61 
UMBELLIFERAE, PARSLEY FAMILY 
Osmorrhiza sp., Sweet Cicely 
Bella Coola: Ten to fifteen little pieces of root, as large as the end 
joint of the thumb, ground by rubbing on a stone; two cupfuls placed 
in water warmed to blood heat, and two cupfuls of the decoction 
(according to the strength of the patient) taken internally as an emetic. 
Decoction acted (sometimes as a purgative instead of an emetic) 
within five or ten minutes, but lost its power if heated too much. 
Warm water taken afterwards until the patient vomited four or five 
times and the stomach was entirely cleaned. Used also for pneu- 
monia. 
Southern Carrier: Not used. 
Heracleum Ianatum Michx., Cow Parsnip 
Bella Coola: Roots crushed, baked (or boiled in a box with hot 
stones), and applied as a poultice for boils. If too hot a poultice 
injured the skin. 
Raw, uncrushed root inserted in an opened boil and left from 
half a day to a day. Pus said to come away with the root. 
See also white fir (page 50), balsam fir (page 50), black 
cottonwood (page 54), and false bugbane (page 57). 
Southern Carrier: Blossoms steeped in eulachon or other oil and 
the mixture rubbed on the body to keep off flies and mosquitoes. 
Northern Carrier: Roots applied to swellings and bruises. 
Sikani: Roots mashed and applied to swellings of neuralgia or 
rheumatism. 
Gitksan: Roots mashed and applied to boils, rheumatic and other 
swellings. 
Angelica genuflexa Nutt. 
Bella Coola: Roots boiled and decoction taken internally as a 
purgative. Not an emetic. Sometimes used raw, but never roasted. 
Gitksan: Roots well boiled with twigs of squashberry ( Viburnum 
pauciflorum Raf.) from which the bark had not been removed, and 
decoction taken internally for headache and weak eyes. 
Ligusticum scothicum L., Lovage 
Bella Coola: Leaves spread over a hot stone or stones and used as 
a medicinal bed for the sick. 
Southern Carrier: Not used. 
Cicuta Douglasii (DC.) C. and R., Water Hemlock, Poison Parsnip 
Bella Coola: Roots used as a purgative. 
Southern Carrier: Not used. 
ARALIACEAE, GINSENG FAMILY 
Aralia nudicaulis L., Sarsaparilla 
Bella Coola: Roots boiled in a box with hot stones, and decoction 
taken internally as often as desired for pain in the stomach, or merely 
as a beverage. Nowadays sweetened with a little sugar. Stem, or 
its bark, not used. 
Southern Carrier: Not used. 
Gitksan: Not used. 
