Traditional Use of Herbs in Treating Urinary Disorders Among Indigenous Peoples of North America

Abstract

Introduction

Indigenous Peoples historically created medicinal treatments derived from plants native to their environments. This review explores the herbs employed by different tribes across North America for treating presumed Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) signs and symptoms, such as burning, frequency, urgency, and incontinence. Antibiotics are the standard treatment for UTIs. The increase in microbial resistance prompts the exploration of alternative therapies. This review identifies these herbs to investigate whether they could be a potential alternative to antibiotics in modern medicine

Sources and Methods

Field notes, species descriptions, illustrations, and primary North American Indigenous Peoples’ phenological observations were reviewed for the herbs used to treat and prevent UTI symptoms in various tribal communities. Additionally, the geographic distribution of the herbs and the tribes was researched

Results

Wild mint (Mentha arvensis), was used by the Cherokee, Ojibwa, and Cree tribes. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) grows throughout North America, was used by the Cree, Innu, Inuit tribes of Northeastern Canada, and contains arbutin, which has antiseptic and diuretic properties. The Iroquois, Micmac, Wampanoag, and Algonquin-speaking tribes, which spanned across Canada, used cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) to treat irritative urinary symptoms. Like cranberries, mossberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos) are found on low shrubs in northern, cold regions and were used by Inuit and Cree tribes. Algonquin-speaking tribes used Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) as the leaves and flowers have diuretic properties. The Eastern Cherokee used a mix of herbs that included Solidago odora for urinary problems.

Conclusions

Indigenous People of North America employed a variety of herbs and berries to manage irritative urinary symptoms that may have been indicative of a UTI. Many of these natural remedies have since been discovered to contain compounds with proven antibacterial, antiseptic, and diuretic qualities. Exploring herbal therapeutics as alternatives to antibiotics is a promising avenue, especially given the rise in antibiotic resistance.

Key Words

Indigenous Peoples, Herbal Therapy, Urinary Symptoms