Native American medicine is  completely separate branch of natural medicine compared to the treatments being used by the white settlers. Having developed over thousands of years, native American healers knew a thing or two about how to fix what ails you.

Many of their secrets are still kept under wraps, but some is known, in fact a number of conventional medicines have been developed as a direct result of treatments used by native Americans.

Herbs from Native American Medicine gives information on 38 herbs, detailing how to grow, gather, which parts to use for which remedies and warnings regarding toxicity where necessary.

Herbs covered include: ragleaf bahia, Fendler's bladderpod, 9 species of wild buckwheat, creosote bush, Eastern skunk cabbage, catnip, black Western chokecherry, Devil's club, black cohosh, blue cohosh, cotton, dogbane, gentian, stiff goldenrod, goldenseal, trumpet honeysuckle, hops, American licorice, milkweed, American mistletoe, partridgeberry, persimmon, pokeweed, white sage, broom snakeweed, stoneseed, smooth upland sumac, yellow spined thistle, tobacco and yellowroot.

An alphabetical index of ailments is included for quick reference.

Fendler's Bladderpod

(Lesquerella, Popweed or Yellowtop)

Physaria fendleri syn. Lesquerella fendleri and Vesicaria fendleri, Brassicaceae

Tender perennial. 5-40cm, Full sun or semi-shade, well drained sandy alkaline soil, preferably calcareous. Tolerates drought.

Closely related to Gordon's bladderpod.

Surface sow at 20ºC (68ºF) in Spring and plant out after all danger of frost has passed. Fendler's bladderpod is native to warmer states like Arizona and Texas, so if you're growing it in an area with cold Winters, give it a mulch in the Fall and maybe some additional protection when frost threatens.

Will bloom throughout Spring and Summer in favorable conditions.

Standard infusion: 3 handfuls fresh/30g (1 ounce) dried leaves to 500ml (2 US cups, 16 fl oz) water.
Dosage: Up to 250ml (1 US cup, 8 fl oz) a day, which can be split into 3 doses.

The standard infusion is emetic. The Navajos used it to treat spider bites.