Health and Healing in Nature

8/14/2019 Health and Healing in Nature

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Healing with Nature in North Carolina

HEALTH AND HEALING EDUCATOR GUIDE, 2008 1

Health and HealingExperiences inNorth Carolina

Healing with NatureMultidisciplinary Educator Guide

North Carolina Museum of History


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Healing with NatureMultidisciplinary Educator Guide

Table of Contents

Background Information 3

Guide to North Carolina Plants and Healing 7

Lesson 1: Planned Picking 14

Lesson 2: Healing to a T 16

Lesson 3: The Origin of Strawberries 18

Lesson 4: Contained Art 22

North Carolina Museum of History

5 East Edenton StreetRaleigh, NC 27601919-807-7900

http://ncmuseumofhistory.org

Office of Archives and History, Department of Cultural Resourceswww.ncculture.com


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As long as people have lived in North Carolina, they have relied on natureselementsplants, animals, fire, and wateras sources for healing. NativeAmericans developed and practiced a culture that recognized both thephysical and spiritual aspects of nature. When Europeans and Africans beganto settle the state in the 1600s, they quickly learned how to identify and use

various medicinal plants found throughout North Carolinas Coastal Plain,Piedmont region, and Mountains. Nature continues to play a key role inmaintaining the health of presentday North Carolinians, from the gatheringof herbs for medicines to the use of natural areas for relaxation to calm thespirit and exercise to strengthen the body. Natureits the worlds biggestdrugstore!

Medicinal Plants from the Wild

Herbs have always been integral to the practice of medicine. The word drugcomes from the old Dutch word drogge, meaning to dry, as pharmacists,physicians, and ancient healers often dried plants for use as medicines. Thehistorical records are filled with information about what our ancestors knewabout herbal treatments. Diaries, letters, recipe files, travelogues, andrecorded interviews contain accounts of how Native Americans, Europeansettlers, and enslaved Africans used medicinal plants, or botanicals. Therecords also show that all three groups shared knowledge and methods. Native

Americans knew most about indigenous plant varieties, while newcomersintroduced new types of plants from Europe and Africa that changed NorthCarolinas ecology. Published herbalssummarized this information andinstructed readers on how to identify, gather, prepare, and use herbs to treatillness and injury. Today, North Carolinians continue to harvest and usebotanicals, either as a replacement for or as a complement to modern medicaltreatments.


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Why Herbs?

People rely on botanicals to treat illness and injury for several reasons. Oneexplanation often given is that people tend to trust what seems natural

because nature is often associated with what is pure and gentle. This trust isreinforced by herbal remedies tested and used across several generations, aswell as faith in the experience of community practitioners. Religion also shapespeoples perceptions of nature. Many devout individuals firmly believe that Godhas provided a plant to cure every disease, and some claim that divine guidancehas led them to find effective herbs. Lack of access to a doctor is anotherreason people turn to botanicals.

Finally, the potential for experiencing unpleasantand sometimes dangerous

side effects caused by synthetic drugs often leads people to seek alternativecures. These explanations hold as true today as in the past, when NorthCarolinians tended to be less educated and affluent, living primarily in ruralareas before the advent of modern transportation. Scientific andtechnological progress, along with higher standards of living, have increasedthe medical options available, but access and cost still influence the choicespeople make in seeking health care.

Today, people practicing natural, or holistic, healing seek balance betweentheir bodies and the environment. Part of achieving such balance means usingherbs derived from the whole plant rather than artificial drugs that mimic theherbs active ingredients.

What is an herb?

The word herbas used in herbal medicine means a plant or plant part that isused to make medicine, food flavors (spices), or aromatic oils for soaps andfragrances. An herb can be a leaf, a flower, a stem, a seed, a root, a fruit,

bark, or any other plant part used for its medicinal, foodflavoring, orfragrant property.


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Herbal RemediesSafe or Unsafe?

In general, herbal medicines work in much the same way as do conventionalpharmaceutical drugs, i.e., via their chemical makeup. Herbs contain a large

number of naturally occurring chemicals that have biological activity.

