Herbs Used by the Navajo People

Herbs Used by the Navajo People

The Navajo people have many fine herbs that grow between the Four Sacred Mountains.¹
Herbs sorted by common name:

Scientific Name: Leucelene Ericoides
Common Name: Aster
Navajo Name:
Locality: Mountain Region
Navajo Uses: Snuff, treatment of diseases of the mouth, swelling, sores in mouth, headache, toothache, sore eyes.
Scientific Name: Cleome Serrulata
Common Name: Bee Plant
Navajo Name: Waa'
Locality: Valley Region
Navajo Uses: Foods, seasoning, deodrant.
Scientific Name: Monardella Odoratissima
Common Name: Bergamot, Wild or Labiateae
Navajo Name: Azee ndoot ezhi
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Treatment of stomach aches, nausea and fever
Scientific Name: Lycium Pallidum
Common Name: Box Thorn
Navajo Name:
Locality: Valley Region
Navajo Uses: Toothache
Scientific Name: Pteridium Aquilinum
Common Name: Bracken Fern
Navajo Name:
Locality: Mountain Region
Navajo Uses: Treatment of human and animal wounds.
Scientific Name: Eriogonum Rocenosum
Common Name: Buckwheat, Wild
Navajo Name:
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Treatment of internal injuries, poisoning, back ache, veneral disease.
Scientific Name: Juniperus Scopularum
Common Name: Cedar, Rocky Mountain
Navajo Name: Gad Ni'eetii
Locality: Mountain region
Navajo Uses: Remove dandruff, tea for pain, stomach problems, treats spider bites.
Scientific Name: Prunus Birginiana
Common Name: Cherry
Navajo Name:
Locality: Mountain region
Navajo Uses: Emetic, can be eaten, used to make brown dye.
Scientific Name: Cowania Mexicana
Common Name: Cliff Rose
Navajo Name: Awèèts'áál
Locality: Hillsides, steep slopes
Navajo Uses: Emetic, Used for stomach aches, nausea, skin problems and bites, cough syrup.
Scientific Name: Populus Fremontii
Common Name: Cottonwood
Navajo Name:
Locality: Along washes, streams and lakes
Navajo Uses: Source of many household and game items, cradle board, shoe shoes, shovels, hoes and dice from two Navajo games.
Scientific Name: Mirabilis Multiflora
Common Name: Four O'Clock
Navajo Name: Tsédédééh
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Treatment of sores in mouth, rhumatism, swelling, broken bones.
Scientific Name:
Common Name: Gamot, Large Specie
Navajo Name: Haza' aleetsoh
Locality: Mountain Base Region
Navajo Uses: Sheep vomiting
Scientific Name: Bouteloua Gracilis
Common Name: Grama
Navajo Name: Tl' ohnástasí
Locality: Lower elevations
Navajo Uses: Used to treat cuts, post partum pain.
Scientific Name: Atriplex Canescens
Common Name: Grey Grease Winter Chamiso
Navajo Name:
Locality: Valley Region
Navajo Uses: Treatment of skin irritation, tooth aches, stomach aches, cough, and nazal problems.
Scientific Name: Scnecio Douglasii
Common Name: Groundell
Navajo Name: Azee'Háátdzid
Locality: Valley Region
Navajo Uses: Emetic herb, medicine for rhumatism, arthritis, and boils.
Scientific Name: Amiclanchiar Alnifolia
Common Name: Juneberry Bush (ribs)
Navajo Name: Didzédit'ódii
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Treatment of nausea, stomach problems, animal bites and skin irritation.
Scientific Name: Juniperus Osteosperma
Common Name: Juniper, Desert
Navajo Name:
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Treatment of headaches, influenza, stomach aches, nausea, spider bites, post mortum pain.
Scientific Name: Juniperinum
Common Name: Juniper Mistletoe
Navajo Name: Dahts'aa'
Locality: Tsaile area
Navajo Uses: Oshafrinsic bites, cures warts.
Scientific Name: Delphinium Melsoni
Common Name: Larkes Spur
Navajo Name:
Locality: Forest
Navajo Uses: Kills body lice.
Scientific Name: Astragalus Lentiginosus
Common Name: Loco Weed
Navajo Name: Didéhaich' iidii
Locality: Woodland and desert
Navajo Uses: Veneral Uses, Stomach disorders, soothes bad backs.
Scientific Name: Cercocarpus Montanus
Common Name: Mahogany, Mountain
Navajo Name: Tsé'ésdoazaa
Locality: Rocky hillsides
