Stinging Nettle’s bark is used by almost all the tribes in the area as a type of cordage made out of the bark of its stem. The bark of the stem is peeled, dried and rolled on the thigh into a two-ply string and weaved together to make different thicknesses of cordage and nets. The Skokomish, Lummi and Snohomish use the cordage for duck nets. Nettle is also used by the entire area of tribes for medicinal properties. It is used for rheumatism, paralysis, colds, soreness, stiffness, hair care and as a general tonic by the salish people however their uses vary. Nettle is also given to women during pregnancy and when experiencing difficulties in labor. The coastal tribes whip the seal hunters and warriors with stinging nettle then after are covered by seal fat to help keep in the heat caused by the body's reaction to its sting, but most importantly this ritual gives the warriors power and adrenalin to stay awake all night and hunt for seals in the cold ocean.
Cottonwood buds are used indigenously for materials and medicine Many PNW Salish and Lushootseed tribes use cottonwood for living infrastructure and building materials. Squaxin use the bark as tea for sore throats and bruise the leaves into water and use it as an antiseptic on cuts. For centuries around the world the resin from the buds have been made into a salve with some sort of animal fat to treat pains and rheumatism.
Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) English Plantain or Ribwort is an introduced plant to the PNW. It is certain that it has been here for so long that it has many indigenous uses but is also considered native to Europe. English plantain/ is abundant in fields and yards however, a very long time ago indigenously it was rare to find and very sought after. The Cowlitz make it into a tea to use as a tonic and The Klallam formerly rubbed this plant on their bodies to make their husbands like them better. The Cherokee use this plant for many ailments that I use them for today and are the main reasons why plantain is such an important addition to my trauma and 1st aid balms. The Cherokee make the leaf into a poultice applied for headaches, burn dressings, blisters, ulcers, insect stings and make plantain infusions out of the root to check baby bowels and dysentery. They make leaf infusions used for poisonous bites and stings, used orally and as wash. The Cherokee use the leaf juice as medicine for sore eyes.