31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses

The knowledge behind 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses didn’t just appear overnight—these plant-based remedies were refined over centuries of observation, ceremony, and community care. This guide shares traditional uses and ethnobotanical insights for learning and preparedness. It is not medical advice. Plants can be powerful; always verify identification, watch for allergies and drug interactions, use small test amounts first, and consult a qualified clinician, especially for children, pregnancy, nursing, or chronic conditions.

Before you harvest, remember: many Native communities consider certain plants sacred, seasonal, or ceremonial. Some species are threatened and should not be wild-harvested (e.g., Echinacea in some areas, Osha in the wild). Favor ethical sourcing, grow your own where possible, and support Native-led conservation efforts. You can also blend modern readiness with tradition by maintaining water security and a basic off-grid first-aid setup as part of your self-reliance plan. For broader self-sufficiency context, browse the Everyday Self-Sufficiency guide.

Below, you’ll find 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses presented with traditional uses, common preparations (infusion/tea, decoction, poultice, salve, steam), and key cautions. Where known, I mention tribes and regions associated with use; practices vary widely between nations.

Foundations and Remedies 1–4

In the spirit of 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses, it helps to understand a few core preparation methods. An infusion (steeping leaves/flowers) is for delicate parts; a decoction (simmering roots/barks) is for tougher material; a poultice (crushed plant applied externally) addresses skin, bites, and bruises; a steam inhalation helps respiratory passages; and a salve (infused oil plus beeswax) is for skin recovery and protection. Many nations layered medicine with ceremony, prayer, and community roles—knowledge that deserves respect and acknowledgement.

1. Willow Bark (Salix spp.)

• Traditional use: Pain and fever relief, headaches, musculoskeletal aches. Willow contains salicylates; many tribes used it as a general analgesic and febrifuge.
• Preparation: Decoction of bark or twig tea; topical poultice for sore joints.
• Notes: Salicylates can irritate the stomach and interact with blood thinners; avoid in children with viral illness due to Reye’s syndrome risk.

2. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

• Traditional use: Wound care to help slow bleeding, fevers, digestive upset, and menstrual support. Plains and Plateau tribes used yarrow leaves on cuts and as a tea for fever.
• Preparation: Fresh-leaf poultice to staunch bleeding; infusion for fever sweats.
• Notes: Possible ragweed-family allergy; avoid during pregnancy in large amounts.

3. Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia/purpurea, “Snakeroot”)

• Traditional use: Immune support, sore throats, infected wounds, snakebite adjunct (not a cure). Used by Plains tribes such as the Lakota and Kiowa.
• Preparation: Root decoction or tincture; diluted wash for minor skin irritation.
• Notes: Sustainability alert—avoid wild harvesting of rare stands; grow your own. May interact with immunosuppressive drugs.

4. Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

• Traditional use: Fevers, chills, “breakbone” aches, seasonal respiratory complaints. Widely used in Eastern woodlands.
• Preparation: Bitter infusion or decoction.
• Notes: Use short-term only; avoid during pregnancy and with liver disease.

To honor the spirit of 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses, treat these plants as teachers. Start with identification from multiple sources, practice low doses, and observe carefully. Keep a simple journal of what you try and how your body responds.

Remedies 5–8

The next four botanicals frequently show up in tribal records and settler-era herbals—often for coughs, colds, and digestive issues. As with all 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses, avoid presenting them as cures; they can be supportive helpers alongside rest, hydration, and medical care.

5. Wild Cherry Bark (Prunus serotina)

• Traditional use: Quieting spasmodic coughs and soothing irritated throats.
• Preparation: Carefully prepared bark syrup or decoction; many elders emphasize slow, gentle extraction to avoid cyanogenic glycosides in raw bark.
• Notes: Never use wilted leaves; use bark from properly identified species; keep doses modest.

6. Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

• Traditional use: Coughs, bronchial congestion, hoarseness; also as a topical for skin support. Used across the continent post-contact; similar roles in various traditions.
• Preparation: Warm infusion of leaves/flowers; strain through cloth to remove hairs.
• Notes: Generally gentle; don’t inhale leaf hairs; consider a steam for congestion.

7. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis, S. cerulea)

• Traditional use: Seasonal immune support, fever management, and cooling remedy.
• Preparation: Cooked berry syrup or decoction; flowers as a calming sudorific tea.
• Notes: Raw berries/leaves can cause gastric upset; cook thoroughly. Watch for interactions with immune conditions.

8. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

• Traditional use: Topical washes for skin complaints; digestive support as a bitter; eye washes in highly diluted traditional preparations.
• Preparation: Short-term decoctions or poultices; today, many prefer alternatives due to conservation concerns.
• Notes: Threatened in the wild—avoid wild harvesting. Interacts with medications (liver enzymes). Not for pregnancy. Consider Oregon grape root as a conservation-friendly analogue.

These entries reflect one slice of 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses—plants leaned on for nagging coughs and winter ailments. Always prioritize rest, warm humidified air, and medical evaluation for persistent or severe symptoms.

Remedies 9–12

Integrating aromatic evergreens and ceremonial botanicals, this segment of 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses highlights respiratory steams and cleansing practices. Ceremonial uses like smudging are culturally specific; this article focuses strictly on practical, non-ceremonial uses such as steams and teas.

9. Sage (Salvia apiana and other regional sages)

• Traditional use: Sore throats, mild digestive upset, respiratory steam; also a cultural/ceremonial plant.
• Preparation: Light infusion for gargles; steam inhalation for sinuses.
• Notes: White sage is at risk from overharvesting; grow your own or use culinary sage.

10. Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata)

• Traditional use: Calming, cleansing smoke in ceremony; gentle topical soothing infusions.
• Preparation: Light infusions for external rinses or braided for cultural uses.
• Notes: Respect cultural protocols; avoid appropriation.

11. Cedar (Thuja plicata, Juniperus spp. called “cedar” regionally)

• Traditional use: Respiratory steam, cleansing baths, topical washes for minor skin complaints.
• Preparation: Steam inhalation from boughs; gentle external rinses.
• Notes: Internal use can be risky; keep to steams and external preparations.

12. Bearberry/Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

• Traditional use: Urinary tract support as an astringent and urinary antiseptic.
• Preparation: Short-term leaf decoction.
• Notes: Not for pregnancy, kidney disease, or prolonged use. Can interact with medications.

When adapting 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses at home, keep environmental ethics central. Choose cultivation, buy from Native-owned suppliers when possible, and keep your harvests light and mindful.

Remedies 13–16

These plants shine in first-aid and digestive cases. In 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses, you’ll often see them used externally for bites, stings, and scrapes—or internally for gut soothing.

13. Plantain Leaf (Plantago major/lanceolata)

• Traditional use: Fresh-leaf poultice for insect bites, stings, minor cuts; draws and soothes.
• Preparation: Chewed or crushed fresh leaf applied directly; clean and reapply as needed.
• Notes: Easy lawn/garden weed—excellent for beginner foragers.

14. Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)

• Traditional use: Demulcent for sore throats, coughs, and irritated stomach.
• Preparation: Inner bark powdered into gruel/lozenges; soothing tea.
• Notes: Sourcing can harm trees—choose ethically harvested products.

15. Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis)

• Traditional use: Mucilaginous demulcent for dry cough, sore throat, reflux.
• Preparation: Cold infusion for maximal mucilage; can warm slightly before use.
• Notes: May slow absorption of medications; separate by 2–4 hours.

16. Blackberry Root (Rubus spp.)

• Traditional use: Astringent for diarrhea and loose stools.
• Preparation: Decoction of root bark; small sips.
• Notes: Hydrate well; seek care for persistent diarrhea, high fever, or blood.

Applied wisely, these choices from 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses can stock a practical home apothecary. Label your jars with plant, part, date, and source, and store in cool, dark places.

Remedies 17–20

Women’s health and headache relief are a major thread in 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses. The following herbs require extra respect due to potency and pregnancy-related cautions.

17. Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus)

• Traditional use: Uterine-toning tea late in pregnancy, menstrual comfort, mineral-rich tonic.
• Preparation: Daily infusion in the last trimester under practitioner guidance.
• Notes: Talk to your clinician or midwife. May not be suitable for all pregnancies.

18. Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)

• Traditional use: Menopausal discomfort, muscle tension, menstrual cramps.
• Preparation: Tincture or decoction; short-term use.
• Notes: Can affect liver enzymes and blood pressure; avoid in pregnancy unless supervised.

19. Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

• Traditional use: Historically used by some as a labor aid; potent uterine stimulant.
• Preparation: Traditionally small supervised doses only.
• Notes: Not for home use in pregnancy—serious risks exist. Included for historical completeness within 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses.

20. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

• Traditional use: Headaches and migraines prevention.
• Preparation: Leaf capsules or tea; consistent, low-dose regimens favored.
• Notes: May interact with blood thinners; avoid during pregnancy and with ragweed allergy.

In the middle of your learning journey with 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses, water resilience also matters. Clean water is the backbone of teas, decoctions, and wound care.

New Water Offer: SmartWaterBox
Water-from-air: Aqua Tower

Remedies 21–24

Topical-only powerhouses follow—salves and poultices that many elders used for bruises, sprains, and skin support. Respect dosing, and keep internal use off the table for several of these. As you study 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses, note where external-only rules apply.

21. Arnica (Arnica montana, A. chamissonis)

• Traditional use: Bruises, sore muscles, sprains; improves local circulation.
• Preparation: Infused oil or salve; apply thinly to unbroken skin.
• Notes: Do not use on open wounds; not for internal use.

22. Comfrey (“Knitbone,” Symphytum officinale)

• Traditional use: Supports tissue repair for sprains and minor strains; external only.
• Preparation: Leaf/root salves and poultices.
• Notes: Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids; avoid internal use; limit topical duration; avoid over deep punctures (may seal surface too fast).

23. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

• Traditional use: Astringent for hemorrhoids, minor bleeding, rashes, and swellings.
• Preparation: Distilled extract or bark decoction, external only.
• Notes: Gentle and widely available.

24. Pine Pitch or Spruce Resin (Pinus/ Picea spp.)

• Traditional use: Antiseptic drawing salve for splinters, minor cuts, cracks.
• Preparation: Warm resin blended into oil/beeswax salve; thin topical layer.
• Notes: Patch-test for sensitivity; strong aroma.

These external supports from 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses pair well with RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and professional evaluation for severe injuries.

Build Your Off-Grid Herbal Setup

If you’re building an at-home reference and stocking shelf-stable remedies inspired by 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses, combine traditional know-how with modern prep:

• Step-by-step layman’s medicine guide: Home Doctor
• Ready-to-store staple foods that complement herbal care: The Lost SuperFoods
• Independent water resilience for decoctions, rinses, and hygiene: Aqua Tower

Set a reminder to review your kits every 6 months—rotate syrups, check salve texture, and refresh dried herbs.

Remedies 25–27

These stronger allies require dosing care and awareness of contraindications. As with all entries in 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses, respect potency and keep vulnerable groups safe.

25. Juniper (Juniperus communis and regional species)

• Traditional use: Digestive carminative, urinary tract support, external antiseptic washes.
• Preparation: Light berry infusion; external washes.
• Notes: Avoid in pregnancy and kidney issues; short-term only.

26. Osha Root (Ligusticum porteri)

• Traditional use: Robust respiratory support for stubborn congestion and sore throats; chewed by some for “mountain lung.”
• Preparation: Root tincture or decoction; steam inhalation over pot.
• Notes: Wild stands are threatened; do not wild-harvest. Seek cultivated or substitution like elecampane/horehound when appropriate.

27. Lobelia (Lobelia inflata)

• Traditional use: Respiratory antispasmodic and expectorant; historically in controlled, tiny doses.
• Preparation: Very small, practitioner-guided tincture doses; external chest rubs with infused oil as a gentler alternative.
• Notes: Can be toxic; nausea at higher amounts. Not for pregnancy or unsupervised internal use.

To keep learning 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses safely, consider partnering with a local herbalist or attending Indigenous-led classes where welcomed and appropriate.

