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ARISTOLOCIHACEAE, BIRTHWORT FAMILY 
Asarum caudatum Lindl., Wild Ginger 
Bella Coola: Boiled, and the decoction taken internally for pain in 
the stomach, but not for diarrhoea or vomiting. 
Boiled, and applied externally for headache, intestinal pains, and 
pain in the knees. 
Southern Carrier: Not used. 
POLYGONACEAE, BUCKWHEAT FAMILY 
Rumex occidentalis Wats., Western Dock 
Bella Coola: Roots roasted for a short time in a hole in the earth 
among the ashes of a fire, covered with earth, mashed, and applied in 
quantity as a poultice for boils. Both leaves and roots used, according 
to another informant, and the poultice applied to wounds as well as 
boils. 
Leaves used for a sweat bath for pains similar to rheumatism all 
over the body. Stones were heated, a little cold sand spread over 
them, and leaves spread on the sand; or else the leaves were spread 
on hot ashes. The patient sat or lay naked directly on the leaves, 
and was covered with blankets. Western Nettles ( Urtica Lyallii 
Wats.), small branches of black cottonwood ( Populus trichocarpa 
T. and G.) with the leaves on them, or the small kelp found on rocks were 
sometimes used when leaves of the western dock could not be obtained. 
Southern Carrier: Not used. 
LORANTHACEAE, MISTLETOE FAMILY 
Arceuthobium americanum Nutt., Small Mistletoe 
Bella Coola: Boiled, and decoction taken as a potent medicine 
for hemorrhage of the lungs. 
Southern Carrier: Boiled, and decoction taken freely for hemor- 
rhage from the mouth, tuberculosis of the lungs, and emaciation. 
NYMPHACEAE, WATER-LILY FAMILY 
Nymphaea polysepala (Engelm.) Greene, Yellow Pond-Lilt 
Bella Coola, old custom: Used in a magical way for pain in all 
parts of the body. A root in many cases as large as a man's leg was 
cut free from the bed of a pool with a hemlock pole sharpened like a 
shovel. A hollow was made in it, water placed in the receptacle, and 
hot stones added. The stones were changed four times, after which 
the patient drank one or two cupfuls of the water. He repeated the 
dose each day for four days. To be effective the root had to be thrown 
back into the water, not on the ground. 
Present custom: Root boiled twelve hours, and decoction taken 
internally for pain in any part of the body, such as “consumption", 
rheumatism, heart disease, and gonorrhoea. Considered good for the 
blood. Not used as a diuretic, or for diarrhoea, constipation, or 
vomiting. 
Gitksan: Infusion of scrapings of toasted root (or according to 
another informant, heart of root, boiled) taken internally for hemor- 
rhage of the lungs and as a contraceptive. 
