590  Plants  Used  by  the  Indians.         { AtnDJe°cu; 
California.  It  has  a  strong  peppery  taste  and  odor.  A  tea  made  from  the  roots 
and  a  powder  prepared  from  the  same  and  applied  to  venereal  sores,  are  a  great 
remedy.  The  powder  is  advantageously  used  on  cuts  and  sores,  as  it  is  very  astrin- 
gent. The  leaves,  after  being  wilted  by  heat  and  applied  to  swellings,  are  a  sure 
cure. 
Achillea  millefolium,  Yarrow  of  the  settlers  of  Utah.  The  Pah-Utes  make  a  tea 
from  this  plant,  and  take  it  internally  for  weak  and  disordered  stomachs.  It  is  much 
wsed  by  whites  in  the  form  of  bitters. 
Curcurbita  perennis,  called  Chili  Cojote  by  Mexicans. — The  pulp  of  the  green 
fruit  is  used,  with  a  little  soap,  to  remove  stains  from  clothing.  The  roots  of  this 
plant  are  large  and  long,  and  when  macerated  in  water,  are  applied  to  piles,  gener- 
ally with  good  effect.  The  seeds  are  ground  fine  and  made  into  mush,  and  eaten 
as  food  by  many  Indians  of  Arizona  and  Southern  California. 
Euphorbia  polycarpa,  called  by  Mexicans  Golendrina. — A  strong  decoction  made 
from  this  plant  and  applied  to  snake  bites  soon  produces  reaction.  Many  cures 
effected  in  this  way  are  reported.  In  fact,  the  Indians  of  Arizona  and  Southern 
California  rely  entirely  upon  it  in  such  cases.  Some  years  since,  being  in  San  Diego, 
and  wading  in  the  salt  water,  a  fish  [Sting-Ray)  plunged  the  bony  projection  at  the 
base  of  its  tail  into  my  left  foot,  and  soon  the  swelling  and  pain  became  excessive. 
A  Mexican  woman  made  several  gallons  of  a  very  strong  decoction  from  this  plant, 
and  plunged  my  leg  up  to  the  knee  into  it  while  hot,  and  in  a  few  hours  relief  came. 
Eriodyction  glutinosum,  Verba  Santa  of  the  Mexicans,  and  a  great  medicine  among 
the  Indians  of  Southern  Utah,  Arizona  and  California.  A  decoction  made  from 
this  plant,  and  taken  internally  for  rheumatism  and  partial  paralysis,  or  applied  ex- 
ternally, is  an  excellent  remedy.  For  affections  of  the  lungs,  the  leaves  are  used  by 
smoking  or  chewing  dry,  or  a  tea  is  made  from  them  and  drank. 
Micromeria  Douglasii,  Verba  Buena  of  the  Mexicans. — This  is  an  interesting 
plant,  growing  near  the  sea-coast  of  California,  having  a  strong  minty  smell.  It  is 
a  favorite  medicine  with  the  Mexican  population  of  California.  The  Indians  of  the 
same  section  prepare  a  tea  from  it,  which  is  used  for  fevers  and  colds.  In  case  of 
headache,  a  quantity  of  the  plant  is  bound  round  the  head. 
Artemisia  tridentata,  commonly  called  sage  brush. — The  Pah-Utes  make  a  strong 
tea  from  this  plant  and  take  it  internally  for  headache,  colds  and  for  worms.  It  is 
also  a  good  stimulant,  prepared  either  with  water  or  liquor.  It  yields  a  pungent  oil 
which  would  be  a  profitable  article  of  commerce. 
A.  filifolia,  Southern  <vuood. — This  plant  on  distillation  yields  a  very  penetrating 
oil  which  is  good  for  liniments,  and  the  Pah-Utes  make  a  decoction  from  it  excel- 
lent for  swellings  and  bruises. 
A.  ludoviciana,  A.  dracunculoides. — The  seeds  of  these  two  species  are  gathered 
by  the  Pah-Utes,  ground  fine,  made  into  mush  and  eaten.  It  is  anything  but  a 
tempting  dish,  having  a  dirty  look  and  strong  taste. 
A.  ludo'-viciana. —  This  plant  possesses  medicinal  virtues.  The  Pah-Utes  make  a 
strong  tea  of  it  and  use  it  internally  to  assist  child-birth,  whenever  assistance  is  re- 
quired, which  is  seldom.  In  case  of  hemorrhage  from  the  nose  they  stuff  wads  of 
the  fresh  plant  into  the  nostrils. 
