Chimaphila maculata - Striped Prince's-Pine

Striped prince’s pine or more commonly; spotted wintergreen or pipsissewa, is used in a Lumbee Tribe medicinal “shotgun heart remedy” mixed with other herbs to treat those who complain of heart problems (Croom 1982). It is also used, along with other herbs, to treat skin problems such as acne, and it is commonly used to treat arthritis, general infections, kidney infections/stones. Spotted wintergreen is used to treat the inflammation of the nervous system, and it can be made into a tonic to give a refreshing feeling (Croom 1982). Another common way that Striped prince’s pine can be ingested is through a diffused tea, the heat of which is thought to help extract the antibacterial properties (McLean 2017).
 

Eupatorium capillifolium - Dog-Fennel 

Dog-fennel is used in multiple ways including fever, magical uses, and as an aphrodisiac (Croom 1982). For fevers, the roots are boiled to make a tea, and the tea is drunk to get rid of a fever. To convince someone to do your bidding, a few drops of boiled water from stems and leaves are put into a drink. For aphrodisiac uses, the extract from the boiled plant is applied topically to male genitalia. Dog-fennel also has volatile oils which can be used as expectorants.
 

Hypericum hypericoides - St. John-The-Worker/St. Andrew’s Cross

According to Croom (1982), St. Andrew’s cross is a shrub that grows up to three feet tall that is native on the east coast from Massachusetts down to Florida. It is frequently found in dry wooded/forested regions during the spring and summer seasons. Its uses serve to reduce symptoms of issues from the kidney, bladder, and skin problems, and even stomach issues in infants. For kidney issues, and bladder problems, it is often mixed with salty berry roots in water, boiled, and then taken three times a day. For kidney stones specifically, the top section of the plant is boiled in water and consumed. Upset stomach and the issues that come with it can be reduced in infants if they are given a tea made of St. Andrew’s cross and sage. In addition to this, tea made with St. Andrew’s cross, sarsaparilla, yellow root, and pipissewa are consumed to help with skin problems such as acne, or boils. To make these various teas, the tops of these plants may be collected at any point in the year. The roots though, are only gathered during the winter season.
 

Phytolacca americana - American Pokeweed

The Phytolacca americana, commonly known as the American pokeweed, is a medicinal plant helpful in fighting infections and that has been used in more scientific studies than most other medicinal plants because of its properties (Croom 1982). Although it is used for medical help, this plant can be considered poisonous because it can cause very bad side effects like blood in vomit and poop, cramps, burning inside the mouth, and finally death. The consumption of the Phytolacca americana has been found to cause a significant rise in white blood cells, similar to leukemia and can induce many different types of cancer. While the negative effects are bad, many believe these negative effects can also be prevented by being aware of what part of the plant is being used and when it was harvested. There have been occasions where the younger leaves of the plant have been boiled and eaten with no poisoning symptoms, which led many people to believe that the issue was not with the plant in general but with certain parts of the plant. There have not been studies that focus on the harvesting time or part of plant used, but that is the only way to actually be able to tell people about the safety and effectiveness of this plant.

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Ilex opaca – American Holly/Red Holly

The plant Ilex opaca (American Holly), is a thick evergreen shrub or tree that can stand up to 45 feet tall, commonly found in the eastern United States (Croom 1982). Along with its impressive height, it offers many treatment uses for several different illnesses (Croom 1982). When dealing with colds, flu and pneumonia, a boiling pot of leaves and stems from the plant are incorporated with Rabbit Tobacco (Gnaphaliurn obtusifolium) and Pine (Pinus spp.). After the boiling is complete, the recommended dose is one cupful. Next with itching, the leaves can be used as a cleanser on the skin. Then for diarrhea, the red berries on the plants are picked and boiled. When it starts to get to a thick consistency, it’ll be done and used for babies with diarrhea. Recommended doses are half a teaspoon and given orally three times each day. Lastly with dropsy, sharp leaves from the branches are used on the legs to relieve pressure from built up fluid.

