Collins-Bella Coola Materia Medica

8/6/2019 Collins-Bella Coola Materia Medica

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MATERIA MEDICA OF THE BELLA COOLA AND NEIGHBOURING TRIBES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA - P a g e 1The Southwest School of Botanical Medicine http://www.swsbm.com

Reproduced with permission of Canadian Museum of Civilization, http://www.civilization.ca
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MATER IA MED ICA OF THE BELL A COOLA ANDNEIGHBOURING TRIBES OF BR ITISH

COLUMBIA

By Harlan I. Sm ith

INTRODUCTION

This paper describes the materia medica of four tribes of BritishColumbia, the Bella Coola of Bella Coola valley, the Gitksan of Skeenariver, the Carrier who live in the territory behind both of these tribes,an d t he Sikan i of the h eadwa ter s of Pea ce r iver. Among th e Bella Coolathe medicines are largely family possessions known to a few individuals

only, so that two families may have different remedies for the samespecific complaint; but this is not the case among the other tribes.Everywhere magical practices enter largely into the treatment ofdisease, but are not touched upon in this report. It was impossible forthe Indians to diagnose many of their maladies, so that theident ificat ions given h ere ar e in m an y cases problema tical.

Most of the inform at ion relat ing to th e Bella Coola was given th e writerin 1920-22, by J osh ua Moody, appar ent ly a full-blood Bella CoolaIndian, born about 1868. As he did not speak English he gave the data

in Chinook jargon, which has been interpreted and arranged in logicalorder. Joshua is an Indian scientist with great knowledge of the localplants and animals. He remembers when Mr. John Clayton was theonly white man living in Bella Coola valley, and when the inhabitantssaw only one other white man every year or two. Consequently he canrecall the old Bella Coola material culture before it was much affectedby Eu ropean ideas.

Some of the in form at ion relat ing to th e Bella Coola wa s given th e writerin 1922-23 by the late Captain Schooner, also, apparently, a full-blood,

born about 1848, who used the Chinook jargon. Alee Davis, AlexanderCleleman, Louie Hall, and other Bella Coola Indians likewise gaveinform at ion a nd corr obora tion.

Most of the information relating to the Southern Carrier Indians ofUlkat cho was secured du ring 1920-1922 from Cha rlie West, alias P ret ty

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Charlie or Handsome Charlie, a native of that place, born about 1874.Charlie used the peculiar form of broken or pidgeon English commonlyemployed for communication between the whites and the Carrier andChilcotin Indian s of th is region.

The information about the Sikani and the Northern Carriers ofHa gwelget is from st ra y field notes kin dly supplied by Mr. D. Jenn ess.

The information relating to the Gitksan was secured in 1925-26 fromthe late John Fowler and Abraham Fowler of Kitwanga, Luke Fowlerand Bob Robinson of Hazelton, with additions and corroboration from afew others, all old Gitksan Indians, apparently full-blood. Theinformation was secured mainly in English, although Abraham Fowlerused also th e Chinook jargon.

The method the writer employed was to submit specimens of the plantsto his informants and question them concerning all their uses. Of theinformation thus obtained only the medicinal portion has beenpresented here. The plants were later identified by Mr. M. 0. Malte, ofthe Na tional Museum, Ottawa.



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P OLYP ODIACEAE, F ER N F AMILY

P o ly p o d iu m v u lg a r e L., POLYPODY, PARASITIC SWORD FE RN

Bella Coola: Rootssometimes mixed with leaves of the red cedar(Thuja plicata Donn ) or with oth er m edicinal r oots which th e inform an thad forgottenboiled, and the warm decoction taken internally forpains in the stomach, but not for vomiting or diarrhoea. Neither anemetic nor a pur gative.

Roots chewed for swollen sore th roat.

S outh ern Carrier: Not used.

As p l e n i u m c y c lo s o r u m Rupr., LADY FERN

Bella Coola: Little roots cleaned off, from five to ten centres, mixed attimes with roots or branches of the currant ( Ribes laxiflorum Pursh.var.), boiled strongly, but for a short time only, and the decoction usedas a wash for sore eyes.


As p i d i u m s p i n u lo s u m Sw., SHIELD FE RN

Bella Coola: Root eat en r aw t o neut ra lize poisoning from ea ting severa lkinds of shell-fish in t he ea rly part of th e sum mer.

F e r n , s p e c ie s u n c e r t a i n

Northern Carrier: Root boiled and the decoction taken internally forworms.

Gitksan : The large, round, green root-stock, but not the rootlets,

mashed with bark of balsam fir ( Abies grandis Lindl.) and devil's club(Oplopanax horridum ), a little gum of scrub pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) or tideland spruce (Picea sitchensis Carr), and root of skunkcabbage ( Lysichiton kamtschatcense Schott), warmed a little, andapplied to a boil or ulcer, which it brought to a head. Also used forrh euma tism, and a s a plaster on the chest for h emorr ha ge of th e lun gs.



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LYCOP ODIACEAE, CLUB MOSS F AMILY

L y co p o d i u m c l a v a t u m L., COMMON CLUB Moss

Southern Carrier: Inserted in the nose to cause bleeding and cureheadache.

TAXACE AE, YE W FAMIL Y

Tax u s b r ev i fo li a Nu tt ., YEW

Bella Coola: Branches with leaves boiled, and the decoction takeninter na lly for t he lun gs. Neither a pu rgat ive nor a n emet ic.

CONIFE RAE, P INE F AMILY

J u n i p e r u s co m m u n i s L., J UNIPE R

Bella Coola: Roots, leaves, branches, and bark boiled, and the decoctiontaken internally as often as desired for many ailments, including acough from t he lun gs, an d pain in t he st oma ch. Neither a pu rgat ive noran emetic.

Southern Carrier: Branches boiled, and the vapour inhaled for

heada che an d pain in the chest.

N orth ern Carrier: Tips boiled, and the decoction taken internally as apurga tive, also for a cough .

J u n i p e r u s s p .

Gitksan : Ent ire plan t, including r oots an d berr ies, boiled for a day, an dthe decoction, when cool, taken internally for many ailments, includinghem orr ha ge an d kidney trouble. A pur gative and diur etic.

T h u ja p l ic a t a Donn , RED CE DAR

Bella Coola: Very soft bark used to bind up wounds, and to coverpoultices of false bugbane (Trautvetteria grandis Nutt.) and of tallbutt ercup (R anu nculus acris L.).



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Leaves, sometimes with the gum-coated cones, boiled, and the hotdecoction taken internally for pain in the stomach. Neither an emeticnor a purgat ive.

