Before
there were drug stores and artificial medicines for nearly every
kind of illness or disease, people had to rely on plants with
special medical properties. By learning what these herbs and
plant extracts had to offer, people were often able to cure
or treat minor ailments.
As far back as 400B.C., people had learned that chewing on a
piece of willow bark could get rid of
a headache or lessen the pain of a toothache. Today we know
that willow bark contains salicin, which is used to
make aspirin.
Many other plants that grow naturally in the Upper Great Lakes
area have also been used by Native Americans and European settlers.
Chamomile, a feathery, yellow-flowering herb has been used to
soothe stomach aches and to help people relax and sleep better.
Wild mint has also been used for upset stomachs and for improving
bad breath.
There are many, many more plants
used for medical purposes. To find out more, check out some
of the following links:
Before
there were drug stores and artificial medicines for nearly every
kind of illness or disease, people had to rely on plants with
special medical properties. By learning what these herbs and
plant extracts had to offer, people were often able to cure
or treat minor ailments.
a headache or lessen the pain of a toothache. Today we know
that willow bark contains salicin, which is used to
make aspirin.