Have you ever wondered about Oneida history and culture? Well, here is your chance to learn more, and have your question answered by one of our Members.

Kathy Kuhl (Wolf Clan), whose Oneida name Ya W’un tes means “she works hard”, serves as the Central New York Indian Outreach Coordinator for the Oneida Indian Nation.

In this Sharing Oneida History installment, Kathy and Sheri Beglen (Wolf Clan) answer a question about medicine.

Question:

What kinds of medicine(s) did the Oneidas use? Cameron, Aiken, S.C. Student, Schofield Middle School, Aiken, S.C.

Answer:

Hi Cameron and thanks for your question.

The Oneidas relied on the forests and trees for providing food and shelter, and also for providing medicines. Several plants were used either by themselves, or mixed with others, to help treat symptoms and ailments, and assist in healing cuts and bruises.

To learn more about how the medicines came to the People of the Longhouse, visit: How Medicines Came to the Haudenosaunee

Today some Oneidas still rely on traditional remedies.

Sheri Beglen (Wolf Clan) has long practiced the art of transforming herbs into teas, salves and tinctures. She recently talked about herbs and traditional medicines as she harvested plantain from her yard. Although plantain is not native to the area (plantain is referred to as “Englishman’s Foot” or “White Man’s Foot” because the plant seems to have followed the colonists migration), it has long been used by the Haudenosaunee as a remedy for a number of ailments.

“There’s also many other kinds of medicine that our people do use that are very sacred,” Sheri explained. “We don’t share those with others. They are ceremonial-type medicines.”

Some common herbs and some of their uses include:

Herb: ⇔ Use:

Golden Thread ⇔ Jaundice

Snake Root ⇔ Multiple uses

Witch Hazel ⇔ Astringent/colds in wintertime

Sweet Flag ⇔ Digestion/motion sickness

Nettles ⇔ Menstrual cycle

Celery Seed ⇔ Anti inflammatory

Slippery Elm ⇔ Labor/delivery

Raspberry leaf ⇔ Post-delivery

Motherwort ⇔ Balance hormones (w), lower blood pressure (m/w)

Although Sheri does make tinctures, she said that is not a traditional way to prepare medicine. “Most of the time our people feel more comfortable with teas than with tinctures because of how tinctures are prepared,” she said. Teas can be steeped and taken hot or cold while tinctures are prepared with alcohol which draws active ingredients out of the plant and acts as a preservative.