Paleo Foraging

Monarda fistulosa L.

Synonyms: = M. comata, M. menthaefolia, M. menthifolia, M. stricta

Common names: Wild bergamot, horsemint, Oswego-tea, wildbergamot beebalm, beebalm, pennyroyal

Apache: tłołdai (Castetter and Opler 1936:60)

Cayuga: ganuʹda’ (Waugh 1916:149)

Cherokee: gows’ɑgí – “it smells” (Banks 1953:111)

Dakota: ḣeḣaka ta pezhuta – “elk medicine” / waḣpe washtemna – “fragrant leaves” (Gilmore 1977:59)

Flathead: tituẃi (Hart 1979:284)

Gosiute: sutsiǥiʼⁱn (Robbins et al. 1916:57)

Lakota: hexaka tapežuta – “elk medicine” / hexaka tawote – “elk food” / waxpe waštemna – “odorous leaves” (Munson 1981:236)

Menominee: oia’tcia näsikun – “sneezing spasmodically” (Smith 1923:36)

Navajo: ‘azee’ntoot’iijíh – “medicine, [flowers in] whorls” / t’óhnłtchiin – “fragrant” (Elmore 1944:73)

Ojibwe: weca‘ wûswackwî‘ nek – “yellow light” (Smith 1932:72)

Omaha-Ponca: pezhe pa – “bitter herb” / izna-kithe-iga hi (Gilmore 1977:59)

Osage: nidsida (Munson 1981:236)

Pawnee: tsusahtu – “ill-smelling” / tsostu (Gilmore 1977:59)

Location in Texas: NE, E, & sparse C, S & W TX; uncommon ornamental in Travis Co.

Form: herb, low shrub; perennial.

Flowers: May-Oct (white, pink, purple).

Food

Leaves – used for flavoring cooking by the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache (Castetter and Opler 1936:47) and Tewa (Robbins et al. 1916:57). The leaves were dried and powdered as a spice by the Flathead (Hart 1979:284). Leaves were chewed for their flavor and odor by the Lakota (Munson 1981:236).

Foliage – the leaves and young stems were used to make a tea by the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache (Castetter and Opler 1936:53) and Iroquois (Waugh 1916:149).

Medicine

Flowers – an infusion of the blossoms was drunk to treat fevers and colds by the Lakota (Munson 1981:236).

Flowers & leaves – a decoction was drunk to cure abdominal pains by the Teton Dakota (Gilmore 1977:59). An infusion was drunk to treat catarrh (stuffy, runny nose etc.) by the Menominee (Smith 1923:36).

Leaves – a decoction used on the face to treat pimples by the Winnebago (Gilmore 1977:59). A decoction was drunk to treat sore throat by the Tewa (Robbins et al. 1916:57). An infusion was drunk for colds and coughs by the Flathead (Hart 1979:284). Leaves were packed around aching teeth to relieve toothache pain (Hart 1979:283). An infusion was drunk for whooping cough (Munson 1981:236). Boiled leaves wrapped in a cloth were placed over the eyes to relieve pain (Munson 1981:236). Chewed leaves were placed on wounds and bandaged over to stop blood flow (Munson 1981:236).

Whole plant – dried, powdered, moistened, and rubbed on the head for a headache by the Tewa (Robbins et al. 1916:57) and Navajo (Elmore 1944:73). The plant was rubbed on the head, face, limbs, and inside the mouth, then water was drunk to treat fever by the Tewa (Robbins et al. 1916:58). The plant was dried, boiled, and the steam inhaled to treat catarrh and bronchial infections by the Ojibwe (Smith 1932:372).

[unspecified part] – used in the preparation of a hair pomade by the Omaha and Ponca (Gilmore 1977:59). It was used to treat sore eyes by the Tewa (Robbins et al. 1916:58). A warm poultice was used for headache by the Cherokee (Banks 1953:111).

Material

Whole plant – dried bundles were hung in houses for their odor (Hart 1979:284). The plant was used for perfume by the Osage (Munson 1981:236).

Notes – used in the ceremonial sun dance of the Dakota (Gilmore 1977:59). The Dakota, Omaha, Ponca, and Pawnee recognized two varieties, thus their two names (Gilmore 1977:59).