According to Andrew Weil, M.D., of Tucson, Arizona, because herbs use anindirect route to the bloodstream and target organs, their effects are usuallyslower in onset and less dramatic than those of purified drugs administered bymore direct routes. However, the common assumption that herbs always actslowly and mildly is not necessarily true. Adverse effects can occur if aninadequate dose, a lowquality herb, or the wrong herb is prescribed for thepatient.

Without the expertise of traditional or scientifically trained healers,

experimenting with herbal drugs can be dangerous. Lay persons should be

warned not to pick and eat herbs, because doing so could result in serious

illness and even death.

Gathering Herbs from the Wild

North Carolinians who gather herbs for personal use or sale are known aswildcrafters. Since the 1600s, wildcrafters have combed North Carolinasmountains, forests, and meadows for leaves, flowers, roots, barks, and berriesto sell to crudedrug wholesalers. These merchants, in turn, exportthe herbs to other states or to Europe, where drug manufacturers use themto produce refined drugs, tonics, herbal preparations, food additives, andother commercial products. The C. J. Cowles company is an example of a NorthCarolina herb wholesaler. Established in Wilkes County in 1846 and later movedto Ashe County, the company purchased herbs and roots from local

wildcrafters, paying them not in money but in groceries and household or farmsupplies. Wildcrafting became a source of extra income for manyNorth Carolinians and remains so today, though payment now takes the form ofmoney.


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Wildcrafters practice their trade using simple tools. Anything from asharpened walking stick to a pick, shovel, hoe, or mattock (which looks like apickax) can be used for unearthing roots. A knife peels bark from trees, cutsroots from the ground, and severs branches from small trees. Wildcrafters

also carry burlap sacks for transporting their finds home, where herbs areprepared for sale according to guidelines published in journals like SpringMarket Report, produced annually by Wilcox Natural Products.

The growth of the syntheticdrug industry, especially in central NorthCarolina, has somewhat reduced the demand for medicinal herbs. Still, demandremains high in Europe, and the revived interest in herbal products in thiscountry, coupled with newly discovered uses for wild plants, keeps wildcraftersin business. Some herbs, like ginseng, sell for several hundred dollars a pound,

and as a result are endangered by overpicking. Experienced wildcrafters,however, tend to recognize the significance of the resources they harvest andtake only limited amounts. State laws also place external limits on what, when,and how much wildcrafters may gather. The importance of wildcrafting as aNorth Carolina cottage industry yields mixed blessings: muchneeded incomefor many rural residents, but sometimes not without threat to the statesecology.


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Guide to North Carolina Plants and Healing

NOTE: The North Carolina Museum of History does not endorse or

encourage the use of plants for medicinal purposes without the

consultation of a physician. The plant list below contains items that could

be toxic if taken in inappropriate amounts.

BlackberryWhether eaten as a fruit (rich in iron and vitamins C and E),fermented into wine, or used to treat dysentery and other stomach disorders,the blackberry plant was familiar to Europeans and Native Americans alike. Itstannin content relieved symptoms of an irritable bowel, and its astringentqualities made it a popular tonic.

BloodrootKnown to Native Americans aspochon, or puccoon, bloodroot wasused as a dye. European explorers sought it as early as 1609 for trade. Theherbs root was ground to a powder and sprinkled on the skin to remove ulcers.When mixed with whiskey, bloodroot relieved the symptoms of asthma, and itwas recommended as a cure for liver trouble. Today, it appears in some dentalproducts as a plaquefighting agent and is a potential treatment for canceroustumors. Potentially toxic, bloodroot should not be taken internally.

CatnipCatnip remains one of the most commonly used domestic remedies,especially for children. Early English medical texts mentioned many uses for

catnip, but its popularity among the medical profession has waned significantlyover the past three hundred years. People have reported using catnip for colic,teething, hives in children, bronchitis, colds, diarrhea, fevers, chicken pox, andheadaches. Some people say that it induces sleep, promotes sweating (for thereduction of fevers), and calms restless children. Catnip has an essential oilthat acts as a sedative. Catnip also contains tannin, an astringent (or drying)


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agent that shrinks tissues. Experiments with catnip suggest that it may haveproperties to make it useful as an herbicide, insect repellent, and E. colibacteria inhibitor.

