lexington yesterday

Our modern world has drifted away from nature’s medicine cabinet. Some of these plants grow in our own neighborhood. I remember some years ago a “root doctor” lived off Leaphart Road. I was always curious. And in the Upcountry an old-time doctor based his practice on herbal medicines.

When visiting Switzerland a few years ago a location was pointed out to us where such a doctor practiced in the small village many decades ago. The locals were known to line up and wait for quite a while for treatment.

Every now and again I run across such healing plants in our own history. Most likely these plants have both European and Native American or even global origins.

This spring my ‘discovered” plant is chickweed. Chickweed, whose official name is Stella Media, is a flowering annual. It’s in the carnation family. It is a prolific plant grown for both human and animal consumption.

Chickweed germinates in fall and is one of the first plants to appear in the spring landscape. Native American and early American settlers used chickweed as a source of nutrition. It was especially rich in vitamin C and useful for enriching a sparse late winter diet.

Our common sulfur butterfly, also an early spring arrival, feeds on chickweed.

The plant is used in folk medicine because of its medicinal properties. Healing traditions of Native Americans include chickweed. Native healing traditions began thousands of years ago. Most of these healing practices included rituals and ceremonies. They varied according to the beliefs of each tribe.

Cures were achieved through the harmony of spirit, the natural environment, and the Great Creator. Indigent medicine people were priests as well as healers. People of the community came together in healing ceremonies. They helped the “patient” through ceremonial dancing, chanting, and prayers.

The job of healer was passed down from person to person in a family from generation to generation. Still, others had visions to become healers. Apprentices served under an experienced practitioner for a long time. Eventually, they gained the knowledge to practice without assistance.

The primary role of the native medicine man/woman is to begin by securing help from the Great Spirit. The help may heal the individual or community. You may not find any chickweed for sale among the herbs at the Lexington Museum’s Herb Festival on April 6th. Rest assured it has a place at the head table with a story to tell.