Leaves powdered by poun ding, mixed with a litt le cold wat er a ndta ken inter na lly for pa in in t he st oma ch, also extern ally for coughs an dinterna l pains, as h eart tr ouble, rheam at ism, swollen n eck, and pain inth e stoma ch. See a lso Polypody.

Gitksan : Not used.

C h a m a e c y p a r i s n o o t k a t e n s i s (Lamb) Spach, YELLOW CYPRESS,YELLOW CEDAR

Bella Coola: A little soft bark used to cover poultices of false bugbane(Trautvetieria grandis Nutt.) and of tall buttercup ( Ranunculus acrisL.).

P in u s c on t o r t a Dougl., SCRUB PIN E, J ACK PINE

Bella Coola : Gum applied to cut s.

Gum chewed an d applied to broken skin.

Gum at the ends of branches, collected in November, December,and January, boiled and the decoction taken internally for"consumption."

Gumlike that of tideland spruce and western hemlockmixedwith the baked stems and leaves, or the dried and pulverized bulb, offalse h ellebore, an d a pplied a s a poultice (somet imes spr ead on red cedarbark) to the chest for heart trouble, and to the arms for rheumatism.Burned the skin within two or three days, but was sometimes left on aslong a s t wo weeks.

S outh ern Carrier: New shoots boiled, an d t he decoction ta ken inter na llyfor p ain in t he s tomach. Resembled th e decoction ma de from t he ba rk ofthe aspen, or from the new shoots and bark of the tideland spruce, butthe last-mentioned considered most efficacious.



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Northern Carrier: Needle tips mixed with large needle tips of the"British Columbia pine" (Pinus sp.?), the inside bark of the wildgooseberry (Ribes sp.?), bark of the red-osier dogwood (Cornusstoloniflera Michx.), the inside pulp of raspberry canes (Rubus sp.),stems of the bearberry (?black twin-berry, Lonicera involucrata

Banks?), and the inner bark of the wild rose (Rosa sp.), placed in avessel holding four gallons of water, boiled down to a thick decoction,strained, and bottled. About two tablespoonfuls taken, at sunrise andsunset, for constitutional weakness or paralysis, or if the body werecovered with sores.

Gum obtained by heating a green piece of pine (sp.?) painted onth e eye to remove white scum an d t o cur e sn ow-blindn ess.

Sikani : Pit ch chewed and t he sa liva swallowed for a cough .

Gitksan : Inn er bar k (scra ped from th e tr un k with a bone scraper a fterthe outer bark had been removed) eaten both for food and as a bloodpur ifier. Pur ged the body in from h alf an hour t o an hour .

Shavings of the yellow resinous timber found after removal of thebark boiled, the decoction placed in oil, and taken internally as apur gative an d diur etic for m an y serious ailment s, including gonorrh oea.Said to produce beneficial results in consumption.

Young needles plucked in June and eaten as a purgative anddiuretic.

Ab i es g r an d i s Lindl., WHITE FIR, BALSAM F IR

Bella Coola: Bark of root or of stem boiled, and the decoction takeninter na lly every day for t uberculosis an d st oma ch t rouble. Said to havecur ed ma ny cases of tu berculosis.

Gum from bar k blisters foun d on youn g trees wa rm ed, mixed with

mountain goat tallow, and taken internally for sore throat; also drawnon a ha ir across sore eyes.

Young, green leaves baked, mixed with fruit of skunk cabbage( Lysichiton kamtschatcense Schott.) gathered in October, or the budsgathered in April, split, dried on top of the house, roasted, mixed with a



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small quantity of slightly roasted roots of the cow parsnip (Heracleumlanatum Michx.), one or two cupfuls of the gummy buds of the blackcottonwood (Popu lus trichocarpa T. and G.), and four or five cupfuls offresh eulachon oil, allowed to stand one day, then boiled and kept in abox for a hair perfume. Kitimat Indians said to be more expert in its

preparation.

S outh ern Carrier: Tree u sed for m edicine, but deta ils not obta ined.

Chilcotin : Not used.

Abies sp.

Northern Carrier: Bark boiled in water and the decoction takeninterna lly as a purgat ive.

Gum used a s a n ointment on woun ds, and especially on burn s.

Sikani : Gum applied to woun ds.

Gitksan : Juicy inner bark, scraped from the trunk of the tree, afterremoval of th e out er ba rk, t ak en int ern ally for const ipation.

Gum from the bark blisters taken internally as a purgative anddiuretic for "consumption," gonorrhoea, and many other serious

ailments. Applied externally to cuts and sores, especially the sores ofgonorrhoea.

The young cones, obtainable in August, sliced across, mashed, andused for t he same pur poses as th e gum from th e bark blisters .

P s e u d o t s u g a t a x i fo li a Britt ., DOUGLAS F IR

Bella Coola : Gum boiled an d ta ken int ern ally, while war m, as a diur eticfor gonorr hoea.

Gum, spread on red cedar bark, applied to cuts. (One informantsaid that although gum of scrub pine, hemlock, and tideland sprucewere good, Douglas fir gum ma de cuts worse.)

Gum mixed with dogfish (shark) oil or, if that were not available,



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eulachon oil, taken, two spoonfuls at a time, with warm water, as anemetic and purgative for colds, rheumatism, gonorrhoea, constipation,intestinal pains, and diar rhoea.


Gitksan : Not used.

T s u g a h e t e r o p h y lla (Raf.) Sarg., WESTERN H EMLOCK, ANDT s u g a M e r t e n s i a n a Carr , MOUNTAIN H EMLOCK

Bella Coola : Leaves chewed an d applied to bur ns.

See also scru b pine .

Gum warmed and applied to cuts. Not boiled for a diuretic forgonorrhoea.

Burning twigs applied to the skin for various internal ailments.Sout hern Carr ier: Not u sed. Gitksa n: Not u sed.

P i ce a s i t ch e n s i s Car r., TIDELAND SPRUCE

Bella Coola: Tips of small, but not of large, spruces mixed with bluecurrant ( Ribes brocteosum DougL), young juneberry (Amelanchier

florida Lindl.), and crushed branches (leaves and stems) of gardensnowberry (Symphoricarpus racemosa Michx.), boiled and takeninternally for gonorrhoea.

Sap from the peeled trunk taken in doses of from half a cup to acupful as a laxat ive from May t o August .

Ripe cones boiled, and the decoction taken internally for a pain.Neither an emetic nor a laxative. A bed consisting of a sack of ripecones, placed on top of hot stones, used by rheumatics. Cones also

burn ed to fum igat e rheum at ics.

