Aster, Sand - Chaetopappa ericoides

(Nesom, Rose Heath)

Ethnobotanical Uses

 

Medical:

"Havasupai Gastrointestinal Aid Decoction of whole plant or roots taken or used as a wash for digestive troubles. Pediatric Aid Decoction of whole plant or roots given or used as a wash for children with digestive troubles. ---- Hopi Nose Medicine Infusion of root used to 'aid a sore nose.' --- Panacea Root used as a universal panacea. Pediatric Aid Infusion of herb used to 'quiet the baby.' --- Reproductive Aid Plant used to determine the sex of a child. This is quite an ambiguous reference. The text says this:'This plant is used by the Hopi Indians as genetic factor among the Indian clans. Genetic factor refers to the choice of a small (female) or large (male) plant to assist in determining the sex of a child.' It is, therefore, unclear if the plant is used to detect whether the fetus is male or female, or to cause the child to be one or the other. Elsewhere, this author tells us that the Hopi make a decoction of the leaves of juniper 'which is said to be a laxative and is taken by women who desire a female child.' This suggests the second possibility ay be the correct one, with administration of large plants if you want a son and small ones if you want a daughter. --- Sedative Infusion of root used to 'quiet the baby.' --- Stimulant Plant used as a stimulant. --- Keres, Western Antirheumatic (External) Poultice or infusion of plant used for swellings. --- Navajo, Kayenta Kidney Aid Infusion of plant with sumac berries taken for kidney disease. Urinary Aid Infusion of plant with sumac berries taken for bladder disease. Navajo, Ramah Nose Medicine Dried pulverized plant used as snuff or cold infusion used as drops for 'nose trouble.' --- Snakebite Remedy Poultice of chewed leaves applied and infusion taken for snakebite. Toothache Remedy Leaves chewed for toothache. --- Zuni Analgesic Infusion of pulverized plant applied for pain from cold or rheumatism. Antirheumatic (External) Infusion of whole plant rubbed on body for pain from a cold. Dermatological Aid Infusion of pulverized plant rubbed over body for swellings. Gynecological Aid Warm infusion of plant taken to 'hasten partuition.' --- (Moerman 150-1)