Table Of ContentMedicinal Plants
of North America
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MEDICINAL PLANTS
OF NORTH AMERICA
A Field Guide
2nd Edition
JIM MEUNINCK
FALCONGGUUIIDDEESS®
An imprint of Rowman & Littlefield
Falcon, FalconGuides, and Make Adventure Your Story are registered trademarks of Rowman
& Littlefield.
Distributed by NATIONAL BOOK NETWORK
Copyright © 2008, 2016 by Rowman & Littlefield
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic
or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written
permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.
All interior photographs by Jim Meuninck.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Information available.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data available.
ISBN 978-1-4930-1961-8
ISBN 978-1-4930-1962-5 (e-book)
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American
National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library
Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
The identification, selection, and processing of any wild plant for use as food requires
reasonable care and attention to details since, as indicated in the text, certain parts are
wholly unsuitable for use and, in some instances, are even toxic. Because attempts to
use any wild plants for food depend on various factors controllable only by the reader,
the author and Globe Pequot assume no liability for personal accident, illness, or death
related to these activities.
The health information expressed in this book is based solely on the personal
experience of the author and is not intended as a medical manual. The information
should not be used for diagnosis or treatment, or as a substitute for professional
medical care. The author and publisher urge you to consult with your health-care
provider prior to using any wild plant as food or medicine.
This book is a work of reference. Readers should always consult an expert before
using any foraged item. The author, editors, and publisher of this work have checked
with sources believed to be reliable in their efforts to confirm the accuracy and
completeness of the information presented herein and that the information is in
accordance with the standard practices accepted at the time of publication. However,
neither the author, editors, and publisher, nor any other party involved in the creation
and publication of this work warrant that the information is in every respect accurate
and complete, and they are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any
consequences from the application of the information in this book. In light of ongoing
research and changes in clinical experience and in governmental regulations, readers
are encouraged to confirm the information contained herein with additional sources.
This book does not purport to be a complete presentation of all plants, and the genera,
species, and cultivars discussed or pictured herein are but a small fraction of the plants
found in the wild, in an urban or suburban landscape, or in a home. Given the global
movement of plants, we would expect continual introduction of species having toxic
properties to the regions discussed in this book. We have made every attempt to
be botanically accurate, but regional variations in plant names, growing conditions,
and availability may affect the accuracy of the information provided. A positive
identification of an individual plant is most likely when a freshly collected part of the
plant containing leaves and flowers or fruits is presented to a knowledgeable botanist
or horticulturist. Poison Control Centers generally have relationships with the botanical
community should the need for plant identification arise. We have attempted to
provide accurate descriptions of plants, but there is no substitute for direct interaction
with a trained botanist or horticulturist for plant identification. In cases of exposure
or ingestion, contact a Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222), a medical
toxicologist, another appropriate heath-care provider, or an appropriate
reference resource.
The earth is the Mother of all people, and all people
should have equal rights upon it.
—CHIEF JOSEPH, NEZ PERCE
Contents
Preface | xiii
Introduction | 1
Chapter 1: Medicinal Plants of Yards and Meadows | 9
Alfalfa (Medicago) | 9
Asiatic Dayflower (Commelina) | 11
Asparagus (Asparagus) | 12
Daylily (Hemerocallis) | 13
Dandelion (Taraxacum) | 14
Horse Nettle (Solanum) | 15
Plantain (Plantago) | 16
Wild Carrot (Daucus) | 17
Goldenrod (Solidago) | 19
Stinging Nettle (Urtica) | 21
Strawberry (Fragaria) | 23
Yarrow (Achillea) | 24
Marijuana (Cannabis) | 25
Mullein (Verbascum) | 27
Burdock (Arctium) | 28
Chicory (Cichorium) | 29
Dock (Rumex) | 30
Morning Glory (Ipomoea) | 31
Lemon Balm (Melissa) | 32
Common Milkweed (Asclepias) | 33
Red Clover (Trifolium) | 35
Lamb’s-quarters (Chenopodium) | 36
Catnip (Nepeta) | 37
Chamomile (Matricaria) | 38
Echinacea (Echinacea) | 40
Bee Balm (Monarda) | 41
Evening Primrose (Oenothera) | 42
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias) | 44
Motherwort (Leonurus) | 45
Foxglove (Digitalis) | 46
Pokeweed (Phytolacca) | 47
Amaranth, Red Root (Amaranthus) | 49
Passion Flower (Passiflora) | 50
Purslane (Portulaca) | 51
CONTENTS
Saint-John’s-Wort (Hypericum) | 52
Heal-all (Prunella) | 53
Spiderwort (Tradescantia) | 54
Jimsonweed (Datura) | 56
Comfrey (Symphytum) | 57
Wild Yam (Dioscorea) | 58
Baptisia (Baptisia) | 59
California Poppy (Eschscholzia) | 60
Flax (Linum) | 61
Chapter 2: Medicinal Herbs of Eastern Forested Areas | 63
Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus) | 63
Hepatica (Hepatica) | 64
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria) | 65
Mayapple (Podophyllum) | 66
Wild Leeks (Allium) | 67
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema) | 68
Uva-Ursi (Arctostaphylos) | 69
Wintergreen (Gaultheria) | 70
Celandine (Chelidonium) | 72
Club Moss (Huperzia) | 73
Lady’s Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium) | 74
Black Cohosh (Actaea) | 75
Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum) | 76
Black Nightshade (Solanum) | 77
Ginseng (Panax) | 78
Goldenseal (Hydrastis) | 80
Skullcap (Scutellaria) | 81
Mistletoe (Phoradendron) | 82
Ground Nut (Apios) | 83
Indian Cucumber (Medeola) | 84
Wild Ginger (Asarum) | 85
Chapter 3: Woody Plants of Eastern States | 87
Apple (Malus) | 87
Coconut Palm (Cocos) | 89
Grapes (Vitis) | 90
Oaks (Quercus) | 91
Maples (Acer) | 93
Black Walnut (Juglans) | 95
Cherries (Prunus) | 96
viii
CONTENTS
Osage Orange (Maclura) | 97
Sassafras (Sassafras) | 98
Hawthorn (Crataegus) | 99
Honeysuckle (Lonicera) | 101
Pines (Pinus) | 101
Poplars (Populus) | 102
White Cedar (Thuja) | 104
Pawpaw (Asimina) | 105
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga) | 106
Balsam Fir (Abies) | 107
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis) | 107
Slippery Elm (Ulmus) | 109
Chapter 4: Medicinal Herbs of Wetlands | 111
American Lotus (Nelumbo) | 111
Arrowhead, Wapato, Duck Potato (Sagittaria) | 113
American Pond Lily (Nymphaea) | 113
Cattail (Typha) | 114
Reed (Phragmites) | 115
Duckweed (Lemna) | 116
Mint (Mentha) | 117
Watercress (Nasturtium) | 119
Horsetail (Equisetum) | 120
Angelica (Angelica) | 121
Balmony (Chelone) | 122
Blue Flag (Iris) | 123
Jewelweed (Impatiens) | 124
Boneset (Eupatorium) | 125
Joe-Pye Weed (Etrochium) | 126
Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum) | 127
Sweet Flag (Acorus) | 128
Gentian (Gentiana) | 130
Lobelia (Lobelia) | 131
Sweetgrass (Hierochloe) | 133
Cranberry (Vaccinium) | 134
Beach Wormwood (Artemisia) | 135
Chapter 5: Woody Wetland Plants | 137
Willows (Salix) | 137
Barberry (Berberis) | 138
Bayberry (Myrica) | 139
ix