CollardsCollards, part of the cabbage group, are particularly popular in the

American South. Over two thousand years ago in Rome, Cato the Elder (234149 B.C.) noted that cabbages were especially valuable as ingredients inpoultices (medications spread on cloth and applied to the skin). Cabbages had areputation from that time through the Middle Ages as plants valuable for bothmedicine and food. Physicians and home remedy manuals recommended cabbagepoultices for inflammations, swellings, and sore eyes, and even as a cure forhangover. The medicinal reputation of cabbage lessened greatly in the 1800s,though its value as a nutritious food remained high. Recent research suggeststhat vegetables in the cabbage family can help to inhibit the action of

carcinogens (cancercausing substances).ComfreyThe use of comfrey, also called boneknit, has appeared in medicalliterature since the Middle Ages. This herb was recommended for treatingexternal wounds and for clearing mucus from the respiratory tract, as in asevere cough. It was also recommended for healing broken bones. Comfreyspopularity as a domestic remedy outstripped its use by the medical community.In 1912 comfrey was found to contain allantoin, a substance that promotestissue repair. Tannin, another substance found in comfrey, may also contributeto its reputation as a wound and sprain healer. Recent research has raised

concerns over the possible toxicity of comfrey. Longterm internal use ofcertain species may have a toxic effect.

DandelionNot indigenous to the United States, dandelion is an example of aplant introduced into North Carolinas ecology by immigrants. NativeAmericans used it as a diuretic to treat high blood pressure and as aspringtime tonic. Although its leaves tend to be bitter in taste, they are oftenfound in salads and are rich in vitamins A and C, as well as niacin. Other usesinclude treatment for kidney, urinary tract, and liver ailments.

DogwoodNative Americans used dogwood bark brewed into tea to easefevers. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, dogwood worked asthe best treatment for malaria in the absence of quinine. Doctors used it inthis manner on Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. Later scientificresearch has confirmed that extracts from the trees bark do indeed attackthe parasites that cause malaria.


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GinsengFound mostly in the mountains, ginseng, or sang, has been used in avariety of ways, from inducing a restful sleep in colicky babies to soothing anupset stomach. European Americans used it as a tonic to restore energy andimpart a sense of vigor, while the Cherokee desired it to return a balance and

harmony to the body and spirit. Some modern research points to ginsengsability to boost mental and physical functioning and to combat stress.Cherokee healers who harvested the root used to take only every fourth plantdiscovered. Limits on amounts harvested are necessary even today, sinceexcessive demand around the world has pushed the price of ginseng as high as$320 per pound. North Carolina law requires a license to gather ginseng ongovernment lands and permits harvesting only from September throughDecember.

GoldensealThis herb is considered by many to be a panacea, or general cure

all, with specific applications in treating colds and asthma attacks whenbrewed as a tea. Other uses include treating jaundice, as a wash for eyeinfections, and as a tonic and blood purifier. Goldenseal is known to contain anantibacterial alkaloid that could explain its effectiveness on wounds and otherskin ailments. Like ginseng, goldenseal runs the risk of disappearing from theNorth Carolina landscape because of growing demand and overcollection.

HorehoundHorehound has enjoyed a reputation as a treatment for chestcomplaints such as coughs, colds, wheezing, and chronic asthma. It has alsobeen used as a remedy for sore throats, stomach and gall bladder disorders,

jaundice, and hepatitis and as a poultice for cuts and wounds (although theplant juice may cause dermatitis, or itching and redness of the skin).Horehound was a popular ingredient in both domestic and professional medicalremedies until the 1800s, when it gradually declined as a prescribed medicine.Despite its solid reputation in the popular literature as an aid to chestcomplaints, little scientific research has been conducted to determinehorehounds effectiveness.

