Medicinal uses of Specimen Plants at SMINC and in Sunfish Lake Park
This page provides information about the healing value of the plants on our acre and in Sunfish Lake Park. The comments on each group of plants, arranged by location, are provided by Lakota Medicine Man Paul Red Elk under copyright, all rights reserved. Please contact Paul for permission to reproduce this material. Paul Red Elk traditionallakotamedicineman@gmail.com
Prairie Plant Specimen Walk – (by number)
1 Prairie Brome – Prairie Brome no medicine
2 Compass Plant – Compass Plant diuretic, emetic, expectorant, tonic,
styptic, antispasmodic, and stimulant
3 Smooth Blue Aster – treatment of dry-rough skin, fevers and diarrhea
4 Butterfly Milkweed – diarrhea medicine, relief of sore throat, pleurisy
treatment
5 Yellow Coneflower – Immune system, aids colds and
the flu, anti-inflammatory, sore throats, skin inflammation, wounds.
6 Prairie Coreopsis – diarrhea, cardiovascular disease, high blood
pressure, lower cholesterol
7 Purple Prairie Clover – cardiovascular disease, diarrhea, measles
(roots), and stomach aches.
8 Big Blue Stem – analgesic, carminative and diuretic roots is used in the
treatment of stomach-aches and flatulence
9 June Grass – treat cuts – cooked to make mush
10 Aromatic Aster – fevers, stomach aches, gas pains, and earaches
11 Side Oats Grama – postpartum medicine and to heal uterine wounds
12 Black-eyed Susan – Treating colds: A tea made from the roots of the
black-eyed Susan can help with colds. Treating earaches: juice
13 Yarrow – stop bleeding, removes black and blue marks, blood thinner
astringent
14 Indian Grass – broken limbs.
15 Hoary Vervain – stomach issues, aches, headaches, circulatory
problems, insomnia,
16 Heath Aster – small roots of the plant were used in soups and young
leaves were cooked lightly used as greens. The Woodland tribes combined
aster with a small piece of bloodroot to make a laxative.
17 Stiff Goldenrod – used to inflammation, relieve muscle spasms, fight
infections, and lower blood pressure. It is also diuretic and is used in urinary
tract inflammation and treat kidney stones.
18 Fragrant Giant Hyssop – used as a diuretic
19 Large-Flowered Beard Tongue – A decoction of the leaves has been
used in the treatment of chills. It will bring up the body temperature.
20 Common Ox-Eye – Respiratory conditions asthma, whooping cough,
fever, sore mouth and throat, liver and gallbladder complaints, loss of
appetite, muscle spasms, fluid retention. Skin wounds, bruises
21 Rough Blazing Star – In many tribes the roots were ground and used as a
pain reliever for headache, arthritis, earaches. Young leaves were also
used to treat fevers, A few small leaves were used as a treatment for upset
stomach and an antiseptic wash.
22 Prairie Onion – use as a tonic to the digestive system and also tonify
the circulatory system
23 Prairie Dropseed – some tribes used the seeds in stews as a
thickener
24 Silky Aster – used for earache, relieve gas pains, stomach aches,
fevers.
25 Lead Plant – used for pinworms, eczema, rheumatism, wounds, cuts
used to remove heavy metals
26 Culver’s Root – Fresh culvers roots are toxic. It is dangerous to use. The
dried root is milder and is the accepted procedure. It was used as a
laxative. Use to induce vomiting, strong purgative, supports digestion
27 Wild Bergamot – cure headaches, cure fever, sore eyes and colds.
diaphoretic and carminative, colic, nausea, cooling of the body
28 Sky Blue Aster – The flowers and roots were used for earache, stomach aches, fevers.
29 Canada Wild Rye – kidney, UTI’S, ailments
Rain Garden Plants (will have new ID tags soon)
Anise Hyssop – Respiratory conditions, chest pains, bronchitis, fevers, tea
wash aids fevers by inducing sweating aid in severe burns, relieve itching
from poison ivy.