A piece of the bark 5 feet long by 2 feet wide used as a mat in ahot ba th for r heum at ism. Many stones were hea ted, a litt le sand str ewnover them, the bark spread above with the inside uppermost, and thepatient, naked, lay on the bark, covering himself with one or more



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blanket s. A similar bed, but with t he ba rk covered with a few leaves ofdevil's club (Oplopanax horridum .), used for chronic backache.

Gum applied to small cuts, broken skin, and suppurating sores.Branches used to whip a burned arm or leg until the blood came. Gum

boiled an d t ak en int ern ally while hot as a diuret ic for gonorrh oea.

See also scru b pine.

For use with fern..

The buds or new shoots, with the gum sometimes found aroundth e out side when th ey are a bout ha lf an inch long, boiled in wat er, an dth e decoction ta ken intern ally for t uberculosis.

Southern Carrier: New shoots and bark of small branches boiled forabout t wo hours , an d t he decoction ta ken inter na lly, one or t wo cupfulsat a time, for pain in the stomach, but not for vomiting, diarrhoea, orconstipation. Said to effect a cure in one day, and preferred to thedecoction m ade of scrub p ine or a spen .

Gum from n ew shoots a nd sm all bra nches, scra ped out with a litt lest ick, placed in th e eyes for snow-blindness .

Sikani : Inside ba rk scra ped an d chewed for a cough .

Needles chewed, and th e sa liva a pplied to externa l sores.

Gum, obtained by splitting the tops, applied with a stick to whitespots on t he eye.

The "flower" boiled and the decoction taken internally for pain inth e chest.

Gitksan : Gum extracted from the wood by boiling in water, added to

eulachon oil, salmon oil, bear grease, ground-hog fat, lard, etc., andta ken in ter na lly before meals for consum pt ion.

Twigs bearing both leaves and bark boiled with entire roots ofsoapolallie {Shepherdia canadensis Nutt.); one cupful of the strongdecoction t ak en inter na lly thr ee times a day for r heu ma tism.



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AR ACE AE , ARUM F AMILY

L y s i c h i t o n k a m t s c h a t c e n s e Schott., SKUNK CABBAGE, YELLOWARUM

Bella Coola : Roots used with oil as a ha ir t onic.

Roots boiled, and the sweet decoction taken internally for stomachtrouble.

See also white fir.

Gitksan : Root well mashed with water and applied externally for bloodpoison a nd boils. Said to bring boils to a h ead. For u se with a fern

Smoke from the burning roots inhaled for bad dreams, influenza,and rheumatism (a remedy avoided by medicine men, lest it destroyth eir magical power). Roots th emselves cons idered poisonous .

Leaves used to sit or lie on when taking a sweat bath forrh euma tism; also spread over th e afflicted pa rt s.

C a l la p a l u s t r i s L., WATER ARUM

Gitksan : Roots well boiled and the decoction taken internally forcleaning the eyes of the blind, for hemorrhage, for short breath, andinfluenza.

LILIACEAE, LILY FAMILY

C li n t o n i a u n i fl or a Kunth ., QUEE NS CUP

Bella Coola: Boiled and used to wash the body. One leaf toasted andapplied as a poult ice to eyes or wounds.


Gitksan : Not used.



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S m i la c i n a r a c e m o s a L., FALSE SOLOMON'S SE AL

Bella Coola : Not used.


Gitksan : Roots boiled and decoction taken internally as a very strongmedicine for rheumatism, sore back, and kidney trouble. A purgative.Bar k and leaves useless. Roots m ash ed an d boun d on cuts.

Ve r a t r u m v ir i d e Ait., FALSE HELLEBORE

Bella Coola: Small bulbs or scrapings of large bulbs, boiled, and onecupful or less of the decoction, according to the strength of the patient,ta ken inter na lly for chr onic cough , gonorrh oea, const ipat ion, pa in in t he

stomach, and many illnesses. Two or three cupfuls acted as an emetic.Sa id to be poisonous if eat en r aw.

Small pieces of the raw root swallowed with a little cold water as anemetic for pains in th e stoma ch. More water t ak en if all th e pieces notvomit ed. Overdose cons idered fat al.

See also scru b pine.

Southern Carrier: Entire roots dried in the sun, and powdered by

ru bbing on a stone. About a dessert spoonful of th e powder t ak en in hotwat er as an emet ic for sickn ess. Too strong a decoction considered fata l.1

SALICACE AE , WILL OW F AMILY

S a l ix la s i a n d r a Benth., WILLOW

Bella Coola: Six sticks about a foot long charred, and pulverized on astone. A teaspoonful of the powder taken in a cupful of cold water fordiarr hoea. Sa id to effect a cur e in t wo or th ree h our s.

A piece of th e inn er ba rk folded once an d the folded edge inser ted int o aknife cut; other edges then separated and flattened down, and thewound covered with eagle down. Thought to make the pus come out.Sam e process used to heal incisions in t he a bdomen ma de by those who

1 The late Dr. C. F. Newcombe informed the writer that this plant seems to be used by every tribe

in whose terr itory it grows.MATERIA MEDICA OF THE BELLA COOLA AND NEIGHBOURING TRIBES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA - P a g e 12

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tr ied to cur e pain in th e stomach.


Gitksan : Not used.

S a l ix S c o u l e r i a n a Hook., WILLOW

Bella Coola: Folded inner bark used like that ofSalix lasiandra Benth.for cut s; but cha rcoal from t he st ick n ot u sed for dia rr hoea.


Gitksan : Not used.

Sal ix sp., WILLOW

Sikani : Youn g willow chewed a nd t he sa liva a pplied to exter na l sores .

White powdery tops chewed for a cough .

P o p u lu s t r e m u l oi d e s Michx., ASPEN, TREMBLING POPLAR

Bella Coola: A quantity of bark from the roots boiled, and the decoctiontaken internally from seven to ten times a day for gonorrhoea with

hem orr ha ge from t he ur eth ra . A very bitt er decoction, sa id to be a goodremedy that stopped the hemorrha ge.

S outh ern Carrier: Bark used instead of tideland spruce bark to make adecoction for pain in the s tomach. Cons idered inferior t o th e spruce bark.

Sikani : Bark pulverized by pounding, moistened with water, andapplied as a past e to woun ds.

Bark scraped, scrapings steeped in hot water, and the decoction

ta ken in ter na lly for worm s. Caused a stool imm ediately.

Gitksan : Bar k of roots chewed or m ash ed an d put on cuts .

Bark alone boiled, and the decoction taken internally as apur gat ive. Not an em etic.



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P o p u lu s t r ic h o ca r p a T. an d G., BLACK COTTONWOOD

Bella Coola: Leaves, t en to fifteen year s old, from t he lower layers lyingrotting on the ground, boiled, and the decoction used as a bath, the

patient sitting in it up to his neck for about two hours to cure pain inth e body, not rh eum at ism. A hot stone added from t ime to time, an d th ebath r epeated the next day.

