Senior project

1. Gabe McMahan
Tillery
6
Medicinal Herbs of the Cherokee Nation
Herbal medication played a key role in the Cherokee Indian Society. It has been said by
many Cherokee Indians that “for every ailment on earth mother earth has a cure.” (Takatoka)
By using the herbs usefully the Indians truly believed this possible and in many ways came up
with remedies for most of their problems. Key factors in the study of their herbal medications
and how they were successful are; how it was used, the qualities for which the herb was
chosen, and what the herbs were known to treat.
To truly understand the Cherokee Indians use and skill with medicinal herbs knowing
the origin of the practice is fairly important. The Cherokee Indians believe that at one time
animals and people lived together peacefully but eventually mankind began to multiply to
greater numbers. With this greater population mankind began to kill the animals not just for
food but for weapons, and furs all to be sold. The animals did not like this so they had a council.
At this council the bears, deer, fish, and reptiles decided many things to combat the humans.
The deer decided to inflict a disease on any human who killed an animal without proper need
or approval. The fish and the reptiles decided to inflict hideous dreams of snakes entwining the
humans, (in other words anxiety). The bears then eventually decided to inflict pain upon any
human who killed an animal unjustly. When the friendly plants of the earth heard of the
animals plan they decided to help the humans. To do this every tree, shrub, herb, grass, and
moss agreed to cure one of the diseases appointed by the animals. (Mooney) This story gave
the basis for the belief in herbal medication and application to the Cherokee nation.

2. Gabe McMahan
Tillery
6
But who were the “herbal doctors” of the Cherokee nation? These “doctors” were called
medicine men and their job in the Cherokee society was to cure illness in their tribe. Medicine
men could be male or female and they were classified as good and evil. To become a medicine
man you had to have a lot of education. The first thing to be learned was herbal medication.
This included knowing between 400 and 600 plants and all of their uses. Cherokee physical
medicine was also needed to be a medicine man. This included; massages, minor surgery, and
midwifery. Another important ability of a medicine man to be learned was dream work, the
interpretation of dreams. Also very important in the “transcripts” of a medicine man were the
myths, laws, and language of the Cherokee people. This was a constant learning experience as
medicine men always wanted to learn about these. Ceremonies are another important aspect
of being a medicine man. There are seven main ceremonies medicine men put on, six of which
were for changes in the weather cycle such as the falling leaves festival. Important to Cherokee
medicine men for more of a religious explanation for illnesses and problems were knowledge of
the laws of nature. The most hard and last increment to learn about being a medicine man was
mastering the ability to conjure. This meant using spirits as aids to change things. Conjuring
included; healing, “brainwashing”, and protecting the sick or cursed. (Mazaska web design)
Knowledge of all these priorities were very important to a medicine man but the application of
the herbs and how they were used to treat the ill was a necessary skill involved with herbal
medication in the Cherokee nation.
There were five main ways of applying the medicinal herbs. The first way was called
decoction. Decoction is where herbs are boiled for a long amount of time in large amounts of
water and strained of all the plant matter. The liquid is the only thing used. The next in the list

3. Gabe McMahan
Tillery
6
of five is infusion where the plant matter is boiled for a short amount of time and strained of
the left over plant inside. Another way of using herbs is to macerate it. This is when the plant is
beat and chopped then soaked in cold water to bring out more of the effect. Unlike the first
two methods the plant is not stained it is applied directly to the skin. A poultice was the most
complicated way of applying herbal medicine for the Cherokee Indians. In making poultices the
herb is either boiled or macerated and then wrapped in a cloth and applied to the area. These
were mainly used for skin abrasions, swelling, and bruising. (Mountain Garden Club) The last
but not least way Cherokee’s used herbal medication was by smoking. Cherokee Indians
normally smoked tobacco for spiritual offerings, healing, and ceremonies. (Cimino) The
Cherokees primary reason for smoking tobacco was for head problems such as headaches and a
troubled mind. The relaxation of tobacco worked wonders on the Indians. (Anderson)
One of the most important uses of the Cherokees herbal medications was for lung
diseases such as lung cancer and asthma. The first plant they use for lung problems was skunk
cabbage. It was effective with the relief of the pains of asthma and helped prevent an asthma
attack. They also used mullein which was introduced to them by the European people. They
smoked it to relieve respiratory complaints and asthma alike. (Millspaugh)
Another problem the Cherokee Indians solved with herbal medication was aches. For
headaches tobacco was smoked and pennyroyal had tea made from it. The Cherokees would
drink pennyroyal tea and it was said within 30 minutes the pain had subsided. Back Aches were
a whole different story. Arnica had tea made from it and was drank to relieve back aches but
has been ruled poisonous by the Dispensary of the U.S. Gentian was used in a different way

