Top Native Medicinal Herbs in North America

The top medicinal herbs native to North America, widely used by Indigenous peoples and recognised for their therapeutic properties are:

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
  Used for wound healing, stopping bleeding, and treating fevers and digestive issues.

• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
  Traditionally used to boost the immune system and fight infections, especially respiratory ailments.

• Willow (Salix spp.)
  The bark and leaves contain salicylic acid, a precursor to aspirin, and were used for pain relief and fever reduction.

• American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)
  Used as a tonic for energy, to treat headaches, cramps, asthma, and as a general restorative.

• Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
  Employed to treat colds, fevers, headaches, and digestive issues; all parts of the plant were valued in folk medicine.

• Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)
  The inner bark was used for soothing sore throats, respiratory irritations, and digestive problems.

• Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)
  Used for gynecological issues, sore throats, kidney problems, and depression.

• Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
  Applied for earaches, digestive stimulation, bronchial infections, and nausea.

• Horsemint (Monarda spp.)
  Used for skin infections, wounds, dental issues, and digestive problems.

• Juniper (Juniperus spp.)
  Berries and leaves were used for urinary tract infections, diabetes, and as a female contraceptive.

Other notable native medicinal herbs include Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza lepidota), all of which have a long history of use among Native American tribes for a variety of ailments.

These plants remain important in both traditional and modern herbal medicine across North America.

Citations:

1. https://vetmed.tamu.edu/peer/wp-content/uploads/sites/72/2020/04/DLC808_Medicinal-Plants-of-North-America.pdf
2. https://www.reddit.com/r/NativePlantGardening/comments/16jethq/suggestions_for_north_american_native_herbs_and/
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Medicinal_plants_of_North_America
4. https://thegrowers-exchange.com/collections/north-american-native-herbs-plants
5. https://map-expo.com/highlights/23-medicinal-plants-native-americans-used-daily-basis/
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_ethnobotany
7. https://cornellbotanicgardens.org/explore/gardens/herbs-of-native-americans/
8. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/exhibition/healing-ways/medicine-ways/healing-plants.html