Black Birch ( Betula lenta L.) Better known as sweet birch in southern Appalachia, its inner and outer bark contains an essential oil that has the flavor and scent of wintergreen. In the past, the sap was used to make a beer and a tea made from the bark was ingested for rheumatism and fever. A toothbrush was made by chewing one end of a sweet birch twig to a fibrous state.

Branch lettuce ( Saxifraga micranthidifolia) Also known as “bear lettuce” in southern Appalachia, the leaves of this plant have traditionally been eaten with other wild greens (e.g., dandelion, plantain, and poke) to strengthen and clean blood. A favorite method of consumption is to “kill’ the greens with bacon grease, i.e., pour hot bacon grease on them.

Hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis) The bark is strong in tannins and a decoction made with it was applied to wounds to stop bleeding and gargled in the mouth after pulling a tooth to stop profuse bleeding from a tooth socket.

Ironweed ( Vernonia altissimia, Vernonia fasciculata) Some sources indicate that a tea made from the roots and leaves of ironweed was used as a blood cleaner, to treat stomach disorders, and to sweat out a cold.