Indigenous Medical Plant Research by Keaton Halyk

Wild Strawberry

kh761 — 2024-09-11 15:45:55 UTC

What is the plant's historical use as traditonal medicine?

kh761 — 2024-09-15 22:10:26 UTC

Wild Strawberry plants were apparently used by the Wolastoqiyik as a treatment for irregular menstruation. The Anishinaabe used the tea or decoction from roots to treat certain stomach aches in infants.

What parts of the plant are used as medicine?

kh761 — 2024-09-15 22:20:44 UTC

The fruit doesn't have any medical benefits itself, but the leaves which can also be added to tea for flavouring, roots and runners have been used as medicine to treat a variety of diseases.

How is the plant prepared to be used as medicine?

kh761 — 2024-09-15 22:24:53 UTC

The Saannich steeped fresh leaves for tea, the Quileute would chew leaves so they could be applied as a poultice on burns and the Skokomish made tea using the entire plant to cure diarrhea.

What Indigenous peoples used the plant?

kh761 — 2024-09-15 22:26:04 UTC

Many Indigenous groups used Wild strawberries for medicine like the Wolastoqiyik, the Anishinaabe, the Skokomish, and the Saannich.

Where does the plant grow?

kh761 — 2024-09-15 22:29:22 UTC

Wild strawberries are typically found in abandoned fields, along the side of a road, grasslands, and in open woodlands. They are also less commonly found on forest edges in high altitude areas around 2400-2850m above sea level.

When/how is it harvested to be used as medicine?

kh761 — 2024-09-15 22:31:19 UTC

Wild strawberries should be harvested around June to July which is when they are ripen and edible. They are harvested by hand from their plants and most often eaten quickly or almost immediately after being picked.

What is the plant used for today?

kh761 — 2024-09-15 22:32:44 UTC

The fruit still currently gets used for it's medical benefits as a laxative, diuretic and tonic. This is not the only thing the Wild strawberries are used for, they are also added to many foods such as Greek yoghurt, cream, ice cream and even the leaves are put in tea for their flavour.

Identification of a Wild strawberry

kh761 — 2024-09-15 22:55:05 UTC

Wild strawberries distinguish themselves with a fibrous root with short creeping roots. They also have long leafless runners that are red. Wild strawberries are also a lot smaller than normal strawberries being only around 1-2cm long.

More facts about Wild strawberries

kh761 — 2024-09-16 01:05:21 UTC

Wild strawberries only stay fresh for around a day before they become mushy and gross. Wild strawberries are not commercially cultivated do to their small size and low yield. They are considered to have a better taste and flavour compared to commercially available strawberries. Inside France and many other small countries in central Europe pastry shops use small Wild strawberries in their pastries such as cakes and other baked products.