sassafras tea

[Deirdre]

I recall drinking sassafras tea often as a child. My mother would boil the roots each year. I love its aromatic flavor. I have recently read that it has properties that are carcienogenic. Does anyone know about this inrelationi to Indian culture?

[stacey.23]

Hi Deirdre,

Check out this link...
http://herb.umd.umich.edu/

Stacey

[1_optimistic]

Thanks for sharing this website because if I am sick, I do not want to rely on medication. Thanks again!!!

Erica Lewis

[Deirdre]

Folks, I found an informative site you may be interestedin checking out:
redroadcollective

It's real nice. It offers good info on the 4 sacred plants (tobscco, cedar, sage, sweet grass) and how to use it.

Deirdre

[Deirdre]

When I first starting on this forum, I was looking for a story teller for my daughter's birthday this weekend. Well, because of this site, I found a story teller, and a new friend. I went to a Pow wow and hooked up with others, one person lead to another and hooked me up. thanks so much!

I have been doing a little research, some online reading, and I have visited the NMAI twice and the result is that I am going to serve a couple of traditional foods that Eastern woodland NDNs would have eaten, along with fun stuff for the kids and I even made tunic's for my girls. I found the white sage, cedar,and sweet grass at a local herb shop. I will use it only as display and not smudge because from my reading it is disrespectful to try and use it without full understanding. I hope this is acceptable. What this is turning out to be is the beginning of a journey into our family heritage and it feels really good! My husband just told me yesterday that is was indeed fitting because his gggrandmother on his father's side was an NDN from Albermarle county. Thank you to everyone who has responded to my postings and for encouraging me to go forward with this journey.
Deirdre

[Deirdre]

Correction: My husbands gggrandmother on his mother's father's side was NDN.

Deirdre

[Felicia]

Dad said there ar two types of sassafras tea -White and Red.
We are going into their woods to find both, so I'll post later as to the differences of each. Also, Mom said that they grew sage for flavoring their meals (sausage, wild gamey meats-She grew up eating everything...literally...cause she said, "what dad brought home mom would soak, boil and brown and it was fantastic!!!"
I am going to get my mom to write down recipes for us, okay?
Mom showed me a tree and how they would peel a small branch for brushing their teeth, and the SweetGum tree they would cut out a wedge in the tree and let the sap run out. The sap would dry and harden (curing process) couple of months, and then they would chew it like gum...hence the name...SweetGum!

Neat stuff, huh!!! :D

[Deirdre]

Do you know if both types are dangerous if the bark of the roots are consumed? I read an FDA report

Deirdre

[Felicia]

You should peel the bark off of the root, wash and boil.

In answer to your question; I do not believe that this is dangerous, when in fact it has been told through generations to be good for you. If not then my family is doomed!:D

[Deirdre]

Thanks. Yes, we too would be doomed. We drank a lot of it as children. So far, we all made it to 35!

Deirdre;)

[Tom]

Hey ladies well one "mans poison is another mans medicine", remember Grandma saying everything in moderation!
Sometimes the diference between cooking sage and smudging sage is very different some, for others the same.
Deirdre you are on a great path to learning and sharing,
best wishes!