Reducing teas.
LEPIDIUM EPETALUM
(Ind. Chesa-mok-ka-mok)
American Pepper Grass.
SALINIA
(Ind. Cheena-wah)
American Salt Grass.
PANICUM CAPILLARE
(Ind. Ne-wa-cha-mo)
American Witch Grass. The first two are fond of rich, agricultural soils, whereas the latter prefers alkaline lands. All three have been declared noxious weeds and are listed as such by the Department of Agriculture, although the Indians found some use for these grasses.
There were times when some of our men and women became over-fat; in fact, so fat that they had great difficulty in traveling, the exertion making them complain of heart trouble which in reality was nothing but a discomfort due to short respiration caused by excessive fatness. Accordingly, something had to be done. A search was made, and experiments with good results finally obtained. These grasses compounded with the bark of sassafras, wall-wort and others (also named for extermination, just like the three above-named plants) are excellent for reducing purposes.
The chief trouble in our schools where botany is taught seems to be that too much attention is given to the appearance of plants, instead of to their medicinal value and other useful properties.