Blue False Indigo – Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) is not native to
Minnesota, but comes from eastern central North America and is particularly
common in the Midwest. In Minnesota, the only native species of Baptisia
are the Plains Wild Indigo (B. bracteata) and White Wild Indigo. There is a
white Indigo on the hill by the eagle medicine garden (Apothecary Garden).
Culvers Root – Fresh culvers are toxic. It is dangerous to use. The dried
root is milder and is the accepted procedure. It was used as a laxative. Use
to induce vomiting, strong purgative, support digestion
Rattlesnake Master – many tribes used this plant to treat snakebites. Roots were used to treat fevers, headaches, stomachaches, venereal disease, impotence, and worms. Relieves nosebleeds. It helps increase appetite.
Sneezeweed – muscle pain, toothache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting,
tiredness, urinary tract problems, and loss of appetite. Root used for relief
of toothache.
Joe Pye Weed (Baby Joe) – known to reduce fever, rheumatism,
gallstones, kidney related issues like UTIs and fluid retention; it's well
known as a diuretic.
Walkers Low Catmint – is not to invasive even though it is not
native to Minnesota.
Prairie Dropseed – found in prairie regions, as well as savannas and long
grassy areas. Used is a salve to sores, flour.
Bebbs Sedge– not used medicinally
Fox Sedge – ulcers, fever, hypertension, dysmenorrhea, sore muscles,
small wounds, dysentery, and gastrointestinal.
Northern Blue Flag Iris – stimulant laxative that can help soften
stool. Detoxification helps the body eliminate urine and increase bile
production, treat swelling and inflammation. Treat some skin conditions, treats poor
digestion, helps with thyroid issues.
Marsh Blazing Star – The roots were ground and used as a pain reliever
for headache, arthritis, and earaches. The roots were also used to treat
fevers, leaves were used as a treatment for upset stomach and an
antiseptic wash.
Shenandoah Switch Grass – no herbal usages
Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle – is not native to Minnesota but is considered a
naturalized species in the state since mid-1700’s.
Wild Geranium – Digestive issues, roots of wild geranium contain tannin,
which can help with diarrhea, stomach ulcers, and other digestive
issues. Skin helps eliminate dead skin cells and promote new skin
growth. In a tea, is good for small skin wounds.
Gray-headed Coneflower – Immune system, colds, flu
Tall Goldenrod – reduce inflammation, relieve muscle spasms, fight many
infections
Stiff Goldenrod – treat tuberculosis, hemorrhoids, internal bleeding,
asthma.
Canada Goldenrod – Toothaches, burns, sores, infections. Internally used
to treat digestive, respiratory, or urinary ailments, treat UTIs and kidney
stones
Hairy Aster – Root small leaves to reduce headaches, stomach remedies
Smooth Blue Aster – early in spring leaves brewed as tea, used in salads,
fevers and diarrhea
Red Turtlehead – indigestion, constipation, stimulating the appetite. It is
also an anthelmintic (de-wormer) salve from the leaves may relieve itching
and inflammation.
American Wild Mint – Aid in digestion issues, leaves help sooth an upset
stomach. It helps with muscle spasms. The menthol in mint leaves can help calm the stomach, reduce
indigestion, and relieve pain from muscle spasms, helps with nausea,
bloating. A strong tea was an aid mild save was used with cracked nipples
and help with mother’s milk flow.
False Sunflower – In a tea using the leaves is known to reduce high
fevers, it loosens mucus, aid in lung issues.
Horseweed – (Mare’s Tail) – is used to treat diarrhea. and dysentery it’s an
astringent. Was used treat urinary infections. Helps lower high blood
pressure. Helps with healing wounds. Made into a warm salve it is known
to help arthritis pain. A mild tea aided in cough due to colds.
