| Seneca root, also known as snake root, has a long | | | | almost disappeared. Yet, our family continues to rely |
| history in North American native diets. Its use as a | | | | on a chewed root at the first sign of congestion, which |
| remedy for colds is well-known. In fact, until the early | | | | almost 100% success. |
| 1970s, many prairie First Nations people dug the root | | | | Seneca root is found from New Brunswick to Alberta, |
| along roadways and gravelly waste lands, earning up | | | | from northern Manitoba to Missouri & North |
| to $14 per pound, "dry, clean & bright." | | | | Carolina. The plant sends up 5 – 20 shoots from |
| As a child, I recall my First Nations friends and their | | | | the circular head of the root, just above the ground. |
| parents working their way down Highway 6 in | | | | By late June, these shoots are crowned with a |
| Manitoba in early July, digging Seneca root. By the | | | | cone-shaped white cluster of flowers about 3/8 inch |
| time they had made their way from the Fairford | | | | long (See accompanying picture). |
| reservation to Woodlands, most of the teenagers and | | | | Visit us at more wildcrafting articles. |
| adults had accumulated more than 200 pounds each, | | | | Although many people in the 1900s harvested the plant |
| which they washed thoroughly, then dried in the sun on | | | | in the early summer because of the ease of |
| screens. | | | | identification, the best time to dig is in early September, |
| For the two weeks that it took for the root to | | | | when the essential oils are concentrated in the root |
| completely dry, they moved into the Whiteshell | | | | and the leaf bunches are tinged a deep red. |
| Provincial Park region to pick wild rice. Between the | | | | Once harvested, Seneca roots should be broken from |
| two wild crops, many of the Fairford residents earned | | | | the leaf clusters, washed thoroughly and dried |
| upwards of $6,000 for two months of extremely | | | | completely, either in a dehydrator, or on a screen in a |
| back-breaking labour. | | | | well-ventilated area. Roots can be stored as is, then |
| Seneca root has been one of several cold remedies | | | | ground in a coffee bean grinder and used as a tea, or |
| used buy the original citizens of North America for | | | | eaten whole. Beware, though, as the taste is quite |
| hundreds of years. However, as chemical solutions | | | | powerful, with an astringent taste stronger than |
| to pharmacy have become the preferred method of | | | | Buckleys cough syrup! Remember, a spoonful of |
| illness control, the commercial use of Seneca has | | | | sugar helps the medicine go down! |