4. Gabe McMahan
Tillery
6
than the rest. It was put in hot water to sit for long periods of time. While being kept hot when
done the water was poured onto the aching back, and is said to remove all tension and
soreness in the back. If neither of the first two worked horsemint was crushes and allowed to
sit in cold water for a variable amount of time. After it was judged “done”, it was drunk to
combat the back aches. (Millspaugh)
Fevers, the flu, colds, and bronchitis, were huge diseases back in the times when the
Cherokee Indians thrived. To combat this Cherokees used a tea of creosote bush to push away
bronchitis. Pleurisy root was also made into a tea to help ward off bronchitis for its success in
the expulsion of phlegm. Wormwood was also known for curing bronchitis just not as well
known as the other two. Boneset tea was the Cherokees own “home remedies” for curing the
common cold and is the only widespread cure for the common cold known to man. For coughs
wild cherry and white pine were used in the form of tea stop the dry throat usually applied with
a cough. The Cherokees also used infusion with aspen to create a cure for coughing. Sarsaparilla
roots were used with sweet flag roots under hot water to form a dark liquid. This liquid is drunk
and is said to be the greatest cure for a cough of any degree in the olden days. Fevers were one
of the most dangerous situations Cherokee Indians faced when it came to illness. They used the
inner bark of a dogwood tree to make a tea that was rumored to bring the end of a fever. The
inner bark of a Willow tree was formed into a strong tea to create heavy perspiration in the
case of chills and fever. Feverwort was drunk in a different form than tea. It was a decoction of
the leafy, perennial herb that was used to stop fevers. The only cure the Cherokees had for the
flu was a tea made of the native hemlock rumored to battle influenza. (Millspaugh)

5. Gabe McMahan
Tillery
6
Medicines for insect bites and stings, as well as repellants for bugs were widespread
over the Cherokee nation. Tobacco was a favorite for insect bites; it was wetted and put
directly onto the bite or sting to get rid of it. Purple coneflower was used as the greatest
treatment for bites and stings of every bug. It was applied directly to the affected area in a
poultice. Trumpet honeysuckle was chewed up to be applied to any sting or bite for a bug
including spiders. There were many other remedies for bites and stings but the majority of
them involved chewing the plant to take the “fire” out of the bite or sting. Goldenseal was
covered in bear fat and wiped all over the Indians body; it was a well known insect repellent,
tonic, and stimulant. (Millspaugh)
Childbirth was a huge deal in the Cherokee nation because it brought a new member of
the tribe and it was a huge deal in the village marked by many ceremonies and rituals. Alder
was used for childbirth pains and menstrual bleeding. Bittersweet bark tree was used to ease
the pains of childbirth as well. It was a strong tea that was very potent. Buckeye tea was drunk
to help facilitate for child birth. It helped bring down the swelling and pain levels associated
with pregnancy. (Bergeron)
The Cherokee Indians had a rich culture associated with their beliefs and skills at living
off the land, but like it is for every population of humans they had an enemy throughout their
whole history’ illness. To help them fight off illnesses of all sorts the medicine men and women
of the Cherokee nation used plants and herbs to help their peers subjected to sickness. Andrew
Chevallier said, “it is good to know the ancient ways and the gifts that are freely given upon

6. Gabe McMahan
Tillery
6
mother earth. Keeping this information alive is vital for human survival. It honors our ancestors
and gives our children practical knowledge to help them along life’s pathways.”

7. Gabe McMahan
Tillery
6
Works Cited
Anderson, Kat. “Indian Tobacco.” Plant Guide. US Department of Agriculture, 21 May 2003. Web. 17
Nov. 2011. <http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_loin.pdf>. about indian tobacco
Bergeron, Karen. “Cherokee Herbology.” Alternative Nature Online. N.p., Fall 2004. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.altnature.com/library/cherokee.htm>. childbirth site
Cherokee Nation. “Cherokee Medicinal Herbs.” Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation, n.d. Web. 17
Nov. 2011. <http://www.cherokee.org/AboutTheNation/Culture/General/24407/
Information.aspx>. good site for the history of all the Cherokee’s herbal medications
Cherokee North Carolina. “Medicinal Herbs.” Cherokee Outdoors. Cherokee N.C., n.d. Web. 17 Nov.
2011. <http://www.cherokee-nc.com/index.php?page=45>. good site on the history of
medicinal herbs
Chevallier, Andrew. Herbal Remedies. New York: Metro Books, 2010. Print. great visual reference guide
for the application of herbal medication
Cimino, Elaine, Ann Marie Sayers, and Richards Roods. “The Sacred Use of Tobacco.” The Sacred Use of
Tobacco. Costanoan Ohlone Indian Canyon Resource, 31 Aug. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
<http://academic.udayton.edu/health/syllabi/tobacco/native04.htm>. smoking
Manataka American Indian Council, Takatoka, and James Mooney. “India Medicine.” Indian Herbal
Medicine. Manatak American Indian Council, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.manataka.org/page169.html#The Origin of Medicine>. history of herbs, uses,
remedies, poisons, and plant lore

8. Gabe McMahan
Tillery
6
Mazaska Web Design. “Cherokee Medicine, Medicine Men, and Medicine Ways.” AAANativeArts.com.
Mazaska Web Design, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.aaanativearts.com/cherokee/
cherokee-medicine.htm>. good site for learning about requirements to be a medicine man.
Millspaugh, Charles F. “Native Herbal Remedies.” Cherokee Messenger. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
<http://www.powersource.com/cherokee/herbal.html>. useful for learning about what the
plants cured
Mountain Garden Club Of Highlands N.C. “Indian Facts.” wcu.edu. Highlands Biological Station, n.d. Web.
16 Nov. 2011. <http://www.wcu.edu/hbs/CherokeeGarden.pdf>. ways to apply herbal
medication