Native American Herbal, Plant Knowledge

WILD STRAWBERRY: noon tak tek hah

kwa, growing where the ground is burned

This strawberry plant has some hidden berries

under its leaves -- some trash has been dropped

near it, too

Springtime is traditionally a time of cleansing the body from impurities which accumulate

in the system over the relative inactivity of winter.

Just as every menstrual cycle includes the purification of the woman through her menses,

it is also important that she cleanse her body in harmony with the earth's cycles through

fasting or the use of bioactive plants.

The whole strawberry plant; berries, leaves and roots - can be used as they appear in your

area in the spring for purposes of cleansing the system. Both a blood purifier and blood

builder, the wild strawberry is a laxative, diuretic and astringent. The leaves and berries

are rich in iron and contain the minerals magnesium, potassium and sodium.

It is a teaching of many native peoples that during menstruation and pregnancy the

woman's body becomes highly toxic. At menses and childbirth, it is important for a woman

to rest. She may also observe dietary restrictions such as not eating meat or salt. Wild

strawberry leaves and berries can be used alone or in combination with other medicines to

cleanse the woman's body during her moon time and following childbirth.

Also, if you eat too many strawberries during pregnancy, the old women say, your baby

will be born with a strawberry mark!

RED RASPBERRY: Oo na joo kwa

Of all the berries, this is among the most useful for women throughout the reproductive

years. The berries and leaves are rich in iron and they also contain minerals-phosphorus,

potassium, magnesium- which help build the blood by carrying iron from stores in the liver,

Native Foods -- Katsi Cook on Women's Uses of Berries

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