Paleo Foraging

Aristolochia serpentaria L.

Synonyms: = Endodeca serpentaria

Common names: Virginia dutchman’s pipe, Virginia snakeroot

Cherokee: unastE^ts^tsiyú / unɑstE·^tsi^tsiʽgá / unastE^dzɑtiyɑ́ – “little root” / stɑstigɑ́ – “root” (Banks 1953:36)

Choctaw: tiaôksês shuwa – “pine smell” (Bushnell 1909:24)

Location in Texas: C & E TX; not uncommon in Travis Co.

Form: herb; perennial.

Medicine

Roots – soaked in water and the infusion drunk to relieve stomach pains by the Choctaw (Bushnell 1909:24) and Cherokee (Banks 1953:37). A decoction was drunk by the Cherokee to relieve stomachache (Banks 1953:37). The root was soaked in water and the infusion drunk by the Cherokee to relieve headache or colds (Banks 1953:37,38). An infusion was drunk to treat fever (Banks 1953:37). A decoction was drunk to treat coughs (Banks 1953:37). A decoction was drunk for “heart trouble” (Banks 1953:37). A piece of the root was put in a tooth cavity to relieve toothache (Banks 1953:37). An infusion was drunk, or the root chewed and juice swallowed to treat colds (Banks 1953:37). The root was bruised and held against the nose to relieve soreness from frequently blowing the nose as a result of having a cold (Banks 1953:38).

Whole plant – soaked in water and the infusion drunk by the Cherokee to relieve pain and prevent fainting in the case of traumatic injury (Banks 1953:38).