Sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata) Native
Sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata)
Parts used: aerial portion
Other uses: Used long ago as a flavoring agent. Currently used as a cleansing and purifying incense.
Cautions: None stated (Pojar 369).
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Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) Native & Non-Native
Strawberry (Fragaria spp.)
Native and Non-Native species exist. Native species have small berries, or no berries at all.
Parts used: fruit
Nutritional information: Strawberries are an excellent source of vitamins C and K, dietary fiber, and flavonoids. They are also a very good source of manganese, pantothenic acid, vitamin B1, and iodine. They are also a good source of folic acid, biotin, and vitamin B6 (Murray 314).
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Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) Non-Native
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)
Parts used: aerial parts, root
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) Native
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Parts used: flowering tops
Medicinal uses: Acts as a tonic for the nervous system and can be used for nervous exhaustion, long term anxiety, sleep difficulties, as well as depression. It may also be helpful in treating addictions. It may also relieve the lowered vitality experienced in menopause. The infused oil stimulates tissue repair and is applied to burns and wounds. It can also relieve nerve pain and can be massaged into the skin in toothache, sciatica, and joint pain. Internally it can be taken to heal peptic ulcers (Chevallier 108).
Additional uses: Yellows and reds can be obtained from the flower tops and stems depending on the mordant used (Kowalchik 448).
Cautions: Can cause sensitivity to sunlight. Due to possible interactions, seek professional advice if taking a prescribed medicine (Chevallier 108).
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Sphagnum moss (Sphagnum recurvum) Native
Sphagnum moss (Sphagnum recurvum)
Parts used: above ground portions
Medicinal and other uses: The dried moss is light and absorbent; it contains preservatives, an antibiotic, and possibly iodine. A close relative (S. cymbifolium), has been used for centuries to dress wounds and aid healing
Cautions: None known (Bremness 292).
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Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum multiflorum) Native
Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum multiflorum)
Parts used: rhizome
Medicinal uses: This plant is believed to prevent excess bruising and to stimulate tissue repair. It is used mainly as a poultice which helps the application of the plant’s astringent and demulcent properties to speed healing.
Cautions: Do not take Solomon’s seal internally except under professional advice. The aerial parts, especially the berries, are harmful if eaten (Chevallier 252).
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Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) Native
Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
Parts used: root, rhizome
Medicinal uses: Primarily used as an expectorant, treating cases of whooping cough, asthma, and bronchitis; also taken for upper respiratory problems such as nasal congestion and hay fever; less commonly it is used in the treatment of epilepsy, headaches, vertigo, and rheumatic problems and as a means to stop bleeding.
Cautions: Handling fresh skunk cabbage may cause the skin to blister. Excessive doses can cause nausea and dizziness (Chevallier 274).
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Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) Native
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora)
Parts used: aerial portions
Medicinal uses: Taken today mainly as a nerve tonic and for its restorative properties. It helps to nourish and support the nervous system and calms and relieves stress and anxiety. Its antispasmodic action makes it useful for conditions where stress and worry cause muscular tension. It can be combined with other sedative herbs to treat insomnia and to relieve menstrual pain. Thought by some to cure rabies, giving rise to the common name “mad dog skullcap.”
Cautions: None known (Chevallier 135).
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Scouring rush (Equisetum hyemale) Native
Scouring rush (Equisetum hyemale)
Parts used: stems, rhizomes
Additional uses: The cell walls of Equisetum species are impregnated with silicon dioxide. They were used by native populations on the coast primarily as abrasives for polishing wooden objects including canoes, dishes, and arrow shafts. Various tribes used the rhizomes to decorate baskets. In Europe the scouring rush was used to hone the reeds of woodwind instruments (Pojar 431).
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Salal (Gaultheria shallon) Native
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Parts used: berries, young leaves
Other uses: A plentiful and important fruit in the Pacific NW, it was eaten fresh and dried and also mixed with other berries. The berries were dried into cakes for preservation and used to sweeten other foods as well as to thicken salmon eggs. The young leaves were chewed as an appetite suppressant. The leafy branches were used in pit-cooking and cooked as a flavoring for fish soups. A tiny cup can be made by shaping a salal leaf into a cone
Cautions: None stated (Pojar 53).
Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plant Guide (Check out all plants growing in Tryon Farm's medicinal garden!)
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