Did Lewis and Clark use any plants for medicine?

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2026-03-13 17:30

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Most of the medicine used during the Lewis and Clark expedition was purchased prior to departure, and some of these were made from plants:

15 lbs. of Best powder's bark

4 oz. Powdered Ipecacuana

8 oz. Powder Jalap

8 oz. Powdered Rhubarb

However, in one instance, Lewis was desperate and had heard of the medicinal properties of choke cherries. On June 11, 1805, at Grog Spring, on the Missouri River, Lewis found himself with severe stomach pain and running a high fever, unable to march, and forced to make a camp of some willow boughs. He described his remedy: "having brought no medecine with me I resolved to try an experiment with some simples: and the Choke cherry which grew abundanly in the bottom first struck my attention; I directed a parsel of the small twigs to be geathered striped of their leaves, cut into pieces of about 2 inches in length and boiled in water until a strong black decoction of an astringent taste was produced; at sunset I took point (pint) of this decoction and about an hour after repeated the dze by 10 in the evening I was entirely releived from pain and in fact every symptom of the disorder forsook me; my fever abated, a gentle perspiration was produced and I had a comfortable nights rest."

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