The buds with their resin boiled and the decoction used as a hairwash . See also white fir.

Half a cupful of buds, picked some time between December andMarch, mixed with two roots of cow parsnip ( Heracleum lanatumMichx.), a half cupful of buds of mountain alder ( Alnus tenuifolia

Nutt.), and a little water, mashed, and applied warm, but uncooked, asa poultice for p ains in t he lun gs or h ips like r heu ma tism. Sa id to effect acur e in two days, but h ar mful if left on longer . See also wester n dock.

S outh ern Carrier: Buds with t heir resin boiled for one or t wo hours, a ndth e decoction ta ken in ter na lly for coughs and lung a ffections.

Resin from t he bu ds a pplied to th e face as a cosmet ic, or, with th eaddit ion of oil, to repel mosqu itoes, black flies, an d gadflies.

Roots a nd bar k not used; buds n ot boiled to ma ke a h air wash.

N orth ern Carrier: Green roots chewed to a pulp and applied to woundsto stop bleeding.

Inside bar k boiled and th e decoction u sed a s a n eye-wash .

Gitksan : Gum my buds boiled and t he r esin mixed with bear grease for aha ir perfum e.

Roots , leaves, an d seeds not u sed.



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MYRICACAE

M yr i c a G a l e L., SWEET GALE

Bella Coola: Branches, secured at any time of the year, pounded with

th eir bar k, boiled, an d t he d ecoction ta ken inter na lly for gonorrh oea. Adiur etic. The decoction, which was kept in a box ma de of red ceda r woodwith a litt le cover to keep out th e dust , sour ed in two or t hr ee days an dbecam e u seless.


BE TULACEAE, BIR CH F AMILY

Aln u s s i t c h e n s i s (Reg.) Sar g., GREE N ALDER

Bella Coola : Cones used a s a rem edy for some un specified compla int .

Ai n u s t en u i fo l ia Nutt ., MOUNTAIN ALDER

Bella Coola : Cones used a s a rem edy for some un specified compla int .

See a lso black cott onwood.


Gitksan : Pistillate catkins crushed, and the mass eaten raw as alaxative.

Pistillate catkins and shavings eaten raw, or else boiled in waterand the decoction taken internally three times a day, as a diuretic forgonorr hoea. Sa id to effect a cur e in one week. 2

Aln u s r u b r a Bong., RED ALDER

Bella Coola: Bark boiled, and a cupful of the decoction taken internallyas a purgat ive.

Southern Carrier: Sap applied to cuts. Not used for a medicinal

2 A Gitksan informant stated that the Tsimshian of the coast made a decoction of this tree which

acted as an emetic, purgative, and diuretic, and was used for poisoning caused by eating sea-urchins.



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decoction.

Northern Carrier: Inside bark ground, steeped in water, and injectedwith a syringe m ade from t he crop of a bird, for biliousness.

Gitksan : Bark and roots boiled for about six hours and the decoctiondru nk in th e morning for a cough.

Bark from the stem, but not from the roots, scraped, mixed withwater, and the infusion taken internally, as an emetic and purgative,for h eadache and ma ny oth er m aladies.

URTICACEAE, NETTLE FAMILY

U r t i ca Ly a l li i Wats., WESTE RN NETTLE

Bella Coola: Used for a form of paralysis where the patient had beenunable to walk for a long time. Limbs stung daily, causing sores andgradual revival of sensation. In one case said to have effected a cure inten days.

See a lso western dock.


Gitksan : Entire plant boiled, and the decoction taken internally forma ny illnesses, including hem orr ha ge and bladder tr oubles.

Stinging not u sed.

ARISTOLOCH IACEAE, BIRTH WORT FAMILY

As a r u m c a u d a t u m Lindl., WILD GINGE R

Bella Coola: Boiled, and the decoction taken internally for pain in the

stoma ch, but n ot for dia rr hoea or vomit ing.

Boiled, and applied externally for headache, intestinal pains, andpain in the kn ees.




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P OLYGONACEAE, BUCKWHE AT F AMILY

R u m e x o c c id e n t a l is Wats., WESTERN DOCK

Bella Coola: Roots r oas ted for a short t ime in a h ole in t he ear th am ongthe ashes of a fire, covered with earth, mashed, and applied in quantityas a poultice for boils. Both leaves and roots used, according to anotherinform an t, and t he poultice app lied to woun ds as well as boils.

Leaves used for a sweat bat h for pains similar to rheum at ism allover the body. Stones were heated, a little cold sand spread over them,and leaves spread on the sand; or else the leaves were spread on hotashes. The patient sat or lay naked directly on the leaves, and wascovered with blankets. Western Nettles (Urtica Lyallii Wats.), small

branches of black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa T. and G.) with theleaves on them, or the small kelp found on rocks were sometimes usedwhen leaves of th e wester n dock could n ot be obtain ed.


LOR ANTH ACE AE, MISTLE TOE F AMILY

Ar c e u t h o b iu m a m e r i ca n u m Nu tt ., SMALL MISTLETOE

Bella Coola: Boiled, and decoction taken as a potent medicine forhem orr ha ge of th e lungs.

Southern Carrier: Boiled, and decoction taken freely for hemorrhagefrom t he m out h, t uberculosis of th e lungs, an d ema ciation.

NYMP HACE AE , WATE R -LIL Y F AMILY

N u p h a r p o ly se p a l a (En gelm.) Green e, YELLOW P OND-LILY

Bella Coola, old custom: Used in a magical way for pain in all parts ofth e body. A root in m an y cases as large a s a ma n's leg was cut free fromthe bed of a pool with a hemlock pole sharpened like a shovel. A hollowwas made in it, water placed in the receptacle, and hot stones added.The stones were changed four times, after which the patient drank oneor two cupfuls of the wa ter . He r epeated th e dose each da y for four days.



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To be effective the root ha d t o be th rown back into th e wat er, not on th eground.

Present custom: Root boiled twelve hours, and decoction takeninternally for pain in any part of the body, such as consumption,

rheumatism, heart disease, and gonorrhoea. Considered good for theblood. Not used a s a diur etic, or for diar rh oea, cons tipa tion, or vomit ing.

Gitksan : Infusion of scrapings of toasted root (or according to anotherinform an t, h ear t of root, boiled) ta ken inter na lly for hem orr ha ge of thelungs an d as a cont ra ceptive.

