Coltsfoot
Latin Name:
Petasites frigidus and Petasites palmatus
Categories:
Uses:
As medicine
Two species of coltsfoot (Petasites frigidus and P. palmatus) plants are in the Gwich’in Settlement Area. They are used as a steam to treat chest conditions such as asthma, congested chest conditions or colds. Ruth Welsh said,
... [when] your child has a cold... [and] you want something to steam in the child's room to break the congestion and help them sleep, this is one of the plants that we used for that purpose.
Source: Andre, Alestine, Nan t'aih nakwits'inahtsìh (The Land Gives Us Strength) (2006)
A coltsfoot steam treatment
The plant is put into boiling water and the water will stop boiling when the coltsfoot is placed in. Bring the water to a second boil and boil it for about five minutes. Turn the stove off. When the water has cooled a bit, put a towel over the head and begin to do deep breathing exercises. This steaming will help clear a congested or stuffy head and congested chest.