HorseradishHorseradish served as both a popular food and a medicine longbefore North Carolina became a colony. In the 1500s, medical authorsrecommended it for colic swellings and as an emetic (a substance to inducevomiting). In the 1600s, physicians praised it primarily for its diuretic action(producing urine) and as a counterirritant for the treatment of such conditionsas rheumatism. Although professional medicines use of horseradish began towane in the 1800s, domestic manuals continued to recommend it. The plant stillenjoys a reputation in home use. Horseradishroot tea has been used to treat


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bronchitis, coughs, bronchial catarrh, and dental plaque. Root poultices havebeen used for respiratory congestion and rheumatism. Large amounts ofhorseradish can trouble the digestive system.

JimsonweedNamed for the colonial settlement of Jamestown, Jimsonweed

can cause death if ingested because it acts as both a narcotic and a poison.However, Europeans and Native Americans used it externally to alleviateburns, swelling, sprains, hemorrhoids, and headaches. Since the early 1800s,asthma sufferers have also smoked it in the form of stramonium cigarettesin an effort to relieve breathing difficulty.

Ladys slipperLike mayapple, this indigenous orchid has been used by NativeAmericans to get rid of worms in the intestinal tract. More commonly, the

yellow ladys slipper was important in treating nervous disorders, heartproblems, and female troubles. As with ginseng and goldenseal, overpicking

has reduced the availability of this herb.

MayappleThe roots of this plant contain a substance that acts as a naturallaxative. Native Americans used it as a purgeinducing herb excellent forridding the body of worms and shared its qualities with European colonists.Modern pharmaceuticals incorporate extracts from the mayapple root andplant to treat a variety of viruses, including herpes simplex type II andinfluenza A. The mayapples fruit is edible, but its root and leaves arepoisonous.

MulleinEnglish colonists introduced this plant to North Carolina, whereNative Americans quickly adapted it to their own uses. Scientific researchsuggests that mullein provides no therapeutic value, but historically it hasbeen used to treat swelling, internal injuries, coughs, hemorrhages, andproblems involving the bladder, liver, and blood.

OnionWild and domesticated varieties of onions have been used as bothmedicine and food for thousands of years. By the end of the 1500s, onion wasnoted for its ability to promote urination. Claims of antivenom properties andeffectiveness as an external medicine also appeared. Writers of the next

century agreed and added that onion cleansed the stomach and excited theappetite. Its soothing and coating qualities and its expectorant action (causingthe coughing up of phlegm) made it good for coughs and colds. Though onionrarely gained mention in medical texts after the midnineteenth century, itsdomestic use remains well established. Perhaps best known as a poultice forcoughs and colds, onion has also been used internally for epilepsy and diabetes.


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PeachDomestic use of the peach trees bark, kernels, leaves, and flowers hasfar outstripped its uneven reputation in medical literature. Though used as amedicine in its native China, peach has not attracted a great amount ofattention in Western European medicine. Writers in the 1600s and 1700s did

note the use of peach products for stomach, liver, and skin complaints and totreat worms and wounds. In the 1800s, peach continued to be used medicallyfor its purgative properties and action against internal parasites. Twentiethcentury reports of domestic uses of peach include treatments for suchailments as fevers, headache, earache, toothache, morning sickness, and crickin the neck.

PennyroyalA medical author in the late 1600s listed numerous conditionstreated with pennyroyal, including kidney stones, indigestion, and lungobstructions. An American species of the plant made its way into medical

manuals of the 1800s and enjoyed widespread usage for such additionalproblems as colds and childrens colic. Pennyroyal is now known to be toxic iftaken internally.

PineVarious parts of the pine tree and its derivatives, including needles,cones, rosin, kerosene, turpentine, and pine tar, were considered useful intreating everything from colds, aches, and fevers to bedwetting, chappedhands, lockjaw, and worms. As they did with poison ivy, the Cherokee usedboiled pine needles to treats various sicknesses. When applied to the skin, pinecompounds act as counterirritants that produce surface inflammation, which in

turn relieves swelling in underlying tissues. Ingesting pine can be dangerous, asit is generally considered toxic.

Poison ivyPoison ivy is another potentially dangerous herb that people used inthe nineteenth century to treat rheumatism and tuberculosis. The Cherokeeincluded the bark from the vine in a potion that would cancel a spell cast uponsome unlucky individual. Some people eat a small amount of the root eachspring, because they believe that doing so will protect them for that yearfrom contracting the skin rash commonly associated with the plant.