RANUNCULACEAE, BUTTER CUP F AMILY

An e m o n e g lo b o s a Nutt . (A. mu l t i fida Poir.), WIND-FLOWER


Southern Carrier: Plant, except roots, boiled and decoction takeninternally for any sickness. Aroma of crushed leaves inhaled for cold inthe head or lungs; for this purpose leaves sometimes placed in waterand heated.

Gitksan : Ha ndfuls eat en in sweat bat h for rh eum at ism. A decoction ofth e plan t sometimes used for t he same pur pose.

T r a u t v e t t e r ia g r a n d i s Nutt ., FALSE BUGBANE

Bella Coola: Roots pounded in a little water, and the resulting mass,covered with a little soft bark of the red or yellow cedar, applied as apoultice to boils and left on for half a day or a day. Said to promotesuppuration and opening of the boil, but to cause such intense burningth at it could not be applied to children. Considered less str ong th an th eta ll but ter cup, but , like it, preferred t o th e cow par snip, which wa s u sedin the sam e way.

T h a li ct r u m o c ci d e n t a le Gra y, MEADOW RUE

Gitksan : A small piece of the root chewed, and some of the juiceswallowed, for headache, eye trouble, and sore legs. Loosened phlegman d possibly accelerat ed t he circulat ion of the blood.



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R a n u n c u lu s a r c is L., TALL BUTTE RCUP

Bella Coola: Roots used as a poultice for boils in the same way as thoseof th e false bugban e, but considered st ronger an d bett er.

CRUC IF ER AE, MUSTARD F AMILY

S is y m b r i u m i n c is u m En g., A HE DGE MUSTARD

Gitksan : Mash ed an d applied to bad cuts.

CR ASSULACEAE, OR P INE F AMILY

S e d u m s p a t h u li fo li u m Hook., STONECROP

Bella Coola: Leaves of the plant before it blossomed eaten to start theflow of milk. Said to take effect in one day. Leaves warmed and appliedexter na lly for t he sa me pu rpose.

SAXIF R AGACEAE, SAXIF RAGE F AMILY

R i b e s b r a c t e o s u m Dougl., BLUE CURRANT

Bella Coola : See tideland spruce.

Ri b es l ax i fl or u m Pu rsh . var ., CURRANT

Bella Coola: Roots boiled in a very small box with hot stones and theweak decoction used each day for washing the eyes when filled withmatter.

See also lady fern .


R i b e s la c u s t r e Poir., SWAMP GOOSEBERRY

Bella Coola : Roots boiled and th e decoction ta ken inter na lly ma ny t imesa da y to cur e cons tipa tion.



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Leaves chewed and cud tied on sores cau sed by th e prickers of theplant; if leaves unobtainable the bark substituted after singeing off theprickers.


Gitksan : Bark boiled and used as a remedy for some unspecifiedmalady.

R i b e s d i va r i ca t u m Dougl., COMMON GOOSEBE RRY

Bella Coola: Bark or roots, sometimes mixed with those of the wild crabapple (Pyrus diversifolia Bong.), boiled, and the decoction used as aneye-wash th ree times a day for soreness a nd a pproaching blindn ess.


Ribes sp ., GOOSEBE RRY

N orth ern Carrier: See scrub pin e.

S a x ifr a g a B on g a r d i Pr est ., SAXIFRAGE

Bella Coola: Roots and leaves gathered in the autumn, placed in a verysmall box with a very little water, and boiled. Decoction taken cold, or

preferably hot, in quantity to cure strangulation of the bladder. Said toeffect a cu re in one day.


ROSACEAE, ROSE F AMILY

P r u n u s e m a r g in a t a DougL, WILD CHERRY

Bella Coola: Roots and inside bark boiled with much water and the

decoction t ak en in qu an tity da ily for h ear t t rouble.


Gitksan : Not used.



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R u b u s s p e c t a b i li s Pu rsh., SALMON BERRY

Bella Coola: Bark of roots boiled and taken internally for certainstoma ch t roubles, but not for diar rh oea or vomit ing.


Gitksan : Not used.

R u b u s s p ., RASPBERRY


F r a g a r i a b r a c t ea t a Heller ., STRAWBERRY

Bella Coola: Not u sed, but said t o be used by Haida of Queen Ch ar lott eislands to cur e vomitin g.


Gitksan : Not used.

R o s a s p ., WILD ROSE

Bella Coola: Roots and branches boiled, and the decoction taken

internally, even ten cupfuls a day if desired, as a purgative for pain inth e stomach.



Sikani : Roots crushed, steeped in water, and the decoction used as aneye-wash.

Gitksan : Not used.

P h y s oc a r p u s o p u li fo li u s (L.), Maxim., NINE-BARK

Bella Coola: Inner bark boiled for two hours, and two to four cupfuls ofthe decoction at blood heat taken internally as an emetic for persons



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dizzy with pa in. Four or five cupfuls of lukewar m wa ter th en t ak en a s aclean sing emetic and r epeated a bout five times.

Inner bark boiled a long time (when it ceased to have emeticproperties), one cupful of the hot decoction taken internally, and

thereafter applied externally as a wash twice a day for gonorrhoea andscrofulous glands in the neck. Said to be a laxative that caused theglands to break, discharge fully, and heal, A cupful taken internallydaily in advan ced cases.

S outh ern Carrier: Bark (gathered near the coast) boiled for two hours,and two cupfuls of the decoction taken as an emetic, or one cupful as apurgative. Said to act in half an hour, and to be an excellent remedy,but fat al in t oo lar ge a dose.

Ar u n c u s S y lv e s t e r Kost., GOAT'S BEARD

Bella Coola: Roots boiled, and one or two cupfuls of the decoction (or asmuch as desired) taken internally for pain in the stomach andgonorrh oea. A diuret ic, but n either a laxative nor an emetic.

Roots boiled in grease of mountain goat (Oreamnos montanusOrd.) for a day and th e decoction ta ken int ern ally for sm allpox.


Gitksan : Not used.

G eu m m a c r o p h y llu m Willd., LARGE-LEAVED YELLOW AVENS

Bella Coola: Roots boiled, and decoction taken internally for pain in thestomach, but not for diarrhoea, or vomiting. Leaves, usually chewed butsometimes bru ised, applied to boils.

S outh ern Carrier: Leaves boiled and the decoction taken internally for

an y sickn ess.

Leaves boiled an d applied to bru ises.



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P y r u s s i t ch e n s is (Roem.) Piper., MOUNTAIN ASH

Bella Coola: Bark of the roots, and sometimes the inner bark of thestem, collected at any time of the year, boiled for an hour, and the hotdecoction, weak or s tr ong, prefera bly th e lat ter , taken inter na lly for th e

stomach or rh eum at ism. Said to effect a cur e in from one t o seven days.Not taken for diarrhoea, or vomiting; and for rheumatism sometimespour ed into a large box and used a s a bath . Used also as an eye-wash.

