Native American Herbal, Plant Knowledge

tree is sometimes locally called white cedar, though other species are also known by

that common name elsewhere. It was used for general utility purposes,

Another species, Juniperus virginiana, is known as Miskwawak, red cedar, and is one

of the sacred trees. It did and does have medical uses, but the main thing to realize

about it is that this tree is sacred.

I've prepared linktables that connect you to the big AGIS databases pre-set to show

tribal uses (as recorded by ethnobotanists) for both Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

and Juniperus communis sometimes known as White Cedar to Ojibwe people (also

there are several other trees commonly known as White Cedar; these aren't junipers at

all). This is followed by a tribal uses table for Juniperus monosperma, which grows

widely in the southwest, the Gad Katsi refers to. These are "live" tables; you can find

out a little more by clicking on tribe or tree. What you'll get is not much info, but

literature cites.

Following the tribes and trees tables is a link to the PhytoChem analysis of nutrients

and other plant chemicals contained in juniper leaves, berries, stems, the starting point

for nutritional and medical analytic considerations.

l Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)--Multi-tribal traditional uses

Common juniper species (sometimes White Cedar, Swamp cedar, other common names) --

Multi-tribal traditional uses

l

Oneseed Juniper--Used by southwestern tribes, it's most probably the Gad Katsi discusses;

has the Zuni medical references she mentions.

l

Explanation of USDA NAL Ethnobotany phytochemicals table use -- please read if you

haven't used this database before.

l

l Chemical and Nutrient analysis of juniper berries, leaves, twigs

Juniper -- Tribes who use

http://www.kstrom.net/isk/food/juniptri.html (2 of 6) [5/17/2004 11:48:05 AM]