Little Bluestem – Aids in healing with open wounds, dried leaves and the
top part of the little blue stem was used to insulate moccasins. It was used
in sweat lodge ceremonies.
White-panicle Aster – A tea wash from the roots was used for abrasion injuries.
Salve: Dried and powdered white panicle aster was used as a salve for
abrasions. Aster blossoms was inhaled to treat nose bleeds
Leopard Plant – nonnative
White Vervain – Aid in treat insomnia, anxiety and depression.
Invasive Species of Concern as found along the Park Trails by Riley and Nina
(Link to their report will be added soon)
Japanese barberry – Nonnative Came from Asa, eastern Europe late
1700 to early 1800.
Oriental bittersweet – Came Japan, Korea, and China 1860. Is used in
the treatment of paralysis, numbness of the four extremities, headache,
toothache, used to clean out the wounds from snake bites.
Creeping bellflower – nonnative Northern Western Europe decorative
arrived mid-1840.
Creeping (Canada) thistle – nonnative From Western Europe. Arrive
1600’s. Tea from the roots was used to treat diarrhea and intestinal worms
in children, and leaf tea can be used as a diuretic and tonic. For skin
irritations, a tea was from the roots was used externally to treat skin ulcers,
rashes, and poison ivy. Creeping thistle is also edible, though the spines
make the leaves difficult to prepare. The taproot is chewed and is
concerned to the most nutritious part of the plant.
Nodding thistle – nonnative arrived early 1600’s, Found in many parts of
Europe. Used in the USA tea from the roots was used for constipation Kidney issues UTI’s.
Bull thistle – was introduced to North America, likely accidentally, during
colonial times and in the late 1800s. It is now found in all 50 states and most
Canadian provinces. American Indians used the young root dried, and
ground made into a salve to help with rheumatics
Birds foot trefoil – The flowers and seed pods have been used as a
sedative to help with insomnia and night wakings. Aids in Anxiety, reduce
bleeding from wounds. Tea wash from the tap root was to help skin
irritation.
Morrow’s honeysuckle – Japan, Korea, and Northeast China
Tatarian honeysuckle – Eastern Asia and Siberia arrive early 1700’s
Lesser mullein – nonnative It’s use for respiratory issues, coughs, colds,
asthma, and bronchitis. It is an expectorant that thins mucus and helps the
body get rid of it. Mullein can also soothe irritation in the throat, lungs, and
bronchial passages. Leaves and flowers reduce Inflammation by coating
mucous membranes. It has antibacterial properties. Mullein can be used
as a compress to treat cold sores, rashes, and wounds. It may also help
fight pneumonia, staph with its antiviral properties, Mullein flowers help torelieve earaches. You can apply 1–2
drops of mullein flower into a tea wash apply the ear with a dropper,
Gastric ulcers, and inflammation in the stomach, liver, and gallbladder. A
strong tea helps with gum and mouth sores.
Common burdock – nonnative from Asia. Burdock grows best in over
compressed worked soil. The roots can grow to 12 feet. It’s known to clean soils.
It is a blood purifier, clean out bloodstream toxins, diuretic helps increase
urine output. Burdock root contains antioxidants like quercetin, luteolin,
and phenolic acids, these antioxidants may help protect the liver from poisonous substances.
The burdock root Is a great skin remedy. It may be used in a tea or in a salve.
Burdock root has been used topically to treat skin conditions like eczema, acne, and psoriasis.
Purple crown vetch – nonnative from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Original
brought into America in the 1950’s for erosion control, Crown vetch has
been planted along roads and highways to help prevent erosion and
stabilize road banks. Ground cover: Crown vetch is often used as ground cover and can be invasive in some areas. It has
tough roots that spread quickly and prevent other plants from growing.
Medicinal uses, Crown vetch root has been used to treat prostate
diseases, as a diuretic, and as a heart tonic. If the root is not used correctly it is
toxic to humans and horses.