S outh ern Carrier: Bark chewed for colds.

Gitksan : Fr esh fru it cru shed an d eaten r aw as a str ong purgat ive.

P y r u s d i v e r s i fo li a Bong., CRAB APPLE

Bella Coola : See common gooseber ry.

Gitksan : Ju ice, scra ped from peeled t ru nk , used a s a n eye medicine.

Tru nk an d bra nches, or scra pings from inside of bar k, boiled un tilthick, and the decoction taken internally over a period of from four tosix months for consumption and rheumatism. Said to be a fatteningmedicine, both laxat ive an d diur etic.

Am e la n c h i e r flo r i d a LindL, J UNE BERBY, SASKATOON

Bella Coola : See tideland spruce.

EMP ETR ACEAE, CROWBER RY FAMILY

E m p e t r u m n ig r u m L., CROWBERBY

Bella Coola: Green leaves, with or without berries, boiled, and thedecoction t ak en int erna lly as a pur gative.

VIOLACEAE, VIOLE T F AMILY

Vi ol a ad u n ca Sm. var . g l a b r a Brain., VIOLET




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Southern Carrier: Entire plant boiled and one or many cupfuls of thedecoction t ak en int ern ally for pa in in t he st oma ch, but not for dia rr hoeaor vomit ing.

Gitksan : Not used.

EL AEAGNACE AE, OLE ASTE R F AMILY

S h e p h e r d i a c a n a d e n s i s Nutt., SOAPOLALLIE



Northern Carrier: Root boiled in water and the decoction taken

interna lly as a purgat ive.

Gitksan : Roots, stem, and branches boiled, and the decoction used as awash for gonorr hoea.

Bar k, bra nches, an d leaves without roots boiled, an d t he decoctiontaken internally for chronic cough.

See also tidelan d spru ce.

ONAGRACEAE, EVENING P RIMR OSE F AMILY

E p i l ob i u m a n g u s t i fo li u m L., FIRE WEE D

Bella Coola: Root roasted in ash es, ma shed between ha nds or stones,an d applied to boils.


Gitksan : Not used.

UMBELL IF ER AE, P ARSL EY FAMILY

O s m o r r h i z a sp., SWEET CICELY

Bella Coola : Ten t o fifteen litt le pieces of root, a s la rge a s t he end joint of



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the thumb, ground by rubbing on a stone; two cupfuls placed in waterwar med to blood h eat , an d t wo cupfuls of th e decoction (accord ing to thestrength of the patient) taken internally as an emetic. Decoction acted(sometimes as a purgative instead of an emetic) within five or tenminutes, but lost its power if heated too much. Warm water taken

afterwards until the patient vomited four or five times and the stomachwas en tir ely cleaned. Used also for pn eum onia .


H e r a c le u m la n a t u m Michx., COW PARSNIP

Bella Coola: Roots crushed, baked (or boiled in a box with hot stones),an d applied as a poult ice for boils. If too hot a poult ice injured the skin.

Raw, un cru shed r oot in sert ed in an opened boil an d left from h alfa da y to a da y. Pu s sa id to come a way with th e root.

See also white fir, balsam fir, black cottonwood, and falsebugbane.

Southern Carrier: Blossoms steeped in eulachon or other oil and themixtu re r ubbed on t he body to keep off flies and mosquit oes.

N orth ern Carrier: Roots applied to swellings and bru ises.

Sikani : Roots mashed and applied to swellings of neuralgia orrheumatism.

Gitksan : Roots mashed and applied to boils, rheumatic and otherswellings.

An g e l ica g en u fl ex a Nutt.

Bella Coola: Roots boiled and decoction ta ken inter na lly as a pur gative.

Not an emetic. Sometimes u sed raw, but never roasted.

Gitksan : Roots well boiled with twigs of squashberry (Viburnumpauciflorum Raf.) from which the bark had not been removed, anddecoction ta ken inter na lly for hea dache and weak eyes.



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L i gu s t i c u m s c ot h i cu m L., LOVAGE

Bella Coola: Leaves spread over a hot stone or stones and used as amedicina l bed for t he s ick.


C i cu t a D o u g l a s i i (DC.) C. an d R., WATER HEMLOCK

Bella Coola : Roots used a s a pur gative.


ARALIACE AE, GINSE NG F AMILY

Ar a l ia n u d i c a u l i s L., SARSAPARILLA

Bella Coola: Roots boiled in a box with hot stones, and decoction takeninternally as often as desired for pain in the stomach, or merely as abevera ge. Nowada ys sweeten ed with a little suga r. Stem , or its ba rk , notused.


Gitksan : Not used.

F a t s i a (O p l op a n a x ) h o r r i d a Sm. (B. and H.), DEVIL'S CLUB

Bella Coola: Bark of roots chewed, and juice swallowed with a littlewat er as a powerful pur gative.

Bark of roots and stems boiled, and tnree or four cupfuls of thedecoction taken internally as a purgative; or one cupful, three times aday for a week or t wo, to cur e rh euma tism.

S outh ern Carrier: Bark boiled, and one or two cupfuls of the decoctionta ken int ern ally before an d after childbirth a s a pur gative.

Northern Carrier: Inside layer of the inner bark rolled into pills andswallowed for cramps in the stomach and bowels, especially after apur gative. Acted a lso as a pur gative, especially if mu ch hot wat er t ak en



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with it.

Gitksan : A decoction used as a purgative in the treatment ofgonorrhoea. Believed to assist the knitting of broken bones if takencontinually.

Boiled, together with entire plant of squashberry (Viburnumpauciflorum Raf.), and the decoction taken internally as a diuretic andpur gative, for st ra ngur y or a ny sickn ess. Used cont inuously for r upt ur e.

For u se with a fern.

COR NACEAE, DOGWOOD FAMILY

C o r n u s c a n a d e n s i s L., BUNCHBERRY, DOGWOOD, DWARF

CORNEL. PIGEONBERRY


S outh ern Carrier: Whole plant, without berries, boiled, and tlie strongdecoction used as a n eye-wash.

N orth ern Carrier: Used as a medicine for some u nspecified ma lady.

Gitksan : Not used.

C o r n u s s t o lo n i fo r a Michx., RED-OSIER DOGWOOD, RED WILLOW




Gitksan : Not used.

ER ICACE AE, HE ATH F AMILY

P y r o la s e c u n d a L., WINTERGREE N




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S outh ern Carrier: Roots, gathered at any time of the year, boiled, andth e str ong decoction used a s a n eye-wash .