Navajo Uses: Emetic for stomach problems, and birthing recovery.
Scientific Name: Acer Megundomegundo
Common Name: Maple or Boxelder
Navajo Name: Sóól
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Silversmithing, shoeing, good fire wood
Scientific Name: Caloschortus Aureus
Common Name: Mariposa Lilly
Navajo Name:
Locality:
Navajo Uses: A favorite children's food.
Scientific Name: Asclepias Subverticillata
Common Name: Milk Weed
Navajo Name: Ch'il'abe'éts'óóz
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Treatment of stomach problems, skin diseases, nose congestion, acme.
Scientific Name: Achillea Millefolium
Common Name: Millefolium, Common, or Yarrow
Navajo Name:
Locality: Mountain Region
Navajo Uses: Treatment of feaver, headache, eye irritations and sores.
Scientific Name: Dphedratorreyama
Common Name: Mormon Tea or Joint Fir
Navajo Name:
Locality: Valley Region
Navajo Uses: Distinctive pleasent tea, used as a common beverage.
Scientific Name: Thelesperma Traciaila Gracila
Common Name: Navajo Tea, wild
Navajo Name: Ch il ahwehe
Locality: Mountain Region
Navajo Uses: Treats mild fever, convalescence, stomach aches, stimulant.
Scientific Name: Quercus Gambellii
Common Name: Oak, Scrub
Navajo Name: Tsé'ch'il
Locality: Mountain Region
Navajo Uses: Hunting Arrows, Ax handles, digging sticks, weaving tools, snow shoes, helps lessen afterbirth pains, a cathartic
Scientific Name: Pinus Ponderosa
Common Name: Ponderosa Pine needles
Navajo Name: Nídíshchíí
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Cold and Fever Medicine, used to build hogans, corrals, sweat houses and fences.
Scientific Name: Crysothamnus Nauseosus
Common Name: Rabbit Brush
Navajo Name: K'iiltsoi Nitsaaigii
Locality: Mountain and Gullies Region
Navajo Uses: Treatment of coughs, colds, fever, rhumatism, internal injuries, headachs and menstrul pain.
Scientific Name: Rubusstrigosus
Common Name: Rasberry, Red
Navajo Name: Da Woozh
Locality: Mountain Region
Navajo Uses: A mild uterine astrigant for menstral bleading during pregnancy, diarea, disentary, and a tea for sore eyes.
Scientific Name: Rosh Fendleri
Common Name: Wild Rose Bush
Navajo Name: Chooh
Locality: Mountain Region
Navajo Uses: Good wood to make hoops with. Treatment of diarea and eye problems
Scientific Name: Equisetom Heimale
Common Name: Scouringbrush, Common, or Horsetail
Navajo Name:
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Stomach problems, nausea, skin problems, bites, venomous animals.
Scientific Name: Corydalis Aurea
Common Name: Scrambled Eggs or Golden Smoke
Navajo Name:
Locality: Mountain Region
Navajo Uses: Treatment of diarea, rhumatism, arthritis, snake bites, injuries, sore throat, stomach ache, and back ache.
Scientific Name: Amelanchier Utahensis
Common Name: Service Berry/June Berry
Navajo Name: Didzé‚dit'ódii
Locality: Hillsides
Navajo Uses: Treatment of nausea, stomach problems, animal bites, skin irritation
Scientific Name: Rhus Trilobata
Common Name: Skunk Brush or Sumac
Navajo Name:
Locality:
Navajo Uses: Used as food, wool and basketry dyes, treatment for stomach problems. Used during child birth and as a contraceptive.
Scientific Name: Gutierrezia Sarothrae
Common Name: Snake Weed
Navajo Name: Ch'ildiilyé‚siitsoh
Locality: Grows everywhere in Navajo Country
Navajo Uses. Heals cuts and bites, given during child birth, treats headaches, nervousness, fever, stomach aches, internal problems.
Scientific Name: Agropyron Smithii
Common Name: Wheatgrass
Navajo Name:
Locality: Valley Region
Navajo Uses: Incense
Scientific Name: Solanum Elaeagnifolium
Common Name: Yellow Seed Plant or Night Shade
Navajo Name:
Locality: Tsaile Area
Navajo Uses: Treatment for sore eyes, nose and throat trouble
References:
All information comes from the Navajo Community College Museum.
Home Page: http://waltonfeed.com/peoples/navajo/
These pages a public service of Walton Feed, Montpelier, Idaho.
Copyright 1997 by Al Durtschi. All rights reserved.
Updated: 7 Apr 97