Rabbit tobaccoThis indigenous herb also goes by the name life everlasting.It is most commonly used to treat a variety of respiratory ailments, such asasthma, whooping cough, and colds. Users usually boil the leaves and blooms tomake a tea or stuff the leaves inside homemade asthma pillows. Some peopleeven smoke it. As early as the eighteenth century, medical practitionersunderstood that rabbit tobaccos effectiveness stemmed from its astringency,or ability to dry and shrink tissues and mucous membranes.


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SageWhy should a man die whilst sage grows in his garden? So asks anauthor from the 1100s, indicating that sage has been recognized for centuriesas an important herb for healing as well as for flavoring foods. Over the pastseveral hundred years, its reputation in European and English medicine relied

primarily on its ability to relieve problems associated with the head and tocalm the nerves. Sage was also employed for flatulence, dropsy, and fevers andto prevent premature labor. Early American use centered around itseffectiveness for sore throats and inducing perspiration.

SassafrasExplorer John Lawson noted in his 1709 guidebook A New Voyageto Carolinathat all parts of the sassafras plant (flower, berry, and root bark)were used by Native Americans. Typically associated with tea, sassafras isrecommended for its purifying effects, especially as a blood cleanser. It isalso commonly taken as a spring tonic. Too much use, however, could prove

dangerous, since this herbs main ingredient is potentially carcinogenic.Spearmint and peppermintPlants belonging to the mint family have a longhistory as popular medicines and were used to treat a variety of ailments. Forthousands of years, peppermint and spearmint in particular have been taken torelieve flatulence, encourage urination, and soothe lung ailments. Introducedinto America by early colonists, these two mints treated stomach ailments andwere used as primary mixing ingredients for a variety of medicines. Domesticuse adds headache, colic, insomnia, and morning sickness to the list of ailmentstreated by these mints.

TansyTansy was long employed in Europe as a flavoring and occasionally as amedicine, used to treat stomach disorders, malnutrition conditions, hysteria,internal parasites, and even gout. A popular item in colonial gardens, tansy wastouted by 1800s medical authors as a tonic and as an agent to soothe nervousrestlessness. By the 1900s, use of tansy both as a flavoring agent and as amedicine declined. Tansys astringency (ability to dry and shrink tissue), fromits tannin content, may account for some of the herbs past and present uses.

White oakThis member of the oak family has traditionally been used as an

astringent, or substance that dries and shrinks tissue, to alleviate thesymptoms of hemorrhoids and varicose veins. Like bloodroot, the boiled barkproduces tannin that is antiseptic and possibly reduces tumors. Unfortunately,tannin is toxic in large quantities.

Wild cherryThe bark of the wild cherry was considered very effectiveagainst all sorts of respiratory ailments, such as sore throats, colds, and


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tuberculosis. When distilled as a tonic, it was favored as an appetite stimulantand blood purifier. Although science has discerned wild cherrys sedative andastringent qualities, the active ingredient, hydrocyanic acid, is actually highlytoxic. North Carolina farmers have reported fatal effects on cows that

chewed wild cherry leaves.Yellow poplarEuropeans steeped the bark of this tree to make a tea to treatintestinal parasites, chronic rheumatism, and dysentery, whereas NativeAmericans used it to combat indigestion, pellagra, sores, fever, and kidney andbladder problems. The bark could also serve as a substitute for quinine,typically employed to fight malaria. Yellow poplar buds were used at least asearly as the eighteenth century to produce an ointment effective in treatingburns.


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Lesson 1: Planned Picking

Competency Goals: Grade 4: Mathematics 1; Social Studies 1, 6Grade 5: Mathematics 1: Science 1

Objective: Students will apply knowledge of decimals, wholenumbers, and fractions to harvest healing herbswithout destroying the wild population.

Time: 20 minutes

Materials: Planned Picking Worksheet, one copy per studentPencils, one per studentPaper, one sheet per student

Procedure: 1. Introduce the lesson by discussing how natureprovides many of the medical treatments we knowtoday. Explain how wildcrafters harvest only acertain percentage of the herbs they find each

growing season. By collecting only a fraction of theplant population, they ensure the plants returnseason after season.

