EBP/Cooperative/Asarum canadense

Asarum canadense

 * Common names: Canadian wild ginger, Canada wild ginger, wild ginger, snakeroot, broad-leafed asarabaccais, asarabaccais
 * Names used by indigenous peoples: namepin, namepiniig (Anishinabe)
 * Wikipedia: Asarum canadense
 * Wikispecies: Asarum canadense

Whole plant/unspecified

 * For colds: Used by the Abenaki tribe in a decoction with another unspecified herb.
 * For coughs: Used by the Abenaki tribe in an unspecified treatment.
 * To cause abortion (abortifacient): Used by the Cherokee people in an infusion.
 * For scant/painful menstruation, to start a period: Used by the Cherokee people in an infusion.
 * To induce vomiting for stomach pain (analgesic/emetic): Used by the Cherokee in a decoction.
 * For diarrhea: Infusion taken by the Cherokee.
 * For swollen breasts: An infusion of the whole plant was used by the Cherokee in an external wash, as well as an internal tea.
 * To reduce fevers (febrifuge): Taken in an unspecified treatment, especially for typhus fever, by the Cherokee. Infusion also used by the Iroquois in wash.
 * As digestive aid: Taken in an unspecified treatment by the Cherokee.
 * As a sedative: Used by the Cherokee for "nervous hysterics"; used by the Iroquois to calm crying babies.
 * For headaches: Used in an infusion by the Iroquois for "long-lasting" headaches.
 * For boils: Used in an unspecified compound preparation by the Iroquois.
 * To improve appetite: Decoction taken by the Iroquois.
 * To treat laziness (stimulant): Part of a compound preparation used by the Iroquois.
 * For sore throat: Poultice used externally on the throat by the Iroquois. Used in an unspecified treatment by the Meskwaki.
 * For venereal disease: Compound decoction with other herbs used by the Iroquois.
 * For lung problems: Compound preparation used by the Meskwaki.
 * As panacea: Used for general medicinal purposes by the Innu.

Root

 * As anticonvulsive: Used by the Algonquian peoples in an infusion for infant convulsions.
 * For colds: Used in an unspecified treatment by the Cherokee and in an infusion by the Iroquois.
 * For cough: Used in an unspecified treatment by the Cherokee and in a decoction by the Iroquois.
 * To reduce fevers (febrifuge): Used by the Algonquian peoples and Iroquois in an infusion.
 * For fevers accompanied by headache and/or convulsions: Cold infusion used by the Iroquois for children who had a fever accompanied by a headache and/or convulsions.
 * To induce sweating (diaphoretic) to break a fever: Decoction or infusion taken cold by the Iroquois.
 * As stimulant: Used by the Cherokee as a "powerful" stimulant in an unspecified manner.
 * For worms: Used by the Cherokee in an unspecified treatment.
 * As blood tonic: Used by the Cherokee in a compound infusion with other unspecified herbs.
 * As spring tonic: Used by the Iroquois as a spring tonic for the elderly.
 * For heart problems: Used by the Cherokee for general heart problems; "to strengthen the heart".
 * To strengthen the action of other herbs (adjuvant): Used by the Anishinabe and the Iroquois combined with unspecified other herbs.
 * To reduce inflammation (anti-inflammatory): Poultice of chopped roots used by the Anishinabe.
 * For bruises and scrapes: Used in unspecified treatment by the Anishinabe.
 * To aid digestion: Chopped root cooked with other foods to increase their digestibility by the Anishinabe. Taken in a decoction or eaten whole "to protect a weak stomach" by the Menominee.
 * For broken bones: Chopped root combined with other unspecified herbs in a compound poultice by the Anishinabe.
 * For scarlet fever: Decoction taken by the Iroquois.
 * For typhoid: Infusion used by the Iroquois.
 * For measles: Decoction taken by the Iroquois.
 * For asthma: Infusion drunk by the Iroquois.
 * For tuberculosis: Infusion of roots with other unspecified herbs used by the Iroquois.
 * For urinary troubles: Decoction of roots used for urine stoppage and other disorders by the Iroquois.
 * For stomach cramps: Infusion of small roots given to children by the Maliseet. Compound preparation given to adults and children by the Meskwaki.  Used in an unspecified preparation by the Mi'kmaq.
 * For earaches: Root pieces cooked and placed in ear by the Meskwaki.
 * To calm vomiting: Used in an unspecified treatment by the Potawatomi to ease vomiting and induce the appetite of the sick.

Leaves

 * For sores/open wounds: Fresh leaves applied directly to the wounds or made into a salve by the Cherokee.
 * For head and eyes: Dried and used by the Cherokee as a snuff for general ailments.

Whole plant/unspecified

 * To prevent bad dreams: Infusion taken by the Iroquois to prevent bad dreams, specifically those caused by the dead.
 * To cleanse ghost contamination: Infusion or decoction used by the Iroquois used as a wash to cleanse those contaminated by ghosts.
 * To make one fit to visit the sick: Decoction used to cleanse or purify someone to make them fit to visit the sick by the Iroquois.
 * To detect and protect from witchcraft: Used in many ways to detect and protect people from witchcraft by the Iroquois.

Whole plant/unspecified

 * For coughs, heaves, and similar problems in horses: A compound decoction was given to horses by the Iroquois.
 * To treat horses "sick from not being used: Decoction mixed with whiskey given to horses by the Iroquois.

Root

 * As general seasoning: Used dried by the Meskwaki and the Anishinabe.
 * To remove muddy taste from fish: Used by the Meskwaki dried and by the Anishinabe after being processed in lye water.
 * To prevent food poisoning: Cooked with meat to avoid ptomaine poisoning by the Meskwaki.
 * As an appetizer: Used as an appetizer to cooked foods by the Anishinabe.
 * To render meat digestible: Used by the Anishinabe.

Root

 * To attract catfish: The root was chewed and the spittle produced rubbed on bait to allow fisherman to catch catfish by the Meskwaki.
 * To perfume clothing: The root was roasted and powdered, then sprinkled on clothing to perfume it by the Anishinabe.

Chemical actions and constituents

 * List of chemical constituents: from Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
 * List of chemical actions: from Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases