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Asarum canadense - Wild Ginger Call for availability
Drawing copyright Mark Müller
Aristolochiaceae Family - "Wild Ginger, Sierra Wild Ginger, Canada Wild Ginger, Asarabacca, Broad-leaved Sarabacca, Catfoot, Colic Root, Colt's Foot, False Colt's Foot, Ginger Root, Snakeroot, Canada Snakeroot, Vermont Snakeroot, Southern Snakeroot, Coltsfoot Snakeroot, Black Snakeroot, Heart Snakeroot, Black Snakeweed, Snakewood, Heartroot, Hot Potato, Sturgeon Potato, Indian Ginger"
Asarum from the Greek Asarum, the name of a species found in ancient Grecian times and canadense meaning "of Canada".
Distinctive (roughly heart-shaped) leaves, an unusual fleshy deep maroon to rich brown flower and the aroma of the crushed root are all characteristics of Asarum canadense. The flower is so low on the stem that it often grows into or even under the mulch of the forest floor. The references to "ginger" for this species come from a couple of different sources; the first when the root is crushed, a very spicy ginger-like aroma can be smelled. The second comes from the fact that this plant actually was (and still is, in some circles) a serviceable substitute for Jamaican Ginger. It flowers from April through May and grows in large groups. A. canadense is common across southern Canada and the northern US; it is also found in moist coniferous forests in California and Oregon, through the Carolinas and Georgia and south through Missouri and Texas.
Early settlers used the root as a substitute for Jamaican Ginger; the also sometimes boiled the roots with sugar to make a very palatable candied spice. Early physicians used wild ginger extensively to treat whooping cough. It was also used to calm an upset stomach, chest conditions, fevers, heart rhythm irregularities and many other ailments.
The root of Wild Ginger is a powerful medicine for inducing sweating to help break a fever. Author A. Hyatt Verrill was probably referring to Wild Ginger when he wrote, "Many a white man owes his life to the medicinal knowledge of the Indians, and I can personally testify to the efficiency of Indians as physicians, for I was safely brought through an attack of yellow fever by Indians and Indian medicines."
Here in Iowa, it was the single most important seasoning for the Meskwaki Tribe. In addition to that, they also believed that eating wild ginger root eliminated the chance of poisoning from eating the meat of animal that had died from unknown causes. And if that wasn't enough, they also chewed the root and spit it on their bait thinking it improved the chance of catching fish.
A few Native American tribes used wild ginger tea as a contraceptive. The Chippewa used it to treat indigestion. Still others chopped up the plant, wrapped it in a water plantain leaf and used it as a poultice to treat burns and skin inflammations. (Scientists have actually isolated the active ingredient in the plant and it is a powerful antiseptic.)
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