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10/9/13

Native American Ethnobotany - Smooth Horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum)

Below is a link to a blog that has a lot of information about Smooth Horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum), with photos:

http://sagebud.com/smooth-horsetail-equisetum-laevigatum



Equisetum laevigatum (Smooth Horsetail)

Equisetum laevigatum A. Braun

Smooth Horsetail; Equisetaceae

Navajo & Kayenta
Analgesic, Orthopaedic Remedy - Infusion of plant taken or cold infusion used as a lotion for backaches.


Navajo & Ramah
Disinfectant - Compound decoction of plant used for "lightning infection."

Keres
Hemorrhoid Remedy - Plant chewed before meals for piles.

Costanoan
Hypotensive - Infusion of stems taken for high blood pressure.

Hoh
Ceremonial Medicine - Rootstocks eaten during medicinal ceremonies.
Dried Food - Rootstocks dried & used for food.
Special Food - Rootstocks eaten as a delicacy & also eootstocks eaten during puberty ceremonies.

Hopi
Ceremonial Medicine - Dried, ground plant used for ceremonial bread.
Ceremonial Items - Dried, ground with corn meal & used to make a ceremonial bread.

Okanagan-Colville
Antirheumatic (Internal) - Infusion of stems taken for lumbago.
Cold Remedy - Decoction of plant & chokecherry twigs given to children for colds.
Dermatological Remedy - Plant pounded, mixed with water & used to wash areas of body affected by poison ivy.
Diuretic - Infusion of stems taken as a diuretic to stimulate kidneys.
Orthopedic Remedy - Infusion of stems taken for backaches.
Pediatric Remedy - Decoction of plant & chokecherry twigs given to children for colds.
Stimulant - Infusion of stems taken for sluggishness due to a cold.
Venereal Remedy - Decoction of plant & false box taken or used as a bath for syphilis & gonorrhea.
Veterinary Remedy - Given to thin, old horses with diarrhea after eating fresh grass in spring.
Burn Dressing - Poultice of plant ash & grease applied to burns.
Fodder - Used in winter for fodder during hay shortage.
Food - Heads used for food.
Fiber (Scouring Material) - Stems used as sandpaper to polish bone tools & soapstone pipes & Fiber used to polish fingernails & Fiber used for sharpening & polishing bone tools.
Containers - Hollow stems used to administer medicines to babies.

Pomo & Kashaya
Kidney Remedy - Decoction of whole plant taken for kidney trouble & associated back trouble.

Quileute
Ceremonial Medicine - Rootstocks eaten during medicinal ceremonies.
Dried Food - Rootstocks dried & used for food.
Special Food - Rootstocks eaten as a delicacy & Rootstocks eaten during puberty ceremonies.

Isleta
Fodder - Plant used for horse feed.

San Felipe
Food (Porridge) - Plant dried & ground to make mush.

Karok
Fiber (Scouring Material) - Stems used to sandpaper madrone spoons.

Thompson
Fiber (Scouring Material) - Used for sharpening & polishing bone tools & the rough, silicon impregnated stems used to smooth & polish implements of wood, bone & steatite.
Burn Dressing - Poultice of plant ash & grease applied to burns.
Eye Medicine - Stem liquid used for sore eyes or decoction of stems used for sore, itchy eyes or blindness.
Gynecological Remedy - Decoction of roots taken to accelerate a difficult childbirth & also Decoction or infusion of stems taken after childbirth to expel afterbirth more quickly.
Urinary Remedy - Decoction of new growths taken for bladder problems.
Fertilizer - Stem liquid used to kill any type of weed.

Ute
Toys - Used by children as whistles.