P y r o la b r a c t e a t a Hook., WINTERGREE N


S outh ern Carrier: Leaves boiled, and t he decoction used as a n eye-wash.

P y r o l a a s a r i fo li a Michx., WINTERGREEN


S outh ern Carrier: Leaves and roots, gathered at any time of the year,

boiled for about two hours, and the warm decoction used as an eye-wash.

Gitksan : Not used.

L ed u m g r o en l a n d i cu m Oeder, LABRADOR TEA

Bella Coola : Leaves boiled, an d t he decoction used a s a simple coverage,or for pa in in t he st oma ch, but not for diar rh oea or vomiting. Neith er a nemetic nor a pur gative.

S outh ern Carrier: Not u sed form erly, now as a beverage only.

Gitksan : Leaves boiled, and the decoction used as a diuretic, or merelyas a beverage.

G a u lt h e r i a s h a l lo n Pu rsh , SALAL

Bella Coola : Leaves t oas ted , pulverized by robbing, an d applied to cut s.




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LABIATAE, MINT F AMILY

P r u n e l la vu l g a r i s L., HEAL-ALL

Bella Coola : Roots , leaves, an d blossoms wa sh ed, boiled, and a cupful ofthe weak decoction taken internally for the heart. Not used fordiar rh oea or vomit ing.


Gitksan : Not used.

M e n t h a c a n a d e n s i s (M . a r v e n s i s ) L., MINT

Bella Coola: Entire plant boiled, and the decoction taken internally, asoften as desired, for pain in the stomach. Not used for vomiting,cons tipa tion, or diar rh oea.

Southern Carrier: Entire plant boiled, and a cupful of the decoctiontaken internally for the stomach, colds, lung affections, and variousailments.

Gitksan : Not used.

SCR OP HULARIACEAE, F IGWORT F AMILY

C a s t i l le j a m i n i a t a Dougl., PAINT-BRUSH



Gitksan : Entire plant boiled, and the decoction taken internally forbleeding, stiff lungs, sore eyes, and lame back, possibly caused by

kidney tr ouble. A pur gative an d diur etic.

Seeds boiled an d th e decoction ta ken in ter na lly for cough s.



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CAP RIF OLIACEAE, HONE YSUCKLE F AMILY

L o n i ce r a i n v o lu c r a t a Banks., BLACK TWIN-BERRY

Bella Coola: Leaves chewed and cud applied for itch. Leaves chewed

an d applied to boils, after th ey were cut open, to draw out th e poison.

Leaves crushed and applied to burns and sores of gonorrhoea.Bark toasted, pulverized, and applied to sores of gonorrhoea. Barkboiled and decoction t ak en in ter nally for cough .

Southern Carrier: Bark boiled for five hours, and the decoction useddaily as a n eye-wash . Roots, leaves, and ber ries not u sed.


Gitksan : Fresh juice of berries used in sore eyes. Inner bark (whenberries not available) soaked in water, and the milky solution used inth e eyes.

S ym p h o r i c a r p u s r a c e m o sa Michx., GARDEN SNOWBERRY

Bella Coola: Branches, large and small, with the bark left on, boiled,an d t he decoction t ak en int ern ally daily as t he best cur e for gonorrh oea.A diur etic. Roots , blossoms, and berr ies not u sed for m edicine, un less, as

one inform an t st at ed, th e berr ies were used with th e bra nches.

See also tidelan d spruce.

S outh ern Carrier: J uice of ripe ber ries u sed in sore eyes.

Gitksan : Not used.

S a m b u c u s r a c e m o sa L., RED-FRUITED ELDER

Bella Coola: Bark of the roots placed in water, a few hot stones addedun til wat er r eached blood h eat , an d decoction used a s a powerful emet ican d pur gative for pain in t he st oma ch.

Bar k of th e roots peeled with t he t eeth, chewed, prefera bly with alitt le cool wat er, an d juice swallowed as an emetic and pur gative. Said t o



31/37

act with in ha lf an hour.

S outh ern Carrier: Roots boiled, and two cupfuls of the warm decoctionta ken inter na lly twice a da y as a purgat ive.

Northern Carrier: Roots brewed, the first water discarded and thesecond t aken intern ally as a purgat ive.

Sikani : Bar k boiled, and t he decoction t ak en int ern ally as a pu rgat ive.

Gitksan : Bark of roots scraped off, water added to the bark, and theinfusion t aken interna lly as a n emetic an d pur gative.

Vi b u r n u m p a u c iflo r u m Raf., SQUASHBERRY

Bella Coola: Bark chewed, and the juice swallowed for whooping coughan d cold on th e lungs.


N orth ern Carrier: Inside bark crushed, steeped in cold water until thewater tu rn ed green, an d one cupful of th e infusion ta ken int erna lly as apur gative and for dysent ery.

Gitksan : Bark and twigs boiled, and one cupful of the decoction taken

internally in the morning for coughs and consumption. Said to bealways taken in conjunction with devil's club. See also Angelicagenuflexa Nutt..

VALE R IANACE AE , VALER IAN FAMILY

V a l e r i a n a s e p t e n t r i o n a l i s Rydb., VALERIAN


S outh ern Carrier: Roots , mixed with grease, used for perfum e.

N orth ern Carrier: Valerian? blossoms crushed, and the oil, often mixedwith fat from a black bear hide, applied as a ha ir t onic. Believed to ma keth e ha ir smooth an d shiny, to help its growth , and t o give it a fra gran ce.



32/37

Gitksan : Entire plant steeped in bear grease and the grease applied toha ir an d face as a perfum e.

Va l e r i a n a s i t c h e n s i s Bong., VALERIAN

S outh ern Carrier: Leaves mixed with grease used as a perfume for thehair .

COMP OSITAE, COMP OSITE F AMILY

Ach i l lea Mi ll e fo l ium L., YARROW

Bella Coola : Leaves chewed an d applied to bur ns.

Southern Carrier: Entire plant, except the roots, boiled, and the

decoction ta ken in ter na lly at frequ ent int erva ls for colds. Leaves chewedan d applied to spra ins an d swellings.

Gitksan : The young plant, except the roots, gathered between June 1an d J uly 15, boiled, and t he decoction gar gled for sore t hr oa t.

Roots, marked by the dead stalks, dug out at other seasons andused inst ead.

Ar t em i s ia d i s co lo r DougL, SAGEBRUSH , GREEN WORMWOOD

Bella Coola : Used for medicine.

S outh ern Carrier: Chewed an d applied to sprains an d swellings.

Northern Carrier: Sagebrush (sp. ?) steeped in water and the hotdecoction ta ken inter na lly for hea dache.