Remedies 28–29

Aromatic mints and resinous leaves make great teas and steams. This portion of 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses leans toward flavor and function combined.

28. Bee Balm/Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa, M. didyma)

• Traditional use: Digestive upset, gas, mild infection support; topical antiseptic washes; steam for sinuses.
• Preparation: Infusion; steam inhalation; external rinse.
• Notes: Strong, pleasant aroma; member of mint family.

29. Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon californicum and kin)

• Traditional use: Congested lungs, stubborn coughs with thick mucus; bittersweet tonic.
• Preparation: Leaf infusion/decoction or tincture; steam.
• Notes: Western species; don’t over-harvest; check for regional conservation status.

Flavorful allies like these make it easier to stick with supportive routines in 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses—especially during stubborn seasonal bugs.

Remedies 30–31, Plus Preparation, Storage, and Respect

We close 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses with two skin-first-aid classics that are easy to find and prepare. Then you’ll see simple processing and storage steps to keep remedies effective.

30. Prickly Pear Cactus Pads (Opuntia spp., “Nopales”)

• Traditional use: Cooling poultice for minor burns, bites, and inflamed skin; internal use for blood sugar support is also traditional in some regions.
• Preparation: Carefully de-spine, split pad, and apply gel side to skin as a cool poultice.
• Notes: Ensure clean prep; internal use may affect blood sugar—monitor closely and consult a clinician.

31. Cottonwood/Poplar Buds (Populus spp., “Balm of Gilead”)

• Traditional use: Anti-inflammatory, pain-soothing topical; wintergreen-like aroma.
• Preparation: Slow-infused oil from sticky spring buds turned into a salve.
• Notes: Collect windfallen buds after storms; leave plenty for trees and wildlife.

Simple prep/playbook for 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses:

• Infusions: 1–2 tsp dried leaf/flower per cup hot water, steep 10–15 minutes; strain.
• Decoctions: 1 tbsp dried root/bark per cup, simmer covered 15–30 minutes; strain.
• Steams: Bowl of hot water with aromatic leaves; tent towel over head; breathe gently.
• Poultices: Mash fresh plant with a little sterile water, apply to clean skin.
• Salves: Infuse dried plant in oil (1–4 weeks, or warm method 4–8 hours), strain, blend with beeswax (~1 oz wax per 8 oz oil).
• Storage: Label with plant, part, date, and source. Teas fresh daily; tinctures last years; dried herbs 6–18 months (cool, dark, airtight).

Ethics and respect: Seek permission from land stewards; harvest lightly; avoid rare plants; buy from Native growers where possible; recognize that some remedies belong to ceremony and are not for general use. A respectful approach is inseparable from the practice of 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses.

Product Recommendations: Preparedness + Herbal Know-How

• Hands-on medical self-reliance for laypeople: Home Doctor
• Shelf-stable nutrition to pair with teas, decoctions, and recovery: The Lost SuperFoods
• Off-grid water independence (critical for teas, rinses, hygiene): Aqua Tower or SmartWaterBox

Choose one primary guide, one water solution, and one food reserve to round out your 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses toolkit.

Conclusion

Bringing 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses into your life is as much about humility as it is about technique. These plants were—and in many communities still are—part of a cultural fabric that includes ceremony, kinship, and land stewardship. Approach with care, verify identification, honor contraindications, and consult healthcare professionals for diagnosis or red-flag symptoms (trouble breathing, high fever, chest pain, severe dehydration, prolonged diarrhea, or bleeding).

Build your kit gradually: start with gentle, abundant allies like plantain, yarrow, mullein, and bee balm; practice making infusions and salves; and document your results. Pair your herbal readiness with clean water capability and a plain-English medical reference so you can act calmly and effectively when minor illnesses strike.

If you want a structured way to continue after reading 31 Long-Forgotten Native American Herbal Remedies For Illnesses, consider combining a solid medical layman’s guide with a water solution and staple foods for total resilience: Home Doctor, Aqua Tower, and The Lost SuperFoods.

FAQ

Safety note: This educational content does not diagnose, treat, or cure disease. Always confirm plant ID, check interactions, and consult a qualified clinician for ongoing symptoms or serious illness.