2. Discuss conservation and why conservationpractices are important.

3. Distribute the worksheets to students withinstructions. After converting each fraction into a

percentage or percentage into a fraction, studentswill harvest the correct proportion of each plantby striking the picked plants with an X.


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Name ___________________

Planned Picking Worksheet

Directions:Wildcrafters harvest only a part of the herbs growing each season.That part is called apercentage. Change the percentage of each herb that maybe picked into a fraction. Then harvest the allowed number of each plant bydrawing an X through the center. Happy harvesting!

Plant Percentage Fraction

.25

.50

.20

.33

.16


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Lesson 2: Healing to a T

Competency Goals: Grade 3: Science 1Grade 5: Science 1

Objective: Students will observe parts of healing plants,hypothesize their use, and implement and experimentusing herbal teas.

Time: Two class periods

Materials: Guide to North Carolina Plants and HealingA selection of fresh and dried herbs, such as garlic, mint,ginseng, gingerroot, chamomile, cinnamonGlass jars, one for each type of herb or teaMesh or cheeseclothStrainerWarm waterA sunny window

Procedure: 1. Prior to the class, gather together all thematerials needed.

2. Introduce the lesson by discussing how herbs were(and still are) used for healing. Making tea out ofspecific kinds of herbs was/is one way to get well.Caution students that they should not try makingteas without adult supervision, since some herbs

can be harmful.

Before creating their own medicinal teas, studentswill examine and identify the various plant partsbeing used. Many plants are used to heal diseases.Roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and berries have


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medical uses that humans have incorporated intotheir healing practices for thousands of years. Butonly recently have people begun to understand therelationship between plants and how they heal.

This relationship between plants and humans iscalled ethnobotanythe study of how people useplants.

3. Instruct students to examine the fresh and driedherbs they will use to create their teas. Ask thestudents to determine which part of the plant theywill be using, e.g., mintleaves, gingerroot,cinnamonbark.

4. Have students use the Guide to North CarolinaPlants and Healing on page 25 in the TeacherBackground Materials to research the medicinalbenefits of the fresh herbs they will use tomake their healing teas. Assign a note taker torecord what part of the plant will be used and themedicinal benefit of each tea. Use the examplegiven below.

Name of Tea Plant Used Part Used Medicinal UseGinger tea Ginger Root Calming effect on

stomach

5. Place each herb into a glass jar. Pour enough waterover the herb to cover. Cover and place in a sunnyspot overnight. Uncover the jars and strain themixtures. Discard the plant material.

6. Have students note the physical characteristics ofthe tea. What properties did the plant lend to thetea (e.g., green color, strong odor)?

7. Have students discuss their impressions of the teashealing values.


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Lesson 3: The Origin of Strawberries

Competency Goals: Grade 3: English Language Arts 2, 3, 4; Social Studies 7Grade 4: English Language Arts 2, 3, 4; Social Studies 2, 5Grade 5: English Language Arts 2, 3, 4Grade 6: English Language Arts 5

Objective: Students will read a Cherokee myth and add to it withcreative writing.

Time: 3045 minutes

Materials: The Origin of Strawberries story, one copy perstudentThe Origin of Strawberries worksheet, one copy perstudentPencils, one per student

Procedure: 1. Introduce the lesson by asking students to name

stories that include plants as a central focus.Explain that many cultures include plants in theirstories because plants have been so important forfood, healing, beauty, and tools.

Every culture has folktales in which plants are

instrumental to the plot. Plants have caused

princesses to fall into deep sleep (Snow

White and the Seven Dwarfs), identified royalty

(The Princess and the Pea), and even been thecenter of economic debate (Jack and the

Beanstalk). In this Native American story,

strawberries are created to unite an estranged

couple.


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2. Distribute the myth The Origin of Strawberriesfor students to read.

3. After the students finish reading the myth,instruct them to add another chapter to thestory. After all the students have finished writing,have them read their additions aloud.

