Over the past month and a half, we've centralized plant education around medicines the Native American tribes in this region have used for centuries.
In this post, we'll focus on three plants that are rooted here in the Piedmont region of North Carolina: sweetgum, longleaf pine, and pokeweed.
SWEETGUM
Upon chewing, the resin favors the sweet palate. But watch your step as you traverse around the astounding tree, as it drops gumballs, also known as witch’s balls or gumballs. This tree full of “liquid amber” can be found in parks, walkways, and forests in the southern and eastern regions of the United States and in Central America.
PINE
In addition to antioxidants, the pine tree supplies vitamins A and C, which boosts the immune system, mineral absorption, assist in the growth and repair of tissues, improve eye health, and the retinol compound maintains healthy skin.
POKEWEED
Gardeners avoid this plant like the plague and leave it to the birds (quite literally), but medicine people know that potent medicine lies in the roots. The Cherokee, Apache, and other Native American tribes are well acquainted with this plant; its berries, leaves, and roots