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Gnaphalium obtusifolium - Rabbit tobacco

Gnaphalium obtusifolium is commonly known as Rabbit tobacco, this plant is used in combination with other plants such as pine and Wild Horehound to treat upper respiratory illnesses, neuritis, asthma, and pneumonia (Croom 1982). According to Croom (1982), rabbit tobacco is one of the more commonly used plants by the Lumbee tribe. Gnaphalium obtusifolium leaves are considered poisonous when green, therefore they are collected when they are brown and dried. The parts of rabbit tobacco that are used include leaves and the tops of other plants. One method for preparation of rabbit tobacco for treatment of cough includes boiling it along with corn fodder, pine tops and mullein to form a tea. Rabbit tobacco leaves can also be chewed to act as lozenges for cough and colds. Croom (1982) also mentions the placement of rabbit tobacco in pillowcases to prevent asthma attacks.

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Myrica cerifera - Wax Myrtle/Candleberry/Merkel/Red Myrtle

According to Croom (1982), Myrica cerifera or wax myrtle is commonly used for many problems concerning the alimentary canal. It is also used to flavor other herbs, prevent itching, and help with stomach ulcers. The dried or fresh leaves of the plant is what helps with alimentary canal problems. The leaves are also what is used when bathing for itching, and for stomach ulcers the root is first gathered, then washed, and chewed. The root bark of the plant contains both stimulant properties and reputed astringent. The root bark also contains Myricitrin and Myricadiol. Myricitrin causes bile secretion but also kills bacteria, and Myricadiol influences potassium and sodium activity within the body.

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Sambucus canadensis – Elderberry/American Elder/Common Elder

Sambucus canadensis, commonly known as Elderberry, American Elder, or Common Elder, is used medicinally to reduce swelling, both internally and externally (Croom 1982). Common issues it helps with include edema, gout, skin disorders and other external wounds. Its medicinal properties include dissolving ulcers, increasing sweating, urination and encouraging bowel movements. The roots are boiled (or leaves and stems together) for two hours in a quart of water. The liquid is applied directly to sores or swellings. For swollen feet, they may be soaked directly in the solution. Elderberry plants are deciduous shrubs that grow approximately 3 to 13 feet in height (Croom 1982). They have small white flowers that grow in clusters and the fruit is a dark purple berry. They are native and common the eastern United States, specifically in disturbed areas, woods, roadsides, and in moist fields.

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Alnus serrulata – Red alder

Alnus serrulata (Red alder), a deciduous shrub (large) or small (15 ft) tree that is native within the eastern region of the United States, within wet/moist areas (Croom 1982). This plant has held significance towards the Lumbee tribe due to its medicinal properties, serving as remedies for ailments and long-term management of “diseases” (Croom 1982). The properties are believed to be within different parts of the plant, and they are gathered fresh, or dried for future use. The twigs are used for the ailment of the mouth i.e. (sores, fever blisters, and bleeding gums), the leaves/roots are used for a wash in the summer for washes to treat (rashes, itches, and sunburns). While for more serve ailments i.e. (hepatitis, heart problems, and blood clots, and circulation), tea from the leaves/roots were used to help purify the body from impurities. Lastly, tissues of the plant can be boiled down to create a syrup to treat whooping cough.

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Ambrosia artemisiifolia – Common Ragweed

Ambrosia artemisiifolia or Common Ragweed plants, which are part of the Asteraceae family, are known as medicinal plants that are annual herbs that can grow up to 6 ft in height (Croom 1982). The plant’s leaves are bipinnately dissected and have an alternate leaf arrangement along the upper part of the stem. The species is known to be native to the eastern United States and can be found in fields, waste areas, and can also be found on roadsides (Croom 1982). Common Ragweed is used medicinally to treat specifically diabetes, but it is not known to be used medicinally for any other illness (Croom 1982). The preparation of Ragweed starts with the collection of the plant as their leaves, stems, and even their flowers are gathered for preparation. These plant parts are then cleaned by way of hand to check for insects and spiders and then followed by a drying process. The dried plant parts are then placed in water and boiled in a gentle manner. After the preparation process is complete, a couple swallows of the concoction should be taken each day. It is believed that this remedy originated from a book that was previously owned by a doctor that resided in Red Springs of North Carolina (Croom 1982).

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Aristolochia serpentaria – Sampson's Snakeroot

Aristolochia serpentaria is a perennial herb used for snakebites, prostate issues, suppressed menstruation, Bright’s disease, and kidney problems (Croom 1982). It can be used as a diuretic and other uses. In preparation, to treat illness, the roots and rhizome are used for teas. It stands around 4-18 inches with S-shaped flowers (Croom 1982). The flowers bloom during the spring and summer around deciduous forests, woodlands, and banks.