4. After the students have finished reading themyth, pick one student to add a few sentences tothe ending of the myth. When through, thatstudent will hand the paper to another student,

who will add another two to three sentences. Thispattern will be repeated until all the students havehad a chance to add to the original myth. After allthe students have added to the myth, choose astudent to read the new myth aloud.


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Name ___________________

The Origin of Strawberries

Directions:Read the Cherokee myth below. When you finish reading, use yourcreative writing skills to create your own ending for the couple in the myth.

When the first man was created

and a mate was given to him, they

lived together very happily for atime but then began to quarrel,

until at last the woman left her

husband and started off toward the

Sun Land, in the east. The man

followed, alone and grieving, but

the woman kept on steadily ahead

and never looked behind, until the

Sun took pity on the man and

asked him if he was still angrywith his wife. The man said he was

not, and the Sun then asked him if

he would like to have her back

again, to which the man eagerly

answered Yes.

So the Sun caused a patch of the

finest ripe huckleberries to spring

up along the path in front of the

woman, but she passed by without

playing any attention to them.

Farther on the Sun put a clump of

blackberries, but these also the

woman refused to notice. Other

fruits, one, two, and three, and

then some trees covered with

beautiful red serviceberries, were

placed beside the path to tempther, but still she went on, until

suddenly she came upon a patch of

large ripe strawberries, the first

ever known. She stooped to gather

a few to eat, and as she picked

them, she chanced to turn her face

to the west. At once the memory of

her husband came back to her, and

she found herself unable to go on.She sat down, but the longer she

waited, the stronger became her

desire for her husband, and at last

she gathered a bunch of the finest

berries and started back along the

path to give them to him. He met

her kindly, and they went home

together.

Mooney, James. James Mooney's History,Myths, and Sacred Formulas ofthe Cherokees.Asheville, N.C.: Bright Mountain Books, 1992.


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Name ___________________

The Origin of Strawberries

On the way home . . .

Once they reached home . . .


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Lesson 4: Contained Art

Competency Goals: Grade 3: Science 1; Visual Arts 1, 5Grade 4: Visual Arts 1, 5Grade 5: Science 1; Visual Arts 1, 5Grade 6: Visual Arts 1, 5Grade 7: Visual Arts 1, 5Grade 8: Visual Arts 1, 5

Objective: This lesson will introduce students to the art of

container gardening and relate it to the science ofgrowing plants from seed.

Generations of North Carolinians have grown herbs touse for both healing and culinary purposes. Many herbshave varieties with different colored and variegatedfoliage, and these can be used as an artistic medium tocreate a satisfying tapestry of contrasting shades.

Time: One class period to complete lesson, then maintenance asrequired

Materials: Guide to North Carolina Plants and HealingContainers for plants (large clay pots, old containers,plastic cups with holes in the bottom), one per studentSmall stones or shards for drainage (gravel)Soilless growing mediumHerb seeds or seedlings

Tongue depressors, one per studentPermanent markerWater


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Healing with Nature in North CarolinaProcedure: 1. Prior to the class, thoroughly wash and rinse all of

the containers. If necessary, poke two to threedrainage holes in the bottom of each container.Protect drainage holes with stones or pottery

shards, and then spread a layer of pebbles orgravel.

2. Instruct students to determine what type ofcontainer garden they will create, e.g., healing orculinary, and select plants according to theirchoice. Students may wish to consider using herbsthat have dual purposes, such as basil and parsley.Use the herb guide to research the plants many

uses.

3. Have students draw and color their garden plan.Discuss ways that planning and creating a garden isan artistic endeavor.

4. Have students fill their containers almost to therim with the soilless growing medium. Tapgentlytoremove any air pockets in the soil.

5. Carefully remove the seedlings from their originalpots or the seeds from their packets. Dig a smallhole for each seedling. Arrange and plant a fewchosen herbs in the soil, leaving enough space forthe plants to grow. Repeat until all theseedlings/seeds are in place.

6. After all the seedlings are in place, cover withgrowing medium. Gently press the mixture down

and water. Write the name of each type of herbon a tongue depressor and place in the containernext to the herb. Place the pot in a sunny spot.Water as necessary and harvest as needed.

Health and Healing in Nature

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