64 
Symphoricarpus racemosa Michx., Garden Snowberry 
Bella Coola: Branches, large and small, with the bark left on, 
boiled, and the decoction taken internally daily as the best cure for 
gonorrhoea. A diuretic. Roots, blossoms, and berries not used for 
medicine, unless, as one informant stated, the berries were used with 
the branches. 
See also tideland spruce (page 51). 
Southern Carrier: Juice of ripe berries used in sore eyes. 
Gitksan: Not used. 
Sambucus racemosa L., Red-Fruited Elder 
Bella Coola: Bark of the roots placed in water, a few hot stones 
added until water reached blood heat, and decoction used as a powerful 
emetic and purgative for pain in the stomach. 
Bark of the roots peeled with the teeth, chewed, preferably with 
a little cool water, and juice swallowed as an emetic and purgative. 
Said to act within half an hour. 
Southern Carrier: Roots boiled, and two cupfuls of the warm 
decoction taken internally twice a day as a purgative. 
Northern Carrier: Roots brew T ed, the first water discarded and the 
second taken internally as a purgative. 
Sikani: Bark boiled, and the decoction taken internally as a 
purgative. 
Gitksan: Bark of roots scraped off, water added to the bark, and 
the infusion taken internally as an emetic and purgative. 
Viburnum pauciflorum Raf., Squashberry 
Bella Coola: Bark chewed, and the juice swallowed for whooping 
cough and cold on the lungs. 
Southern Carrier: Not used. 
Northern Carrier: Inside bark crushed, steeped in cold water until 
the water turned green, and one cupful of the infusion taken internally 
as a purgative and for dysentery. 
Gitksan: Bark and twigs boiled, and one cupful of the decoction 
taken internally in the morning for coughs and “consumption”. Said 
to be always taken in conjunction with devil’s club (page 62). See 
also Angelica genuflexa Nutt., page 61. 
VALERIAN ACEAE, VALERIAN FAMILY 
Valeriana septentrionalis Rydb., Valerian 
Bella Coola: Not used. 
Southern Carrier: Roots, mixed with grease, used for perfume. 
Northern Carrier: Valerian? blossoms crushed, and the oil, often 
mixed w ith fat from a black bear hide, applied as a hair tonic. Believed 
to make the hair smooth and shiny, to help its growth, and to give it a 
fragrance. 
Gitksan: Entire plant steeped in bear grease and the grease 
applied to hair and face as a perfume. 
Valeriana sitchensis Bong., Valerian 
Southern Carrier: Leaves mixed with grease used as a perfume 
for the hair. 
