot Trefoil: Poison, Edible, Medicinal & Other Uses

June 17, 2015 by Mike 7 Comments

Birdsfoot Trefoil, Lotus corniculatus, is a member of the Pea Family and has been considered both edible and medicinal but be aware that all parts of this plant are poisonous. The seeds can be nibbled and it has been used medicinally as a antispasmodic, sedative, to remove gas and reduce fever.

Birdsfoot Trefoil Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 66-67

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Web.

Black-eyed Susan: Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

March 23, 2015 by Mike 2 Comments

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, a medicinal plant of summer. American Indians used this plant for swelling, sores, snakebites, worms, colds and sore eyes. A brown or yellow dye can be obtained from the flowers.

Black-eyed Susan Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 30

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 236

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 494-495

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 374-375

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Sweet Goldenrod: Edible, Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

January 29, 2015 by Mike Leave a Comment

Sweet Goldenrod, Solidago odora, makes a nice anise-flavored tea or you can use it as seasoning. Medicinally, it has been used as an abortifacient, antidiarrheal, cold remedy, cough medicine, to reduce fever, induce sweating and to calm the nerves among other things including making a dye.

Sweet Goldenrod Sources:

Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 1801-1802

Gehring, Abigail R.. Back to Basics; A Complete Guide to Traditional Skills. 3rd ed. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. 2008. Print. pg. 270-272

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 36

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 537

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 448-449

Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 90-91

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.