An t e n n a r i a H o w e l li i Greene, EVERLASTING

Bella Coola: Leaves boiled, and the decoction taken internally for painsin t he body, bat not for pains in t he limbs. Not used for colds.


Gitksan : Not used.



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T a r a x a c u m o ffi c in a l e Weber., COMMON DANDELION in tr oduced

Bella Coola: Roots boiled, and the decoction taken internally for pain inthe stomach, but not for diarrhoea or vomiting. Remedy said to have

been lear ned from white men.

Gitksan : Not used.

L a c t u c a s p i c a t a (Lam.) Hitchc., TALL LETTUCE

Bella Coola: Roots boiled, and many cups of the decoction takeninternally for heart trouble, hemorrhage, pains in the body (but not inthe limbs), for vomiting, or for diarrhoea. Neither an emetic nor apur gative. Milky juice not used.

Gitksan : Not used.

P r e n a n t h e s a la t a (Hook.) Gray, RATTLESNAKE ROOT

Bella Coola: Roots boiled, two or three cupfuls of the decoction takeninternally daily for colds. For a baby only a small spoonful given threeor four tim es a da y.

Chewed, and a pplied to burn s or t o an y painful part of th e body.

Boiled, and two or three cupfuls of the decoction taken internallydaily.

MISCELLANEOUS

M n i u m a f fi n e Blan d, Moss

Southern Carrier: Entire plant, except the roots, boiled, and two orth ree cupfuls of th e decoction used t o bat he a swollen face.

F o m es La r i c i s (Jacq.), more generally known as P o l y p o r u soff icinal is Fries, A SHELF F UNGUS

Bella Coola : This (?) fun gus groun d, steeped in wat er, and t he decoctionta ken inter na lly for gonorrh oea.



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Southern Carrier: If found on the Douglas fir tree, dried, powdered, ahandful steeped in boiling water and the hot decoction taken internallyas an emetic and purgative. Said to act within an hour. Not used iffoun d on an y oth er t ree.

(According to Dr. John Dearness, this is a medical polypore,perhaps the only fungus used by pharmacists. Park, Davis, andCompany make a fluid extract and a triturate which is prescribed forthe relief of night sweats in tuberculosis. The fungus is a cathartic inlarge doses. Its medicinal virtues have long been known in the oldworld.)

Bo v is t a p i l a B. and C., PUFF BALL

Bella Coola: Spores dusted on wounds, sores of gonorrhoea, andsuppu ra ting sores oth er th an boils.

LI CH EN

Bella Coola: A certain long, white lichen, if found on the red alder tree,war med, an d applied to a br oken boil or su ppur at ing sore.

St ic t a sp., LICHEN

Bella Coola: En tir e plant , if from r ed-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera Michx.) or crab apple (Pyrus diversifolia Bong.), but not from willow(Salix sp.), boiled, an d five cupfuls of the hot d ecoct ion ta ken int ern allydaily for pain in the stomach, but not for diarrhoea, constipation, orvomiting. Neith er a purgat ive nor an ast ringent .

En tire plan t boiled and t he decoction u sed as a n eye-wash .

En tire plant pulverized an d applied to skin.


KELP

Bella Coola : A small kelp foun d on t he r ocks somet imes u sed for a swea tbat h. See wester n dock.



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WOOD SAP

Bella Coola: The sap that oozes from any kind of wood when burningconsider ed a good remedy for sores.

MOUNT AIN G OAT

O r e a m n o s M on t a n u s , Ord., MOUNTAIN GOAT

Bella Coola: Moun ta in goat fat boiled with dr oppings of geese th at ha dfed on roots, and the mixture given to babies once or twice a day forcolds.

Goat meat with droppings of the bushy-tailed woodrat, commonly

called packrat ( Neotom a cinerea), taken internally with water as arem edy for n ur sing babies when t hey ha d colds.

SKUNK

Spi logale , SPOTTED SKUNK, or Mep h i t i s , STRIPE D SKUNK

Bella Coola : Oil not u sed as a r emedy.

Southern Carrier: Oil warmed, and a cupful taken as a purgative for

worms.

HARE

L e p u s a m e r i c a n u s c o l u m b i e n s i s Rhoads, THE BRITISHCOLUMBIA VARYING H ARE

Northern Carrier: Hare opened, ruminating stomach containingsomet hing like th e white of an egg rem oved, an d t he liquid applied to afoot blistered by frost-bite. Considered a sure cure.

RED S Q U IRRE L

S ci u r u s h u d s o n i cu s Erxleben

Bella Coola: Opened along the under side and applied as a remedy to



36/37

badly broken cha ncres in t he groin.

GIANT SLUG

Bella Coola: Slug made to cra wl int o a ba by's m out h to cur e loss of skin

on t he ins ide of its m out h.

Slug opened, an d boun d t ight ly over lar ge cut .

SEA CUCUMBER

Bella Coola: Decoction of the water in which the sea cucumber wasboiled, ta ken int erna lly as a specific against hea rt burn . Not a pur gative.

S P I TTLE I N S ECT

C e r c o p i d a e , SPITTLE INSE CT, FROG HOPPE R

Bella Coola: Fly spit, i.e., the material surrounding a nymph of aspitt le insect, applied to sores .


WOODWORMS

Gitksan : Pu lverized and app lied to cut s.

C O P P E R

Bella Coola: Fine particles scraped from clean copper (but not from aweath ered green sur face) placed in sore eyes.

Gitksan : Copper groun d, pour ed into a vessel of cold water, first wat erpoured off, and second water taken internally as a harmlesscontraceptive.

CHARCOAL

Northern Carrier: Charcoal daubed under the eyes to prevent snow-blindness.



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F I R E

Bella Coola : Bur nin g twigs of very dry hem lock used t o sea r t he sk in forall kinds of int ern al ailment s.

N orth ern Carrier: Hot coals used as a blister for a bad pain in the legbefore a pplying an ointm ent .

CAUTERY

Gitksan : Fungus taken from a birch (or sometimes a hemlock), setalight, and u sed to sear a rheu mat ic person.

STEAM

N orth ern Carrier: Red hot st ones p laced in a dish of cold wat er, th e hea dcovered with a cloth an d th e th roat st eam ed for a bad cough.

ICE -COLD WATE R

N orth ern Carrier: A hole ma de in t he ice an d t he feet soak ed in t he ice-cold water wh en t hey were frozen.

SE A WATER

Bella Coola : Sea wat er used as a n emet ic.

MATERIA MEDICA OF THE BELLA COOLA AND NEIGHBOURING TRIBES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA P 37

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Collins-Bella Coola Materia Medica

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