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Bidens frondosa – Beggar-ticks/Stick-tight

The Bidens frondosa, otherwise known as beggar ticks and stick tight, are annual herbs that bloom in late summer and fall (Croom 1982). This herb plant offers a couple uses for headaches and backaches (Croom 1982). To relieve headaches, the leaves and stems from the plant are put in a bowl or pot that’s filled with water. Next, it will be boiled on a hot surface at least thirty minutes. Then, get a cloth, soaked with decoction and administer it to the temples. For relief of backaches, use the same steps for the cloth and administer it to the lower part of your back at night before going to bed.

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Chenopodium ambrosioides – Jerusalem Oak

 Known as Mexican-Tea, or Jerusalem Oak, it's an annual herb that was naturalized from tropical America and can grow up to 4ft tall, along with its glandular resin dots, and possessing a very pungent odor (Croom, 1982). It's used in the treatment of intestinal worms in children, only needing 0.5 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of dried or fresh seeds (Croom, 1982). The oil of the Chenopodium can be used against roundworms and hookworms with the oil being collected by steam distillation from the fruiting or flowering plant. However, the oil can cause adverse reactions including headache, nausea, tinnitus, and liver and kidney damage. In some cases, Chenopodium oil can produce coma, jaundice, and convulsions.

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Cornus florida – Dogwood/Flowering Dogwood

Dogwood is a small tree with checkered bark and clusters of small flowers, which are surrounded by four “petals” (white bracts) (Croom 1982). The root and bark of the tree can be taken, formed into a ball between six and nine inches wide, and boiled for at least an hour (Croom 1982). One cup of the resulting tea taken with aspirin is a strong laxative. Caution is recommended when taking the tea, as too much can cause painful cramps. To assist in breaking a fever caused by malaria, some twigs from the plant can be bundled together and boiled in a pot with a pint of water. A tablespoon of twig-based tea is taken orally three times a day to break the fever.

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Eupatorium rotundifolium – Horehound/Wild Horehound/Boneset/Roundleaf Thoroughwort

To identify these plants look for the following: erect, hairy, solid stemmed perennials 1.4 feet tall; opposite, serrated, resin-dotted leaves; and small, white blooms in panicles (Croom 1982). The eastern US is home to these plants, which grow in the woods, along roads, and in savannahs from late summer to autumn (Croom 1982). You can use these plants to treat flu, common cold, and grippe (Croom 1982). To prepare, grab a bunch of the leaves and stems and boil them for 2 hours inside a quart of water. Then, strain the liquid and discard the stems and leaves. The tea may be consumed on its own or in combinations with other plants. According to reports, Eupatorium rotundifolium has a negligible impact on the treatment of experimental malaria.

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Euphorbia corollata – Snake Root/Flowering Spurge/Tramp's Spurge

Euphorbia corollata is a perennial herb that can be up to 3 ft in height, and it is described as having a milky juice and a deep rootstock (Croom 1982). The flowers on this plant are small with white petal-like or pink appendages. They can be found in the spring and fall in fields, woods and embankments. According to Croom (1982), it can be used to treat snake bites in dogs. To prepare it for its use, the roots are crushed in milk and the suspension is administered to a dog that has received a poisonous snake bite. E. corollata was known to be an official drug by the US Pharmacopeia in the 19th century, however it is more widely recognized by the Lumbee tribe for its poisonous properties (Croom 1982). It is known to cause laxative, purging and diaphoretic effects in addition to being a major skin irritant. Livestock poisoning has been linked to these plants and the latex produced by this plant has been listed as carcinogenic. It is recommended to use this plant only as a last resort.

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Liquidambar styraciflua – Sweet Gum

Sweet Gum is a large, leafy, deciduous tree that can be found in old fields, moist woods, and it ranges from Connecticut to Florida (Croom 1982). It has leaves that can reach up to 6 inches and they grow alternately, featuring a 5-lobed, palmate shape with a toothed-margin. Sweet Gum has been used medicinally for a substantial period of time, since about the 1700’s when it was praised by Whites (Croom 1982). It is used to treat diarrhea, loose teeth and pyorrhea. To treat pyorrhea, create or find a wound on the tree, then wait one day to gather the resin from said wound. Chewing a fresh twig will also alleviate symptoms if needed. Sweet Gum has also been a home remedy to treat diarrhea, and the bud and bark of the tree can be utilized to do this. The resin from Sweet Gum has been commercialized as Storax, which has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

