bah·hoe·vee (White Sage)

Names

Shoshone:
bah·hoe·vee (Sacred Sage)

English: White Sage

Scientific: Artemisia ludoviciana

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • Near sage brush
  • Scattered

Primary Uses

  • Medicinal
    • Anti-bacterial
    • Anti-parasitic
  • Other
    • Ceremony

Secondary Uses

  • Medicinal
    • Intestinal health

Cautions

  • None listed

Active Principle(s)

  • Turpines

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Kills parasites. Leaves can be used to treat intestinal distress.

Ceremonially used for smudging. For smudging, harvest before flowering.

boe·hoe·v (Fringed Sage)

Names

Shoshone:
boe·hoe·v (“Little Brother of Big Sage”)

English: Fringed Sage

Scientific: Artemisia frigida

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • Near sage brush
  • Scattered

Primary Uses

  • Medicinal
    • Anti-bacterial
    • Diarrhea
    • Lungs
    • Pneumonia
    • Anti-parasitic

Secondary Uses

  • None listed

Cautions

  • None listed

Active Principle(s)

  • Artemisin is anti-bacterial.

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Kills parasites, helps prevent malaria, fights food poisoning, giardia, and pneumonia.

Rub on hands as hand sanitizer. Or, make a tincture with 70% alcohol.

(Yellow Paintbrush)

Names

Shoshone:
Unknown

English: Yellow Paintbrush

Scientific: Castilleja occidentalis

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • Low elevation
  • Near sage brush
  • Scattered

Primary Uses

  • Food
  • Medicinal
    • Vitamin C

Secondary Uses

  • None listed

Cautions

  • None listed

Active Principle(s)

  • Vitamin C
  • Carotenoids (anti-oxidants)
  • Selenium

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Has a mushroom flavor when fried.

moe.hah.gwah.rahnd (Scarlet Paintbrush)

Names

Shoshone:
moe.hah.gwah.rahnd

English: Scarlet Paintbrush

Scientific: Castilleja minata

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • Low elevation
  • Scattered

Primary Uses

  • Medicinal
    • Vitamin C

Secondary Uses

  • None listed

Cautions

  • None listed

Active Principle(s)

  • Vitamin C
  • Carotenoids (antioxidants)
  • Selenium

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Tops are nutrient rich.

(Indian Ricegrass)

Names

Shoshone:
Unknown

English: Indian Ricegrass

Scientific: Orizopsis hymenoides

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • Sandy, dry places
  • Red desert

Primary Uses

  • Food
    • Flour

Secondary Uses

  • Other
    • Fire Starter

Cautions

  • None listed

Active Principle(s)

  • None listed

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

High in protein.

Pounded and added to other flours for bread.

(Bitterbrush)

Names

Shoshone:
Unknown

English: Bitterbrush

Scientific: Purshia tridentata

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • In sagebrush stappa after fire

Primary Uses

  • Medicinal
    • Induce vomiting

Secondary Uses

  • Medicinal
    • Nervous system

Cautions

  • Causes vomiting

Active Principle(s)

  • None listed

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Can be used to induce vomiting.

boe.hoe.v (Big Sagebrush)

Names

Shoshone:
boe.hoe.v

English: Big Sagebrush

Scientific: Artemisia tridentata

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • Med: Leaves
  • Food: Seeds edible – low elevation

Primary Uses

  • Medicine
    • Anti-bacterial
    • Fever
    • Fungicide
    • Infection
    • Lungs

Secondary Uses

  • None listed

Cautions

  • In general, do not eat the leaves.

Active Principle(s)

  • Turpine (fever control)
  • Camphor (insect repellent)

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

While the seeds are edible, primarily the leaves are used for medicinal purposes and to preserve food in underground caches.

(Black Cottonwood (Balsam))

Names

Shoshone:

English: Black Cottonwood (Balsam)

Scientific: Populus balsamifera

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • Not Listed

Primary Uses

  • Food
    • Tea
  • Medicine
    • Anti-inflammatory
    • Anti-fever
    • Headache
    • Pneumonia 
    • Teeth
    • Wounds

Secondary Uses

  • Other
    • Music

Cautions

  • None Currently Listed

Active Principle(s)

  • Salicylic Acid

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Food Notes

Bark can be made into a tea for generalized pain, or buds can be mixed into buffalo fat to be rubbed into skin cracks and wounds. 

Medicinal Use Notes

Bark and buds: contain salicylic acid which is a pain reliever that can be used for headaches, fevers, tooth pain, etc. 

Tree trunks can also be hollowed out for use in a drum base.

wee.yahm.p (Black Hawthorn)

Names

Shoshone: wee.yahm.p

English: Black Hawthorn

Scientific: Crateagus douglasii

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • None Listed

Primary Uses

  • Food
    • Tea
  • Medicine
    • Eyes
    • Heart 
    • Throat

Secondary Uses

  • Other
    • Smoking

Cautions

  • None Listed

Active Principle(s)

  • Oligomeric proanthocyanidin (OPC, anti-oxidant)

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Food Notes

Tea made from berries to treat macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and sore throat/colds.

Medicinal Use Notes

Tea made from berries to treat macular degeneration, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and sore throat/colds.

Thorns use as awls for sewing tough hides

doy.yah.gwee.choom.boe.gah (Curly Cup Gumweed)

Names

Shoshone:
doy.yah.gwee.choom.boe.gah

English: Curly Cup Gumweed

Scientific: Grindelia squarrosa

Zone

Lower Foothills

Harvest Time

  • Not listed

Primary Uses

  • Medicine
    • Anti-inflammatory
    • Allergy
    • Antiviral

Secondary Uses

  • Medicine
    • Lungs
    • Muscle Tone 
    • Pneumonia
    • Stings

Cautions

  • None Listed

Active Principle(s)

  • None Listed

Video Description of Plant

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Notes

Food Notes

None listed 

Medicinal Use Notes

Resin can be rubbed on mosquito bites, bee stings, spider bites, etc. The flower is anti-inflammatory. Sued to create herpes viruses and shingles. Bronchio-dialator that can assist with breathing for pneumonia and allergies. Helps build muscle tissue. Can be used ceremonially- smudging will keep away ghosts.