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Liriodendron tulipifera – Tulip Poplar/Yellow Poplar/Tulip Tree

Tulip Poplars are large deciduous trees that bloom tulip-like flowers. These trees have light grey bark and light brown fruit. Tulip Poplar has an eastern native range from Vermont to Florida (Croom 1982).  This species has been used by Lumbee people to treat sores and fevers along with bladder and kidney problems (Croom 1982).   It has also been reported to help with skin pellagra. According to Croom (1982), Lumbee people would bind three fresh poplar leaves to a sore in order to stop the pain. For fevers and urinary tract problems, a tea made of poplar leaves and buds, along with willow or corn, is taken one tablespoon at a time: once a day for fevers and three times a day for kidney or bladder problems. Tulip poplar was also considered an official American drug in the 1800s. Extracts of tulip poplar showed signs of antimicrobial action against a microorganism known for causing boils and abscesses.

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Nyssa sylvatica – Black Gum

Nyssa sylvatica, commonly known as black gum, is a medicinal tree known within the Lumbee tribe for its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic properties (Croom 1982). Preparation for medicinal use involves tearing a branch of the plant approximately one-fourth of an inch thick from the tree. The now torn branch has two ends: a torn end composed of vascular bundles, and one end that is to be used as a handle. The end of the branch with vascular bundles is chewed to fray and flatten the bundles until they resemble the bristles of an ordinary toothbrush. This end is used to massage the gums and is usually left in the mouth for anywhere from a handful of minutes to 60 minutes. Persistent brushing can give a more effective cleaning and massage than store-bought toothbrushes can provide. The flattened end can also be spread around the gums to be used as dipping snuff.

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Pinus palustris – Longleaf Pine

An American botanical staple, longleaf pine once blanketed the state of North Carolina, as well as the majority of the southeastern United States. These evergreen trees, still found in fragments from Florida to Virginia, have bundles of needles, bear cones, and produce resin (Croom, 1982). Longleaf pines are especially large compared to other pine species, as are the needles that earned their name: with up to 16 inch length in bundles of 3. Its needles may be boiled for tea or chewed for heartburn, its turpentine oil is ingested (sparingly) as a diuretic, carminative, and expectorant, and its rosin may assist with kidney issues (Croom 1982). More generally, longleaf pine is employed as a medical ingredient alongside other plants (Rabbit Tobacco, Wild Horehound, etc.), treating fevers, colds, arthritis, and pneumonia. Although easily poisonous if administered improperly, this species is listed as an official drug in 12 countries.

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Sassafras albidum – Red Sassafras

This small, aromatic tree (or shrub) that is commonly used for chicken pox, measles, colds/flu, and is a great blood purifier has the unique sassy name is of Sassafras albidum (Croom 1982). Sassafras albidum is native to North Carolina and other parts of the eastern US (Croom 1982). These plants offer many medicinal remedies that have been used by Lumbee natives (Croom 1982). The different colored bark on different plants correlate with the plant’s roots to show that red bark has red roots (known as Red Sassafras), and white bark has white roots (known as White Sassafras). Red Sassafras, which is generally used, is harvested whenever needed throughout the year to help both adults and children with colds, and measles (Croom 1982). As aromatic as this plant is, the flavor is just as enjoyable by many people who boil its roots and mix the water with tea to drink. Many people would drink this tea at night and wake up feeling better with no fever.  For blood purifying, Sassafras albidum is used to help stop diarrhea, ulcers, acne and low/high blood pressure by consecutively drinking glassfuls of tea each night.

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References

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Croom, E.M., Jr. 1982. Medicinal Plants of the Lumbee Indians. file:///C:/Users/cge001/Downloads/ed_croom_medicinal_plants_thesis_lumbee.pdf  Ph.D. Thesis. (copyright 1983). North Carolina State University.
 

McLean, K. 2017. Characterizing the Antibacterial Properties of Chimaphila maculata. https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncp/f/Characterizing%20the%20Antibacterial%20Properties%20of%20Chimaphila%20maculata.pdf

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Southeast Regional Network of Expertise and Collections (SERNEC). Cc. 2021. Lumbee Medicinal Plants List with Linked Vouchers Available at UNCP. https://sernecportal.org/portal/checklists/checklist.php?clid=5835&pid=0